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Original poster

Cold Sores Any advice

18 replies

singyswife · 21/12/2007 11:21

Hi there I have always been prone to coldsores expecially at this time of year with viruses etc flying about. But I have a particularly bad mouth with them just now. Have a about 4 and look like I have been smacked in the face. Is very painful and uncomfortable and for the first time ever I have had to take piriton to releive symptoms. Does anyone have any advice, have used over the counter remedies which sometime work, but not this time. Thanks

OP posts:
cadeLaideInAManger · 21/12/2007 11:24

Oh singy, i do sympathise.
Nothing has ever worked for me but blistex.
I do try to prevent them now, apparently they can be brought on by extremes of temperature so the minute it gets cold i pile on blistex to stop my lips getting dry, once they crack just the slightest bit the virus gets in and you've had it.
Not much help to you now though, hope you feel better soon.

Blandmum · 21/12/2007 11:26

Right, I've used acyclovir for years and of late find that it doesn't do much.

I'm probably the MNetter least likely to suggest anything 'alternative' but I will pass on something which I find massively helpful.

Witch hazel gel stick. It can hurt like fuck putting it on (if the blisters are in any way 'open), but it cools down the area and reduces swelling. At also seems to speed up getting rid of them. I find that if you use at right at the start of the cold sore it can stop them fully developing

Original poster
singyswife · 21/12/2007 11:26

Thanks. YEah It is normally at this time of year that I am bad and in the summer if my lips get burnt. It is terrible the whole side of my face feels like it has been punched. Oh its a joy, I have always had them since ever I can remember but I dont recall ever having it this bad. Never mind, we must get on eh!!

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LilRedMummyGiraffe · 21/12/2007 11:26

Have you tried Fenistil? In my opinion it is far better than Zovirax.

Failing that, here are my survival strategies:

  1. Take painkillers.
  2. Wrap an ice-cube in foil and hold it over the coldsore(s). The cold takes the swelling down nicely and numbs the area.
  3. Drink lots of wine.
  4. DO NOT under any circumstances eat salt and vinegar crisps!
Original poster
singyswife · 21/12/2007 11:27

Thanks, have been to the shop and purchased the wine as this was my plan. Kids have eaten all the sal and vinegar crisps so they have saved me from the tortcher (spelling). Thanks for the advice it made me laugh at least.

OP posts:
Original poster
singyswife · 21/12/2007 11:28

Where would I get a witch hazel gel stick?? Would a normal chesmist sell them? Am willing to give anything a go but might have llots of wine first so that it doesnt hurt like fuck. Thanks for the advice.

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Blandmum · 21/12/2007 11:30

boots sell them. there are like a fat lipstick and light blue in colour. they are really supposed to be used on zits, but a mate of mine in work told me about them , and I have found it so helpful. Reduces that 'fat lip' feeling almost instantly.

Stings tho!

Original poster
singyswife · 21/12/2007 11:31

Think I will give that a go. Thanks

OP posts:
LilRedMummyGiraffe · 21/12/2007 11:35

Meant to say, Fenistil has a different active ingredient to Zovirax (acyclovir), which like MB said, seems to stop working after a while.

Original poster
singyswife · 21/12/2007 11:36

Yeah used to use a product called action which worked really well but seems to be doign sod all this time.

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smartiejake · 21/12/2007 18:06

Have been told that this is very effective. I haven't ordered one yet as they are supposed to be available on the NHS from Jan 2008.
Several mnetters on a thread not long ago recommended them
In the mean timeI do find fenestil very good. Clears them up much quicker that zovirax and I have used it many times over the last year and it still seems to be working (unlike zovirax)
Other things I have found useful- rescue remedy, silica gel, lemon balm teabags and liquorice balm (Can you tell I get alot of the little blighters!.)
I was also recomended the combination of l L-lysene, zinc and acidophulus tablets to keep them away.

MaureenMLovesmincepies · 21/12/2007 18:50

L-Lysine. Its a herbal remedy that you can get from Hollland & Barrett. My dd has started taking it and it really has reduced the amount and length of time she has them for. Luckily for her, she gets them when she is just getting over a cold, so we are ready with the tablets, but it really has made a difference. Be warned though, they are like horse tablets!

frazzledmother · 21/12/2007 19:01

I have found ice cubes good to reduce the swelling & pain but don't leave the ice on too long. Use a new ice cube each time. You can use it very frequently. It seems to speed up the period when the coldsore is growing & reduce its size. I only started doing this when the zivorax stopped working well

constancereader · 21/12/2007 19:09

Those patches work brilliantly - compeed. They stop the sore from developing further and you can put make up on top if you want. As long as you are careful putting them on they are invisible to other people. It dries out the coldsore and makes it go away faster.

goingfor3christmaspuddings · 21/12/2007 19:13

I was told the patches are just a cover up and don't contain any active ingrediants by someone in Boots. i have had a cold sore somewhere around my mouth for weeks now. I will ask the gp about the cold sore machine though at £45 it's an expensive item for them to prescribe and I'm pregnant so they will probably use that as an excuse not to!

Original poster
singyswife · 22/12/2007 18:40

Hi, I started this post but I had to let you all in on sonthing that I have discovered. Someone recomended witch hazel and when I spoke to someone else they told me that they had been advised to use prep H for tatoos as it contained witch hazel to reduce swelling and had an aneasthetic in it. I thought I would give it a go, I used it twice last night and my coldsores are soooooooo much better today. Hardly sore, very little swelling and they had dried out really well. Just thought I would share that with you all. Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
singyswife · 22/12/2007 18:40

Hi, I started this post but I had to let you all in on sonthing that I have discovered. Someone recomended witch hazel and when I spoke to someone else they told me that they had been advised to use prep H for tatoos as it contained witch hazel to reduce swelling and had an aneasthetic in it. I thought I would give it a go, I used it twice last night and my coldsores are soooooooo much better today. Hardly sore, very little swelling and they had dried out really well. Just thought I would share that with you all. Thanks

OP posts:
Surfermum · 22/12/2007 18:50

I've had them for years and found that Zovirax doesn't work any more. I've also started taking L-Lysine. They're the size of horse tranquilisers (well actually I don't know how big horse tranx are but these are feckin' huge). Anyway, they work brilliantly and can cut down the severity and how long I have a cold sore for, and they only last 2-3 days. Highly recommended.

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