Cold Sores

[jooles18]

Can anyone recommend something to stop cold sores. I have tried all the usual over the counter methods and herbal stuff but nothing helps.
thanks
Julie

Go to the doctors. They should be able to give you acilivor which is what they put in the creams to treat the herpes infection.

My lip swells up with coldsores but the tablets bring it right down.

Also use oral b toothpaste on it at night. It helps to dry it out and protect it at night and then the patches during the day to help stop the spread.

Tee tree oil is also good to help dry it out.

I should add you can't stop them. Once you have the herpes virus you can't get rid of it. For some people it will stay dormant and they never get another cold sore but for others it's regular.

I usually get mine when I am run down from being ill or tired or stress. So being prepared is always helpful. I have the tablets mentioned above in my drawer ready for when I may get one.

Thanks very much for your help
x

Try to get the aciclivor on prescription - not all doctors will prescribe it but it definitely brings the number of days you have the cold sore

I currently have a collossus double blister on my top lip with half a swollen face to boot. The pain is intense. I have finished a 5 day course of aciclovir tablets which I think I started too late as they did nothing to stop it.

I have tried it all, I take lysine, vitamin C, zinc, lemon balm tea and tincture.

I did take a course of aciclovir for a year once and didnt have a coldsore in that time. I dont get them as bad as I used to, this is an exception for some reason. I get them when I'm run down and stressed.

How is your general health at, you could look at boosting your immunity?

Good luck, they are the pits.

Thanks so much and I feel your pain, its such a horrible thing to have. i have tried all the things you said and nothing seems to help. i have managed to get it to a point that it is not as severe but ideally i dont want them at all. i have just returned from holiday and that is when i get them after being in the sun. i spend my holiday covering up my lips the best i can
thanks for your message

thank you x

I get fewer cold sores when I remember to put on a lib balm with sun screen in it

Lysine lip balm helped to reduce the number of attacks and as I get older I get fewer.

B complex vitamins. I've always been told coldsores are a sign of being run down and so a general body boosting vitamin like b complex is a SAINT for getting rid and keeping them away. Can not recommend it highly enough. As someone who suffered horrendously as a teenager I have not had one in at least 12+ years.

Thank you so much for that. Do you take these daily and all the time
Julie x

I got mine on holiday too. I didn't put lip protection on, had a sick child heading away and was worried that we would be able to go at all.

Once you've got them that it. They are there for life. I was doing really well but have had two massive ones this year so far. Gutted.

I have been taking B complex for the last month too, and had packed some as well as vitamin C and Lysine to take on hols. When mine are bad there is nothing I can do to stop them in their tracks. It's a bloody scurge.

Thanks so much for that. They are horrible things and just wont go away
Julie x

I suffer too with these, they are miserable. The only thing that has helped me is Lysine. You need to take a massive dose as soon as you know the colds it's is coming on. I always feel really tired and ill when they are starting , but the indicators for me are pounding head, extreme thirst and very dry lips followed by a slight throbbing at the point where the cold sore will be emerging.

As soon as I think one is on the way, I take 3 grams of Lysine, then repeat this 3 times a day for the next day or so and the attack will abort it fade away to a very slight one.

I was very sceptical about this but it really does work for me. I'm not sure that I've described the best mode of treatment but google Lysine & coldsore.

I’ve been taking Lysine every day for 6 months and not had once since I started...touch wood! I was getting one every couple of months! Horrible.

I used to get them often but as soon as i get a tingle i constantly coat it in vaseline and never let it dry out until healed. It stops it turning into a blister in 99pc of cases.

In in Aus. As soon as I realise one is starting I get famciclovir OTC- it's 3 tablets you take at once. Doesn't remove virus from your system but does slow down development of sores and can even prevent it from developing if you catch it early.
Also use the lysine, lip balm with SPF as stated above.

I feel for you.

I got some Acclivor from my GP as I had one of my worst ever outbreaks and was going for a job interview. Amazing tablets but GP told me I'd only ever be given it once.

I've read using sunscreen can help as the I'v or something from sun can bring them out, it was a long time ago and truthfully it didn't make a difference to me, I'd get them whenever weather changed, when ill, when tired and when stressed.

I've not had an outbreak for six years now. This is going to sound absolutely awful but my last outbreak was at my Fathers funeral, and it was also the worse outbreak I've ever had, he was a very big source of stress and anxiety for me. I loved him and miss him lots but I've always wondered if the anxiety he caused me played a big part in my outbreaks.

I was underweight and people were saying I was a snack head behind my back (dh heard them) and looking at me with disgust.

Worst I've had since his funeral six years ago is the odd tingle and that seems to happen in summer.

Well my latest stuck to the pillow the other night in my sleep and I woke in agony when I turned. The pain was excruciating and didnt really abate all day yesterday.

I went to out of ours GP in the end who wanted to send me to hospital for IV antibiotics and antivirals. I got him to send me home instead, hav a course of famvir, antibiotics, anti inflammatories and steroids. If no improvement by tomorrow then its hospital. I reckon I'm going in the right direction.

Stress is mostly what causes mine, I then caught a nasty head cold on holiday and forgot sunscreen on my lips.

JustWoman - what nasty comments. I woke up with one starting the morning of my wedding, there are no pictures of my face on honeymoon!

I have not had a cold sore since I stopped using depilatory cream on my top lip. Use tweezers now. Not sure if it is just a coincidence but I never want to chance it by using those creams again.