cold sores - what do you use?

[yajorome]

Argh, after about 7 years of having no cold sores, I have one starting. I can't go out tonight to get anything, but can stop by the chemist first thing tomorrow. What should I get?

Grr, I hate the damn things.

zovirax is good, and next time you'll recognise the tingly feeling, use it and it'll come to nothing, it's brilliant stuff.

even though the advert is cr*p

I agree & defo use it at first tingle!

agree - don't be fooled into those transparent patches - when you have to peel them off, they hurt like buggery -

Oh, thank you! I'd kiss you but don't think you'd appreciate it at the moment.

Maybe you wouldn't want random internet strangers kissing you anyway, I suppose.

Thanks again.

Yes zovirax and also have you every tried a herbal remedy called L-Lysine. You take them every day and it stops the little buggers coming out in the first place! My friend swears by it!

And I will stay away from the transparent patches, too! Thanks.

L-Lysine sounds good, too - I'll keep an eye out.

Yes, L-Lysine is good. I used to use Zovirax but found it stopped working. I tried L-Lysine instead and they really stop the cold sore in its tracks. The tablets are the size of horse tranquilisers (actually I have no idea what horse tranx look like, so let's just say these tablets are HUGE) but if you can get past that and swallow them they're worth it!

I don't take them all the time, as soon as I feel a cold sore starting I take one every couple of hours on the first day, then less frequently the next day. It used to take well over a week for my sores to go before, but with L-Lysine I'd say its 3-4 days if I don't catch it early enough - but I've stopped one developing too.

I've just put my dd (11) on them, as recommended by my friend and yes they are bardy huge! I have to cut them in four for her! Poor thing gets them so bad, but luckily we know that they are triggered by a cold. So if we give them to her as soon as she gets a cold, we should be OK! fingers crossed!

I also swear that taking vitamin C has stopped me being prone to the blardy horrid things!

l-lysine is brilliant - haven't had one for years now...
also, i try and avoid too much chocolate, apparently it can stimulate the virus... not sure where i heard that though. sounds mental to me.

I found those transparent patches were brilliant. I shoved one on ds at night time and one on dh and they worked a treat. I didn't ask whether they hurt or not though .

virulite I've only had one cold sore since having children, but would be tempted by this if they start to get more regular.

I have given up using any of the treatments from the chemists, I now use something called Liquorice Balm by a company called the Skin Shop, I got it 2 years ago and have yet to get a cold sore, I use it as soon as I get the tingle and its gone within a couple of hours. Their store is online and when I bought it it was £10.99, pretty pricey but am still on the same pot and I use it quite alot.

I think the trigger is personal. My friend suffered for years and discovered that it was citrus fruit. She loved oranges - stopped eating them and stopped getting cold sores. DD, always gets a coldsore after she's had a cold.

I also recommend Virulite. I constantly had cold sores on my lip and used to use Zovirax but it stopped working for me. My MIL bought my a Virulite for my birthday a few years ago and have hardly had a cold sore since. The occasional one I have had has cleared up really quickly with the Virulite. It is expensive but for someone who gets cold sores frequently it is well worth.