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Original poster

OMG a cold sore in my nose - what helps ?

67 replies

Lilliflip · 20/01/2023 11:05

My entire left nostril inside is covered in a cold sore - I can see it up the inside and it’s huge. It’s actually coming out around the end of my nose like a revolting blistering cornflake ☹️

I get that it’s not life threatening etc, but it’s throbbing, itching, painful, making my teeth and face hurt. GP’s not interested, said unless I get 10 cold sores a year they wouldn’t give me acliclovir tablets, and I should just use Zovirax. It’s doing nothing. Pharmacist said Zovirax is all they can suggest without prescription. So dead end there.

Please can anyone tell me do they have a miracle cure to stop me ripping my own nose off?

OP posts:
2023bebetter · 20/01/2023 17:26

Well compede work's for the one on my face

PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 20/01/2023 17:28

I second L-Lysine tablets - they really do stave off cold sores. If I stop taking them, the cold sores return! When I do get a cold sore, at the first hint of a tingle, I apply Zovirax or the generic equivalent. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything that works on hurrying them along once they're in full swing.

Limetreee · 20/01/2023 17:30

Acyclovir the only thing that works for me. Be careful not to rub your eyes I now get them on my cornea and they have damaged my sight. Very painful horrible things !

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365names · 20/01/2023 17:30

Ring back and say it is huge inside and outside the nose and giving you major problems breathing etc
get tablets

in the meanwhile it’s crap but pure surgical spirit on cotton wool shoved up and away your nose

thrn make a huge compeed plaster out of the normal ones and cover your nose and tape it on- make holes if needed

RewildingAmbridge · 20/01/2023 17:33

Definitely L-lysine, I take 4/5 if I feel the itch or get a red mark and they don't get any farther. Thought maybe I just don't get them anymore but felt the tingle when I was away and couldn't get any lysine. Got an absolute rager of a cold sore. I don't take them daily but a friend who used to get really regular coldsores does and swears by it.

KnottyKnitting · 20/01/2023 17:41

I don't find acyclovir (Zovirax) particularly helpful. There is another cold sore cream where the active ingredient is pencyclovir called Fenestil which I find far more effective. Unfortunately it's not sold in chemists much any more- DH and I are both long cold sore sufferers and get this online. Agree with lysine- that can also be very helpful. I also find the compeed patches a godsend but agree that these might not be very practical for your nose!

hennylovespens · 20/01/2023 17:53

Lysine lots of lysine. Supplements and balm. (It works topically)

Low arginine diet - no berries, nuts, chocolate.

CatNutsRoastingByAnOpenFire · 20/01/2023 17:54

If you can fit a bit of ice up your nose/on the edge it might help with the discomfort. It can stop a cold sore if hold an ice cube on it at the first sign of tingling so it might ease it. Hold it on for a few minutes.
Perfume for the alcohol content is fine if you don't find the smell nauseating as it will be very difficult to get out of your nose which is why I didn't add it to my previous post.

Haruka · 20/01/2023 18:07

Vodka copiously applied with a cotton bud, followed by a dab of honey a little later. Works a treat and will stop you from having the cracking, dried-out bits.

Serano · 20/01/2023 18:55

I get those but am never sure if it's a bacterial infection or something rather than a cold sore, as I've never had one on my lips.

I find toothpaste the quickest cure. Blob it on and it bursts it after a few hours.

MotherofPearl · 20/01/2023 23:01

When I was younger I suffered with recurrent cold sores. My godmother, who was a nurse, told me that taking a few polio drops is effective at preventing cold sores. She had a vial of the drops in her fridge (she worked in a rural clinic) and dosed me up (this was about 30 years ago - my mind boggles at the multiple lax health and safety issues going on here), and I didn't get a cold sore again for about 20 years. Sadly they've come back, but fortunately only very occasionally.

Good luck OP. They really are the worst.

FurAndFeathers · 20/01/2023 23:03

Lilliflip · 20/01/2023 17:04

Appreciate all your help, in reply to a PP yes I’m not good at fighting these off as I’m immunosuppressed, but I’ve never had one in my nose before. Plus I’m run down and had a virus last week so fairly sure that’s caused it 😞
I’ve never had one this big before, or in my nose and pretty sure it’s making me feel Ill. I’ve used sudocrem, and some vodka on it to burn the bastard out. But it’s still a raging throbbing thing. Thanks all !

Definitely lysine tabs!

CherryogDog · 20/01/2023 23:11

A few years back I had a cluster of cold sores which were on my upper lip and in my nostril, was so painful that I saw my GP who said it was impetigo.

avamiah · 20/01/2023 23:13

I have had this before and on my top lip and I took Zovirax and also the pills it worked but took a while ( over 7 days )

KnottyKnitting · 20/01/2023 23:22

CherryogDog · 20/01/2023 23:11

A few years back I had a cluster of cold sores which were on my upper lip and in my nostril, was so painful that I saw my GP who said it was impetigo.

Yeah my DH was told that his first cold sore was impetigo - the treatment for which made his cold sore ( later diagnosed by way of a test) 100% worse!

Sometimeswinning · 20/01/2023 23:28

Savlon!

EmmaC78 · 20/01/2023 23:33

Another vote for lysine tablets, you can get them in holland and barrett fairly cheaply.

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 21/01/2023 00:20

Try Bactine on a bud?

Wibbly1008 · 21/01/2023 00:24

Zovirax. Works a charm.

avamiah · 21/01/2023 00:30

Wibbly1008 · 21/01/2023 00:24

Zovirax. Works a charm.

Yes I always have a fresh one in the cupboard just in case .
Once you put it on you always feel so much better and know it’s going to get better.

Indoorcatmum · 21/01/2023 00:31

Just buy them online! Super easy

Crazycatladyy · 21/01/2023 00:35

Surgical spirit works for me.

mackthepony · 21/01/2023 01:42

I'd press for the tablets

Cold sores are so painful and debilitating

mackthepony · 21/01/2023 01:44

😮😮 At the polio drops

urbanbuddha · 21/01/2023 04:19

Aloe Vera gel. Boots and Superdrug have it. You don’t need a lot. And start l-lysine tablets.