Cold sores - what stops them in there tracks?

[Homepride1]

Help woke this morning and think I'm getting a cold sore!

I have a wedding to go to next Friday and really don't want a huge scan on my face

Is there anything I can do to stop/heal it fast?

Applying ice really helps.

I suffer from appalling cold sores and i use everything together! I have a light thingie, got mine from Boots. You shine it on every few hours but I don't know how effective is once the cold sore has started to take hold.
I also use the compeed cold sore patches. As well as speeding up healing, they make it look less gross. They are expensive but worth it IMO.

Zovirax works for me.

I recommend the patches too. It stops the cold sore getting all scabby and they heal quicker too. A week is enough time for it to come and go.

If it's just at the tingly stage, maybe a little red looking, then Zovirax (or anything containing it's active ingredient) works for me. I just apply it every few hours for a day or two and it usually doesn't come to anything then. Once it's started properly though, I've found nothing to stop it!

Ice is good to reduce swelling. Compeed cold sore plasters at good at all stages as not only do they hide the sore and speed up healing, but I find they stop it getting too big. I also take ibuprofen for its anti inflammatory properties. It shouldn't be too noticeable in a week's time.

That's why there is a tube in my car, bedside drawer, make up bag.......

I have woken this morning and just know ones coming, feels like a tiny spot on edge of lip, i have had some huge ones in the past that seem to go on for weeks!

Thanks for the tips I will stop at the chemist and pick something up ideally would like to be able to stop it even developing further

Zovirax can halt it if it's just at the tingle stage.

If it's past a tingle, you just have to see it through to the end.

www.amazon.co.uk/Herpotherm-Heat-Treatment-Cold-Sores/dp/B002G8JRBM

^^ this does it for me.

Acyclovir tablets on prescription - speak to your GP, mine is happy for me to keep a stash of them. In most of Europe you can buy them over the counter, not sure why we can't.

Well hoping if I get some Zovirax that stops it, it's only just started, wasn't there last night just felt it this morning when I woke

Start taking L-Lysine. I never get them now, I started taking a L-Lysine capsule every day and now just ever 3 or 4 days and still it works.

Lysene supplements can help prevent them and also zovirax.

there are two things you need. one the boots cold sore machine. its expensive but it really works, best £35 I have ever spent. and the second is this www.boots.com/en/Herpatch-Cold-Sore-Serum-5ml_1536285/

its the best cover up I have found. it goes on cloudy and dries to clear and totally seals the cold sore. its much much better than the plasters.

you have my sympathy. I hate the b*stard things.

Coffee. Actually works better than zovirax.

Definitely Lysine supplements. Take up to 3 a day when you have one and the healing process is so much quicker. Also take them once a day to prevent them coming at all. You can also get lysine ointment/balm in holland and Barratt which I think helps too.

I use tea tree oil and the patches. I find the patches stop me licking/touching it in the day I have to check it's still there and the tea tree helps to dry it up in between patches.

I had one a couple of weeks ago (but I had shingles in March so I think my immunity is low at the moment. Used to get loads in exams, three in a fortnight during my finals)

I used to put a strong perfume or aftershave on mine ( tastes vile though) . I had nothing for this new one.
Horrible things

Lysine suppliments and LipZor light (via Amazon). I used to get them really bad and now when i use this it doesn't even come out at all, no swelling, nothing.

The first time I used it I had a really bad cold sore, this literally killed it over night.

I now carry it in my handbag so I'm never without it.

I rarely don't have a coldsore - got them weekly. Have never heard of the Lysine supplements. Are they natural? Do they have any other side effects etc? I find that now I am post 40 absolutely anything I eat / drink / take has an effect somehow on my skin or appearance. I use Zovirax which as said above, is good if I catch it early but otherwise, you have to go through that scabby stage. Would love to avoid that if I could!

Dab vodka on it.

This advice came from a consultant virologist DH worked with

Totally support taking Lysine during a flare-up. Didn't realise there was a prophylactic benefit of taken daily too.

Only thing I hate about Lysine is the size and texture of the tabs. They are huge and dry! Anyone know of a more palatable tablet vs the lumps of blackboard chalk I have only ever found?

Tea tree oil dabbed on neat always stops mine developing, it has very good anti viral properties.

TCP. I've had them all my life and it's better than anything else. Dries them up and takes away the swelling.