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Original poster

Cold sore miracle cure?

30 replies

BlisterFace · 14/05/2015 16:25

Regular poster but namechanged because whilst a spot of mild herpes on my face may be trivial, right now I feel like sawing off my own head.

I have suffered from cold sores on my face for 20 years. I have been taking Lysine, Zinc and a multi-vitamin long-term and typically got one or two every year (which I could cope with!) This year I have literally had a cold sore every fortnight. Current outbreak started about a week ago. Since then I have been taking Zovirax tablets (400mg 5 x per day - I can buy it OTC here) and applying Valtrex cream and tea tree oil regularly. Despire this, the fuckers are taking over my face and 2 new patches of blisters appeared today.

I am veh plain and respectable, but from the neck up I look like I have a serious crystal meth problem. I HATE them and I feel dirty and I want to cry. DH won't come near me, refuses to kiss me or sleep in the same bed and has started calling me Typhoid Mary, which does not help matters.

Please, please MN'ers give me your top tips to rid myself of this poxy pox? I will try almost anything! Flowers

OP posts:
juliascurr · 14/05/2015 16:33

ear wax (your own Grin)
vile but effective

Original poster
BlisterFace · 14/05/2015 16:37

Julia I am desparate enough to try that... Sad

I would need an industrial quantity of ear wax to cover this bastard though.

OP posts:
fourchetteoff · 14/05/2015 16:40

My friend who is a virologist recommended taking a low dose of prophylactic Acyclovir if you get more than a certain number of outbreaks in a year. Perhaps go talk to your GP about that idea?

Flowers I get these too and they don't just make you feel ugly, they are bloody exhausting too.

fuzzywuzzy · 14/05/2015 16:41

Lemon balm cream works also drink it in tea form.

MollyMaDurga · 14/05/2015 16:43

How is your health otherwise? Feel stressed? Sleep okay? Hormones? It could be that you're a bit run down and the heroes is taking advantage. .? Eat well, sleep enough, take 1000 mg vit c.
And kick your lovely h for calling you typhoid Mary and sleeping in another bed, that would give me the rage enough to break out for sure.

MsUumellmahaye · 14/05/2015 16:44

Where can you buy zovirax tabs over the counter, i wanna live there. Feel your pain im sporting a huge one at mo. Proper love typhoid mary thoughGrin

fourchetteoff · 14/05/2015 16:45

YY Molly.

If you are stressed in your body or mind then you are going to be rife with them. Anything that you can improve on on that front? Mine went wild when I was having to move city!

Original poster
BlisterFace · 14/05/2015 16:45

Thanks four.

The only thing I have done differently this year is start using one of those sonic exfoliators on my face. (Obviously I have stopped now that I have active cold sores). I wondered if it has somehow whizzed the little sleeping viroids into action.

I have a GP appointment next week and I am hoping he won't laugh me out of the surgery...

OP posts:
fourchetteoff · 14/05/2015 16:48

No, he won't. Really.

Question him about a low dose of acyclovir and the effectiveness of this treatment. It might be better to be on a lower dose for longer if you can't shake the little bastards.

MollyMaDurga · 14/05/2015 16:50

I'm sure he won't.
Mine did once though after i had an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite and i looked like Quasimodo with half of my face al blown up. Lovely woman otherwise. Grin

Original poster
BlisterFace · 14/05/2015 16:51

Thanks Molly and MsU. I don't think it is stress related this time - I have actually just returned from holiday (and the weather was cloudy, so I can't even blame sunbathing!) Previous outbreaks have definitely been triggered by stress and anxiety, lack of sleep etc though. It's almost as though the first blister I had earlier this year has never properly cleared up.

I will try the Vit C tip too.

DH thinks he is funny Hmm I will give him a bit sloppy herpes kiss instead of a kick, that'll learn him!

OP posts:
OttiliaVonBCup · 14/05/2015 16:53

This might be silly, but are you sure it's cold sores?

Impetigo looks very similar, and won't go away with the treatment you've been having.

Halfling · 14/05/2015 16:53

Moa balm helps heal my Mum's cold sores. She gets them mainly around her lips.

ExitPursuedByABear · 14/05/2015 16:54

Slapping cheap after shave on immediately you feel the tickle.

Although in reality, nothing works.

How old are you?

I had them from birth until about 40 and I rarely get them now.

Shit, why oh why did I type that. Just thinking about them can bring them on!

I once had them spread over all my bottom lip and half my top lip.

