Coldsores. Anyone tried Boots Electronic coldsore machine?

[monkeysmama]

Has anyone tried this from Boots for coldsores? I am having a particularly bad outbreak - five and counting - and am thinking of buying one of these for next time.

I have one I got from Lloyds Chemist and would recommend it. It certainly lessens the severity and length of outbreaks for me.

If you are having a lot tho it might be an idea to ask your GP for a course of Aciclovir tablets. They seem to keep the virus damped down.

Another tip is to ice the little swine as soon as you feel it nest. ( You should see me wandering around with an ice pop stuck to my lip.) Best wishes.

Thanks Trumpton. I would pay a fortune for a cure!

I find a mixture of light therapy and aciclovir cream seems to help me cope. Beastly horrible foul things !

Light therapy Trumpton?

I have it; didn't do much for me unfortunately.

Sorry to be confusing...... The electronic cold sore machine works by emitting a narrow range light ....Hence me calling it light therapy. Ah well one for and one against for the machine. I guess you pays your money and takes your choice (or not)

Have used a cold sore machine (mine is a virulite) and although it seems to make them go more quickly it doesn't (IME) stop them from coming and I found that the more I used it the less effective it became.

Acyclovir cream has no effect on me any more but I did get tablets from the doctor which are very effective. I took them for a month and now just use them when I feel the tingle. They are definitely lessening the number of attacks. Can't remember the last time I had a really big cold sore (having previouslyt had them almost monthly for 5 years.)

Fenestil cream is very effective also if applied quite liberally.

I'm with Trumpton - Try an ice cube on it when you first feel the tingle, kills the virus!

Dragging up an old thread in case anyone can update. Is the boots machine the same as the Virulite? I had the virulite for several years and it was great - reduced pain, severity and greatly reduced the frequency of cold sores. It's broken now and I want to replace it ASAP.

I used to suffer terribly and became an expert . I found the best way to cope with them was at the first tingle use a patch . Leave it on 24 hours a day for the first 48 hours . Then take it off and let it scab . It will be gone in around 10 days . Without patchesy face swelled and it spread but this method worked really well for me .

I had trouble finding one but did finally. Since then they have been removed from sale with no explanation from Boots. I got mine in Dundee Boots months ago.

I have to admit I have had a few warning tingles but not actually had a cold sore this summer....so maybe they do work.
If you get to the bottom of why they are not for sale now please let me know. Thanks

I find using zilactin really helps when i have a breakout. First tried in America and wont go back to uk brands now. it puts a skin on them to stop cracking and bleeding, im not going to lie, it stings like a bastard for a few seconds but worth it

www.amazon.co.uk/Zilactin-Cold-Sore-Gel-Medicated/dp/B000GGKQKC?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Friend of mine used to get continual cold sores. Then he started taking linseed supplements. He hasn't had a cold sore since. Maybe he was just lucky. But worth a go?

Yes I have used it with variable results. The earlier you use it the better. Sometimes I stop using it too soon.

It's so, so miserable having cold sores so even if it helps sometimes?somewhat, it's worth it!

Do you mean lysine rather than linseed? My DH takes lysine as it's supposed to help.

I've got the boots version. It doesn't stop me from getting cold sores, but I do find that they now heal much faster than they used to. Maybe 5 days instead of the previous 10

Sorry yes I probably do mean lysine. Sorry he told me this years ago!

I loved mine. I used it more/longer than they say to. Worked like nothing I've ever used. Absolutely amazing and I've not really had recurring sores in months.

Unfortunately, mine stopped working and it has been discontinued. Virulight on Amazon costs £90

Why was it discontinued?

No idea. I suspect because they broke so easily and they were tired of having to replace them.

I've had mine for years and I take it when I travel just in case.

I'd be really upset at not being able to replace it.

I’m trying to replace a Virulite machine. Paid £30, now £99! No other companies offering anything. I had another make years ago, can’t remember name. Have virulite seen off competition and trebled price? Something online saying pharmacy may stock. Mine say not. This sucks. And that is difficult with a cold sore.

I have 2 Virulite (lost 1 a few years back and then found it again). It's brilliant. Can stop them coming in my experience if you get there quick but otherwise shortens the time span and they don't look as bad. I had understood that Virulite had been taken over by Boots but I could be wrong on that. Would be really upset not to be able to get a replacement if I needed it.