Is there any way to speed up the suppurating wet branflake phase? Enormous cold sore.

[sprigatito]

It's got to be some sort of record breaker, it's huge. Upper lip, spreading onto the philtrum so very noticeable and unsightly. It's gone through the angry-red-cauliflower phase and entered the slimy-wet-branflake stage. Hurts like buggery. I'm plastering it with Zovirax, but it's too late for it to have much effect really. Any magical folk remedies? I will try literally anything!

No wouldn't use that on a child. Hope your DD's marks will fade.

Definitely Zovirax all day, cold sore plasters all night - doesn't necessarily speed up healing for me but makes it look a lot less minging and makes it less painful!

Wot no photo OP? 🙏

L-lysine tablets daily.
Also, toothpaste on it will dry it up.

(I know I shouldn’t do this, but last time I felt the tingling and saw the blister start I got a sterilised pin and burst it, being careful not to spread it. Whacked TCP on it, and Zovirax cream and it was only a red mark which faded after a few days).

I also get Lip Q cream from the Skin Shop.

A thick layer of Sudocrem overnight.

I get these too, but I’ve started taking a high strength daily vitamin D tablet and haven’t had one since Feb!

This stuff https://amzn.eu/d/9hqy1x2
Absorbs moisture and dries it out (same stuff as the little packets in handbags and shoe boxes!)

Boots uses to sell a zapper. Worked miracles.

Lysiene and more lysiene - even taking it now will help.

I had a horrendous affliction with this - the sores were appearing down two nerves on both sides of my face - I had simultaneous coldsores on my nose, lips and chin on both sides, repeatedly. I was really fed up and felt quite unwell too.

I saw a specialist (Bupa) and he told me two things. I took the aciclovir tablets for 3 months straight which resolved the outbreak. I then took lysiene daily, as per his directive, but take an extra dose in spring and if I’m going away anywhere sunny (sunlight is a trigger). I also take an extra dose if I’m run down (ie cold/virus) or if I’m stressed.

it’s now under control. It’s still worth taking it now OP - it can reduce the outbreak length massively.

I know it is too late for prevention now, but for future, lipsalve with licorice extract and l lysine really helped me. Must be extract, not just flavour, for the active ingredient.

I also find that applying the zovirax cream thickly results in a bigger sore. Even and thin smear is better. I think when it is thick it sort of dries into the lip and stays.

I don't think I can bear to take a photo of it! Just imagine a large flake of Special K soaked in greenish slime, stuck on top of an angry red boil. It's gross.

I've always found this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cymex-236505-Cream-5g/dp/B001E97B0I

works better than zovirax.

If you really want to dry it out, try a dab of acetone nail polish (not the acetone free). Hurts like hell and I'm sure it's unwise, but I've done it when desperate and it's worked.

You can buy acyclovir tablets on private prescription from online chemists e.g. Superdrug. These tablets have changed my life!! They are the only remedy that actually works imo.

In future. As soon as you feel that tingle.
https://herpotherm.com/de-en/
And L lysine every day

Burn it with a metal spoon after putting it in boiling water. Works best when you feel the tingle but honestly any stage speeds it up. Probably not medically recommended but 🤷‍♀️ it works

Another one to say lysene. Every day and double up if you get that tingle. I went from monthly infections to the odd outbreak that is nowhere near as bad.

You can order aciclover online at Superdrug or other online pharmacies

I was advised by my Dr to take arginine as well as the lysine I was taking, and my skin was so dry I was getting 1 cold sore after another, seems to have helped.
Also maybe too late for you now OP, but if its still at the burning stage, I hold ice against the area, for as long as possible, as often as I can. Takes the burn away

Boots cold sore cream dabbed on as often as you want works. Also Tesco cold sore cream

I've found both to be really effective against cold sores and clears them up in just a couple of days

Another vote for nail varnish remover. At this stage you need to dry it out so no amount of any cream or lotion is going to help. I’ve also had some success with making a salt paste and applying that and leaving it to dry out.

once it’s dry and fully scabbed then go in with sudocream or Vaseline. Not before though.

agree as well with high strength vitamins. I never used to get them while taking daily vitamins plus extra vit D.

Lysine tablets and the lysine ointment to apply topically 👌

Won't be popular on here but a Forever Living Aloe Lips is the best thing I've found. Was recommended to me and having used Zovirax for years it's far better. Can keep it at bay if you catch it early enough and heals it quickly if you don't. I do find Savlon can cause it to blow up even bigger. I had one similar to what you're describing about 6 weeks ago - horrific. Worse one I've ever had that developed while I was asleep.

Coconut nut oil worked wonders for me.

In addition to the topical stuff to help now, to prevent recurrence, take a B vitamin supplement - make sure it includes Vitamin B12. Best taken last thing before sleep, ideally with milk, definitely without alcohol or tea.