I've got my first cold sore ever and I'm about to get married

[febrezy]

My toddler got a cold sore at nursery and I tried so hard but I've just woken up and the middle of my top lip is swollen and tingly. It's big. I'm about to get married and I'm in tears. I've never had one before. Will I get lots? I keep seeing outbreak online. Will it just be this one? How often am I likely to get more? I'm so upset

Don't worry about repeat flare ups, I had my first when I was 18 and on average I get one every 2 years! You learn what the signs are (usually a tingle) I always have a tub of cream (Cymex) works for me. Put it on straight away where it tingles and they don't last too long. PP's are right a compeed patch will cover it with makeup.

I use acyclovir but find it dries them out so much that the scabbing bleeds and cracks when i smile. That's the worst bit for me.

You don't need a GP - you can buy Acylovir without prescription - it's really cheap these days - put it on up to 5 x per day - usually best to start as soon as you feel the tingle which often can be before you can even see it.

It'll be gone before you know it.

Definitely compeed patches. They're better than any creams and do conceal it better.
Whenever I feel a tingle, I always put a patch on. I haven't had one in over a year now but when I was younger I used to get them all the time. As I got older it would be if I was run down or stressed.

Second l-lysine - get them from Holland and Barratt and neck them down. It'll help it heal much quicker.

Oh no don’t !!!! When I was a toddler my mum would do this to my cold sores it was so painful I think I went into orbit 😱

I wouldn't try messing around to dry it out, just try not to touch it at all if you can avoid it.

At the moment I've just put tea tree oil on it and a dab of Vaseline on top until I can get out for something proper. I'm too scared to try perfume or anything incase it makes it angrier

I’m a bit late to this but agree with all the PP who say get compeed patches. They’re a godsend imo and both make the sore almost invisible and stop it going through the crusty phase which is when it’s most visible.

Please don’t worry about repeat attacks now. I got my first coldsore when I was 22 and then didn’t have another until I was 29. I’m 43 now and have only had 2 other outbreaks and I’m a sickly type. I appreciate it’s anecdote rather than data but you’re not likely to have another one so soon as your honeymoon, but take the stuff from H&B and use decent sunscreen as the sun can be a trigger.

Its horrid timing with it being your wedding so soon but honestly the patches will hide it and it’ll be a funny story in years to come. Something always goes awry in the days/weeks before (period coming early, massive spot, trapped nerve meaning you can only smile with half your face) and in time it becomes part of the charm of the day, I promise.

I think the swelling might have gone down a bit after a few hours of tea tree oil but the worst is definitely yet to come isn't it. It doesn't hurt but it's itchy.

Also I never realised how hairy my lips are before taking these pics. I now need a lip wax for the wedding as well as a miracle.

@febrezy

health express
Dr Fox
superdrug
boots
all do online consultation for cold / sores

I pay £45 for 3 month supply which last for ages
but I also take them twice a week as a suppression as advised by my doctor
occasionally if I’m away in holiday the heat can trigger it or stress but I rarely get them now

No lip wax!! You really don’t need one and you risk redness & irritation caused by that as well as the cold sore.

It's acyclovir tablets people are referring to. It's only available on prescription.

Neither local pharmacy had compeed patches only Zovirax I've picked it up to see if it helps but not got high expectations after the reviews here

Amazon will deliver the patches by 10pm today if you have prime. Honestly they're the only things that do anything for me - though I've heard good things about heat pens. I'd get online and order if I were you.

Unfortunately not where I live! I'll drive into the bigger town later and hopefully find some there. Amazon will be here tomorrow if not.

I find that hydrogen peroxide or witch hazel applied at the tingle stage can prevent the breakout but often if I've stopped one forming using the above or lysine the virus still seems to want to come out over the next couple of weeks.

OP tea tree, aciclovir, comped & make up will do you just fine for your wedding.

Avoid coffee, nuts, chocolate, lentils.

Also I've not heard about the heat pen before I am very interested to hear more reviews, was just looking them up online.

They've prescribed acyclovir tablets going to get them now

Will that stop them recurring too?

It's sooooo itchy

I use zovirax and it gets rid of them in a few days, if you start treating it now it should be okay! I've never had one that's lasted two weeks

Oral prescription acyclovir. (Which I didn't even know existed until 5 years of suffering recurrent cold sores!)

DO NOT TOUCH at all - I say this, as when I first got a cold sore for my first ever job interview, I touched it thinking I'd got an eczema patch and it spread to my whole lower face. Not even joking.

I then suffered them at any stress point in my life and mine go huge! it's awful.
Got one for my last job interview, luckily I had to wear a face mask due to covid so no one could see!

Oh noooo OP. Hopefully your photographer can edit it out of your photos. How disappointing. Do you feel ok in yourself? I second/ third/ fourth aciclovir and the patches

Also you have lovely lips and don't need a wax at all!

You'll look stunning, it is stressful though so I feel your pain. How I managed to avoid one for my wedding and honeymoon I'll never know.

Absolute worst case scenario, make sure no one takes their own pics and just get it edited out digitally if you can see it in pics

I feel ok - thankfully. It's just so bloody itchy!