Cold sores - please help!

[Alwayschanging1]

Any time I am in the sun for a few hours I seem to end up with cold sores. Not just the odd one - my entire bottom lip swells up and is completely covered in sores. It is hideous and extremely painful. I used to sail quite a bit and had to cover my whole face with a snood to stop this happening, but I can't really do that on the beach. I've just come back from a week in Italy and my face is a mess.
Any ideas about how I can prevent this?

Sounds like I have missed the window for anything helping this time.
I feel like an idiot for not going to the GP - I've always through that cold sores were things you just lived with!

So my plan now is:

1. Lysine pills - ordered!
2. Lysine cream - ordered!
3. Light machine - in stock at local Boots, will pick one up later.
4. Stock up on pencyclovir for next time.
5. Take piccy into docs with me next time I go and talk to her about what to do next time it happens.
6. Wear a paper bag over my head on holiday. You've got to admit it's an improvement.

Ouch, looks very sore. I have found the nivea yellow lip balm sticks to be good in the past but think they are only SPF 15. You can slather it on though. Are you taking ibuprofen? I always take as soon as I feel one starting. It seems to help take the swelling out of them which stops them joining up so much. And helps with the pain, of course. And as someone else said, the compressor patches are good for smaller ones and again stop the joining up effect so they heal quicker. Might be worth getting for next time to put on as soon as you get them.

I have had cold sores since I was little, and I have tried everything in the book. The only thing that 100% works for me these days is nail polish remover. All those creams that I got at boots and perscribed by the GP didn't really do much for me, especially since mine would spread super fast. Next time you feel a cold sore coming or if you see it come, even if it is a bubble already - put some nail polish remover with acetone on a cotton bud and keep it on your cold sore for 45 seconds, take it off, then in 5 minutes for 2, minutes, take it off, and then repeat the process every half an hour - 45 mins, until it goes away (It WILL burn like hell sometimes but it really helps and cold sores go away in a matter of hours)! Do try it! If you don't fancy trying that, consistent use of aloe vera gel and tiger balm also help - but when I say consistent I mean it - every 20-30 minutes do it again. That helps. And for the most ridicilous sounding tip ever - put ear wax on cold sore. Goes away like a charm, disgusting yes, but works

Compeed not compressor patches!

ear wax - off to check out teenage son's ears right now. There's usually a good supply in there! And it's the same colour as the sores so no-one will notice!

Oh, yes, very sore looking, i would go to the drs with those, and yes, as you say, what about next time? Can they give you something to keep at home as i have the same problem, often its too late to get to the drs. The damage is done...
Please try the ice today, hopefully will reduce the soreness

Get total sun block from GP (available on prescription I think). It's the only thing I've found that prevents them. Just put it on your lips and top lip. It is white but if you rub it in it's ok.
I find once you have them they have to run their course which isn't nice, but this stops the uv so stops the trigger.

Sunblock sunblock sunblock and a hat on hols . Only thing that prevents! On hols I would also put on a preventative slather of Zovirax or something similar such as vir relief when going to bed so that you don't wake up with them in the morning or at least minimise chances. They are so sneaky they pop up with me overnight... Especially if exposed to lots of sun.

HI - just to let you know I tried everything suggested and found that the thing that really worked was the oral acylovir. Spent a day in a boat - which ALWAYS triggers a huge attack - when it started brewing I tried all the creams/light machine etc, with little effect but the pills stopped it dead in its track. Fantastic. Thank you!