And once on holiday the sun spread one blighter right down my chin.

I have no lip line.

Kind regards

A fellow sufferer.

ouryve · 14/05/2015 16:54

Mine break out if I do anything harsh to my face, so it's entirely possible that the exfoliator has brought them out. I got a nasty break out after using a peeling facemask, once.

Your GP shouldn't laugh at you. It's not a pleasant situation to be in and it's his job to help you.

I've given up on Zovirax, entirely - I just blitz them with super lysine ointment or lip balm at the first tingle, which is usually just as my period is ending. The only ones that doesn't stop in their tracks are the ones up my nose - in fact it seems to chase them up there - but it really does work. I think because it helps the skin heal and not crack, more than anything else

Lovethebubbles · 14/05/2015 16:56

Licorice lip balm is meant to help..... I'm sure it's not a miricale cure but I remember reading an article in the paper and one woman swore by it. Maybe see what Google says about it.... Worth a try anyway!

OttiliaVonBCup · 14/05/2015 16:56

Also, the Zovirax pills, is that Valtrex?

Valtrex works.

Original poster
BlisterFace · 14/05/2015 16:58

Someone else mentioned lemon balm so I will give that a whirl too. I am also using one of those pulsed light machines. (Overkill, much?) Grin

I hadn't thought of impetigo. I will check with the GP next week, but I think it's cold sores as it feels exactly the same as previous outbreaks. (Tingly and dry lips).

Thanks all Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
BlisterFace · 14/05/2015 17:02

Sorry Exit! (I feel your pain - I once commented to my sister that I hadn't had a cold sore for MONTHS then woke up the next day with an absolute belter brewing...)

Ottilia the Zovirax pills are acciclovir so I think just the tablet version of the cream. Like the cream, they don't seem to do much of anything. I also bought Valtrex cream OTC and it seems to be drying them up a little. I don't think I can buy Valtrex in tablet form but I will throw myself on the GP's mercy next week after spending the weekend wearing a bag on my head

OP posts:
OttiliaVonBCup · 14/05/2015 17:05

Vaulter pills are different, I looked them up. Beg the GP for them.

Also, try the zapper.

cuntyMcCunterson · 14/05/2015 17:39

I get awful cold sores and the site swells up too so it look deformed and actually have phoned in sick from work cos I cannot bear folk looking at my extra head!!
I got aciclovir tablets from the Dr the last time I had one and he sympathised with how bad it was he even though made the WFT is that face when I walked in!
I find that the tabs along with aftershave or neat vodka helps dry it up. I hold an ice cube wrapped in a cloth on it too which helps a bit with the swelling/pain too. But I'm still searching for the miracle cure that stops them in their tracks

Original poster
BlisterFace · 15/05/2015 09:21

Thank you lovely vipers!

I went to the pharmacy last night and cried to the pharmacist. (He also pulled the WTF face so I made him feel guilty). Grin he confirmed it was heroes not impetigo and I now have Valtrex tablets (also available here OTC apparently but more commonly used for genital rather than facial outbreaks). I also found some ointment called Fenistil in the back of a drawer which I am merrily slapping on. This is Penciclovir. I have ditched the acyclovir because it does bugger all IME.

My mum advised cold used tea bags and staying indoors. (Thanks! Hmm) Now I am off to try Cunty's neat vodka tip! (

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABear · 15/05/2015 13:30

The only good thing about getting oral herpes is apparently it makes one immune to genital herpes.

Every cloud eh!

Hope your outbreak clears up soon

BumbleNova · 15/05/2015 13:40

you poor thing I also suffer a lot and currently have a beautiful crop (sob!). I think mine are caused by UV light and I really regret leaving the house on a sunny day without serious sunblock on my lips. is where you are sunny? apparently its quite common for them to be caused by UV light. I really think the light machine makes a big difference. and the other really great discovery I have made is "herplex" serum. It basically seals the sore completely, a bit like those spray on plasters. it seems to make them look less gross and really help the healing - especially at the scab stage since you cant knock it off.

i've just been to my doctor for a prescription, I find it helps just getting my immune system back.

Original poster
BlisterFace · 15/05/2015 15:01

It is Bumble, but I just got back from 2 weeks in a cloudy and grey part of the U.S.! Can't blame stress on this occasion, but I am thinking my new sonic screwdriver exfoliator is the culprit. Which is bloody annoying because apart from the giant festering herpes, my skin is great! Grin

Thanks everyone for the great advice.

OP posts: