Cold sores after sitting in sun for 5 minutes!

[Ilikeviognier]

As above. Wtf. I literally sat outside for 5 minutes at lunch time and then 10 mins after that - eruptions on both sides of my lip. Yes I’m a sufferer but that has never happened before. It will last for days as well and it kills.

Am I meant to stay out of the sun like a vampire now? Help!

Sets mine off too. You need to put sun cream on. SPF 50 on lips.

I keep zovirax in the cupboard just incase. It's six pounds on Amazon. Plan to get vaccinated against it. I went private and paid. Job done!

I feel ignorant now.. what vaccination?

Google vaccination for shingles. It all pops up. Boots do it for a fee. My doc said I had to wait until I was old enough. But it was moving nearer my head and in my hair. I know a lady who lost an eye from it. Blow that, I paid and fell much better

Vaccination against cold sores? I’ve not heard of this? I’ve had 4 so far this year and I’m thoroughly fed up. I’d be willing to get a vac for sure if such a thing exists!

OK

1. get the tablets from your doctor
2. mine have stopped since I started taking beef collagen.

but that also might be my age (50)

Oh also Vitasorb from the pound shop is £1.50

@Fuckfacetime I have acyclovir already - granted I don’t take it religiously so maybe I need to start doing so again. Thoroughly fed up though. I look and feel awful. I had to go to an important work event yesterday with two horrible cold sores :(

@Zuve You don't seem to realise cold sores and shingles are caused by a completely different virus. You can get shingles only if you have had chickenpox because you can't totally get rid of the virus. And the shingles vaccine is certainly not 100% effective. I had it because I thought anything to lessen the chances was worth it. I don't think there is a herpes or cold sores vaccine.

I had this on holiday once. Strong sun now seems to set mine off. I can’t use the creams they seem to make mine worse. I take l-lysine tablets daily and they seem to reduce the severity of mine and I get the tablets from the dr when I’m going abroad or when I’m in a phase of recurrent outbreaks
i also found using propolis lip salve made a huge difference I the severity and frequency of mine I think the brand is herstat

I used to get them regularly but since taking lysine I haven't had one for years

Same!! Lysine absolutely changed the game for me, swear by it.
also edited to say found Zovirax completely useless however you can get oral aciclovir from the Superdrug GP service

I took zinc everyday for a couple of years.
I dont get cold sores anymore.
Try it.

Lycene work, take them religiously.

Another vote for Lysine, I take two at the onset of a cold sore, kills it stone dead. Good for treating mouth ulcers as well.

Use sunscreen lip balm as can help prevent this

L-lysine and tons of vaseline knocks them for me when I get the dreaded tingle.

I’ve just looked it up and sadly yes there is no vaccine for the cold sore virus :(

I don’t think you’re meant to take it for any longer than 6 months? Works well for me for a good while after though and then I go back on it again when I start getting them again.

I've found the compeed stickers a game changer for the pain and unsightlyness.

As soon as I can feel one coming I put one on, it really contains it, stops the air getting to it so it's not so sore, hides the manky blister (yes you have a sticker on but it's much less noticeable than the white cream) and seems to clear them up quicker.

I've been taking lysine daily but ultimately the sun and being run down/having dry lips from a boozy weekend 😳will trigger them for me.

I take aciclovir twice a day religiously and wear factor 50 lip balm - if I don’t do that then it’s outbreak central. On holiday I wear cricketers sun block on my lips (in pink!) You’ve gotta work out how much it bothers you compared to how much hassle it is to remember to take the tablets unfortunately. I never, ever forget as I know how much I will suffer otherwise. Sorry it’s not better advice.

Is your GP happy for you to take it long term? Mine said 6 months at a time max.

I’ve had acyclovir for a few years - I don’t take it every day - which is why they send to have started coming back! Last year I barely had any but I m now on number 4 this year!

Can someone recommend a good sunblock for lips? Thanks

Vaccinated? There's a vaccine?