Cold sores - what works?!?

[nodogz]

I am so sick of having a scabby face!

i think I’m doing all the preventative stuff so this may turn into a dry them out vs keep the moisturised question First thing. Im under a fair bit of prolonged stress at the moment, but I'm taking good care of myself. l can’t see demands rising but unlikely to see stress levels reduce for another six months. However, this explains why my immune system has taken a hit.

im getting a big cold sore every other month. They appear on my skin on the philtrum (between nose and mouth). I get limited warning, no tingle, often I just notice the skin is a bit red in the mirror. I ice immediately (which used to work) and take aciclovir tablets. I also started to supplement with L-lysine every morning. This seems to skip the bubble stage but I still end up with a big sore on my face which can’t be concealed and they take 1-2weeks to pass. I can see the skin is damaged by the regular blisters.

If I can’t prevent them, what speeds up their passing? Dry them up with medical alcohol? Or keep them moisturised? I don’t care about pain, my vanity is higher than my pain threshold.

Medical history: coeliac and gluten free, 20yr history of very low iron. Had an iron infusion in August which doesn’t seem to have helped. B12 runs low too every couple of years but eat meat and dairy. Massively fatigued this year but GPs don’t give a shit despite 10+ visits. Fairly good and varied unprocessed diet. Sleeping 7-8 hours a night but only feel rested after 10 (which is not comparable with real life). 46 but not feeling any peri apart from the rage!

Had loads of life events in the last 15 months but actually pretty happy and coping well (illness requiring hospitalisation, work reorg,
shit job and management, caring for two very ill family members, prolonged unexplained fatigue, surprise separation, dealing with 95% of the emotional and practical fallout of divorce with kids and unsuccessful house sale, bereavement, living on a budget etc).

i can cope fine but would feel better without a scabby herpes face! (The annoying thing is I never had an outbreak until mid/late 30s)

How much aciclovir do you take?

L-lysine tablets every day.

Seconding L-Lysine. Haven't had symptoms in decades now.

Increase your vitamin c and iron intake.

Ask your GP for further investigations for persistent fatigue - you can request this under Jess' rule. You shouldn't have to live with this level of exhaustion.

At the first tingle I take 400mg aciclovir. Then I take every two hours for a day. I even wake up at night to take it. When the tingle comes back I take another one. Usually I can stop it developing. This is overdosing I know. But it’s only for a day or two. I hate cold sores so much. They’re painful too. And if you can test and sleep a lot.

Yes to the lysine!! Every day! Fellow coeliac here too ☺️

Bio Propolis lip care ointment at the first sign of a tingle and several times a day can stop it developing at all - many disappear again in a couple of days and never turn into a full blown cold sore

I think the problem is I don’t get a tingle. I just notice the area is red and swelling in the mirror. And then I’m stuck with it.

ill continue with l-lycine and take religiously. I’ve just been using aciclovir as prescribed, so every 4-6 hour, but looks like I could up that too. Plus more vit c too. Iron is harder as I neither tolerate it or absorb it but I did have an entire person-sized amount of iron tipped into my veins last month (which I couldn’t afford).

I’m progressing referrals via the GP for further investigations but it’s a long and frustrating process. They were a fantastic practice but they’ve been absorbed into a bigger group whose remit is indifference or telling you you’re depressed/hysterical. Not great but luckily I’m a stubborn cow with sharp elbows and a list of receipts.

another vote for L-Lysine. suffered for years, maybe getting one every other month, recommended this by an assistant in holland and barrett, i was sceptical but decided to give it a go for 6 months and they stopped. stayed on it for about 15 years, stopped taking (due to a lot of medical issues and wanted a clear board) had 2 in 5 years.

Mine aren't that bad, I do get a tingle and always carry acyclovir cream, but if I am a bit late starting it and they develop I always put the compeed cold sore plasters over them, they work better on normal skin than on lips, they make a massive difference to both pain and appearance. Change them a couple of times a day till it is healed.