Gigantic cold sores :(

[EbonyWood]

I get the most disgusting cold sores every 6 months. They literally look like a crust yellow cornflake on my face. It can sometimes turn into impetigo.

Alongside this, I get extremely tired and feverish.

I get the usual cream, stay hydrated etc but is there anything else I can do?!

quite honestly when I get a cold sore now I just cancel my plans and stay inside for a week because they look so hideous. It’s just so annoying

I have recently got aclyivor tablets through an online pharmacy. You can in theory get a GP to prescribe them if you can get an appointment but I found easy to get online. They really make a massive difference when taken at the first tingle.

Lysine supplements. One a day, or 3 a day when you have a cold sore.

I take lysine and have gone from every couple of months to a couple of times a year - and they are nowhere near as bad. I used to be like you, in agony with weeping scans. Now I just seem to get small bumps that don't spread.

Private acyclovir prescription - can get the tablets online from Superdrug or similar. Absolute gamechanger.

Another vote for L-lyseine. I take one a day then a couple if I think I'm getting a CS.
Also I like to dry them out rather than cream. So use tea tree oil and dab on often. I feel I heels quicker.
Hate them 🤦‍♀️

Take lysine daily and then 3 a day when you have a cold sore. By aciclovior tablets to take too. There is also a thing you can buy on Amazon that you hold over the area for a few second that is amazing. It heats up. There is also an LED version but I don't know if you can buy that anymore. It was called virulight

I have suffered with exactly the same and I take acyclovir tablets 2x daily to suppress it. As soon as I miss one to two, it comes back with a vengeance. The doctor prescribed this and the theory is that eventually it might completely disappear. I take more (three a day) if I get an outbreak. Go and see the doctor- they can help with this and I understand how horrible they are. Good luck

Yy to all previous suggestions along with a light zapper thing I have - they really do reduce the severity

also as I have got older they occur less.

Lysene didn’t work for me. The only thing that stopped them was acyclovir on prescription- taken every day or at least every day or two. They are horrible things.

Yes this. Also massive dose of Lysine at the first sign.

Forget all the creams. Go to Holland & Barrett and get 1000mg of Vitamin C. 6/7 tablets 3-4 times a day. I guarantee 2 days and it will dry. When you feel it just coming, the itching feeling you take 6 tablets maybe twice and it will never appear. I tried Acyclovir, lysine, heat treatment until I found Vitamin C.

I second L-lysine.

These are as good as prescribed medication

I can solve the crusty cornflake - comped cold sore patches. As soon as it appears straight on. Change when it's lifting, not the recommended time! This way it a clean heal, no crust or scab. Far less chance of it bleeding. Honestly this has helped me so much.

L Lysine everyday

Another vote for acyclovir. A decent GP would make sure you have a prescription for an emergency supply so that you can take them as soon as you have an attack.

I had dreadful cold sores constantly until I used the light zapper gadget pp mentioned. Ten years on I hardly ever get one (I think I’ve had one in three years).

I will link it in a second

The one I have is called Virulite

Just seen this one is sold by boots https://www.boots.com/herpotherm-cold-sore-heat-treatment-device-10261504

Do you know your triggers? I know mine are sunlight and lack of sleep so dog lip balm helps avoid a bit.