I’m at my wit’s end (okay, I admit, not a particularly long trip). I am now getting my third cold sore within the last two months. I just get one cleared up and within a few days, another one starts.
I’ve been managing the problem successfully for several years by limiting chocolate, alcohol, nuts, and sugar. I try to protect my mouth when I’m out in the sun and especially in the wind. Lipstick is a big no-no, as are most lip balms (don’t know what it is in them that the virus likes; would love to find a lipstick that didn’t have it). I take lysine every day. Still doing those things but the sores come on now anyway.
Okay, I know stress plays a part and I’ve been kinda stressed lately, but not as much as in the past and I didn’t get one outbreak after another then.
Have you tried the prescription meds (pills and/or creams)? Any luck? Any secret cures/treatments you’d like to share?
The pills - Zorivax. Get them, get the cream too. Do both. They work well and generally block new ones. I have had luck with Lysine too, but that is supposed to be a placebo.
Acyclovir. Pills or cream. Use as soon as you get that itchy tingle. You may still get a sore, but it’ll be smaller and not last as long. I also don’t use lip balms or glosses any more, because I was tired of throwing them out so soon after getting them because a sore would break out and then everything may have been contaminated.
Possibly a silly question, but have you changed your toothbrush out since the first sore? I buy 'em in bulk and swap them out often. Oh, and I also change my pillowcase after a cold sore hits. And wash any towels my face may have touched. In hot water.
Antigen said: Possibly a silly question, but have you changed your toothbrush out since the first sore? I buy 'em in bulk and swap them out often. Oh, and I also change my pillowcase after a cold sore hits. And wash any towels my face may have touched. In hot water.
I have changed my toothbrush and pillow case. Will wash and change all the towels just to be sure. Thanks.
Qadgop said: see your doc.
Thanks, I have an appointment for next week.
Anyone know what the ingredient is in lipstick that the virus likes so much?
Dentist here,what Antigen said is right. Also you might look for a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate. There is some evidence that that may influence oral herpes as well as apthous ulcers. I’ve had some patients where it seems to make a bigger difference than in some other patients. Also if the outbreaks are very frequent,(that term is relative) you may want to make sure there isn’t a systemic problem contributing to the outbreaks.
immunosuppressed will do it. If rate isn’t changing, maybe no big deal, if now much more often things may be getting worse. Addison’s is a progresive disease. IANA physician but check with yours, may need adrenocortical steroids. In a case such as increased frequency of outbreaks with a known history of a systemic condition I always advise seeing your MD for check of condition.
Abreva cream is amazing. Apply it several times a day starting at the first tingle/itch, and a sore may not even break out. If it does, it’ll be smaller and clear up faster. It is expensive, at ~$20 for a tiny tube, but you only need a pinpoint amount each use, so it lasts a long time, and it’s definitely worth it because it works so well.
Lysil, Zovirax etc are all good and recommended, also a tip I have always used and it works great is if I feel one coming on is to bung a bit of ice on it. Really helps!
I have a question since I’m fairly new to this. I have the oral version but I never get cold sores on the outside of my mouth. Rather, I do tend to break out regularly with cankers inside my mouth. And I can never accidentally bite my lips and not get one. However, before I got diagnosed, I used to think I was just prone to cankers. I sometimes get these sores a little deeper down the back of my throat, no possibility of accidentally biting that area. Are those flare ups of herpes too?
Valacyclovir + Abreva starting from the very first tingle of a developing sore. And don’t pick at it! Oh, and don’t apply heat thinking it will make it feel better. I tried that last time and it spread and blistered like it was trying to take over my face! :eek:
It once flared up, not orally but someplace else. Got blood tested, came back positive for oral but not genital. I was like, WTF, but oh well, no flare ups since then (over a year) and never on the outside, just cankers
