Cold sores - any top tips?!

[sophied1983]

I get recurrent cold sores, particularly around period. They do my head in and make me feel so self conscious.

Other than Zovirax - any remedies that have worked for you?

Hello
Have you tried L-Lysine? I used to take a 1000mg L-lysine tablet (one per day). As soon as you get an inkling of an impending cold sore, also use the Lysine gel from H&B, as a topical treatment. Both of them work a treat

I find Zovirax next to useless tbh. I also recommend L-lysine and when it's particularly bad I've bought Acyclovir on the web rather than wait for a doctor's appointment to try and get them to prescribe it (which they don't seem to like to do).

Avoid nuts, peas, chocolate, anything with a lot of Arginine in it.

I also have one of the little zapper machines from Boots which I find does help.

L-lysine. I don't get breakouts at all whilst doing this.
You are supposed to take a break every now and then of a few months. I take it for 6months with a 2month break. Testing says it's safe to take continuously for up to one year.

Also try to recognise what your triggers are. Mind is: too much sugar, stress, being run down. So I double my 500mg of l-lysine and take vit c for example if I notice I'm getting run down or overly stressed

I also recommend lysine and i hold ice onto my skin as often as i can if i can feel a cold sore coming

I have just ordered some Lysine tablets, so fingers crossed they help.

I've had three sores in the last week or two. Definitely coincide with my period. Really gets me down :(

I get recurrent ones too and my Doc prescribed me aciclovir tablets which I take every day.....but I know I am lucky as seems most docs won't do that.

I feel your pain. I used to get really frequent cold sores. Acyclovir just s
Doesn't work for me any more although I have been given anti viral tablets from the GP which do work well. I have tried everything going- l-lysine, lemon balm, zappers, liquorice you name it... However I found this other anti viral cream called Fenestil which still works really well for me after many years of use. I get it on line ( as the pharmacies don't seem to sell it.) but I find it very effective.

The other think I have discovered recently are the compeed cold sore patches- they are a bugger to get on but once you get the knack they are very good at quickening the demise of the sores- the last two I had didn't crust over. It does depend on where in your lip they come up though- if it is close to inside your mouth it makes it too wet to stay in place.

It's horrible, I used to get them every few months and then after 2 pregnancies I very rarely get them anymore which is strange. Have heard a few good reports from others about lysine, never tried it myself, but made a mental note in case they start coming back as I'd give it a go.