Running Queen
08-02-2001, 12:38 AM
What is a good way to treat a cold sore?
Sponsor
wearesiamese
08-02-2001, 12:30 PM
When I feel one coming on, I take Acyclovir orally, and also apply a prescription ointment to the area (the name escapes me, but your doc would know.) This helps treamendously. Also, I take ibuprofen for the discomfort, and sometimes add a topical treatment like orajel if the pain is too bad.
D.Hoffman
08-10-2001, 06:20 AM
If you can get some aloe vera plant and apply the juice when you cut a leaf takes away the pain and help heal it up
wearesiamese
08-10-2001, 11:15 AM
Good tip about the aloe vera-- I'll use it next time I break out. Also, I remembered the name of the topical prescription ointment-- it's Denavir. It really helps, more than any of the other things I've used.
Wendy_MB
08-10-2001, 06:51 PM
I use peroxide. I know it can burn but it clears it up quicker than the oitments at the drug store. Although the pharmasist told me to get a prescription form my doctor for some type of oitment (although I forgot the name) and he says that works really well.
Tara A. Baldini
10-19-2001, 10:16 PM
What about Abreva? Does that work well for cold sores?
Ginny
10-19-2001, 11:08 PM
I was also wondering about Abreva.Has anyone tried it and what were your results.I take l-lysine 500 mg per day.I haven`t had a cold sore since last Nov.knock on wood.......lol
Tara A. Baldini
10-22-2001, 05:32 PM
There are prescription medications for cold sores? I never knew that. If anyone has tried Abreva let me know if it works well. Thanks.
simby
10-26-2001, 12:19 AM
the best thing i have ever found for cold sores is
l-Lysine. it is an aminoacid. you get it in the vitamin section. if you have a breakout take one 500 mg. tab 3 times a day until the sore is gone (about 4 days). then tak eone 500 mg. tab daily. i used to get really bad ones at least 2 tms. a year that would last for about 10 days. now, as long as i take my lysine i don't get them. if i feel the tingling that signals one coming on i take the 3 tab regiment again for 3 days and seldom get a breakout at all. my father also uses it and hasn't had one in years.
------------------
May this wing of a dove
Heal with love.
l-Lysine. it is an aminoacid. you get it in the vitamin section. if you have a breakout take one 500 mg. tab 3 times a day until the sore is gone (about 4 days). then tak eone 500 mg. tab daily. i used to get really bad ones at least 2 tms. a year that would last for about 10 days. now, as long as i take my lysine i don't get them. if i feel the tingling that signals one coming on i take the 3 tab regiment again for 3 days and seldom get a breakout at all. my father also uses it and hasn't had one in years.
------------------
May this wing of a dove
Heal with love.
Tara A. Baldini
10-28-2001, 12:37 PM
So you can get this remedy in the vitamin section at any drugstore? I'll have to try that. I get cold sores at least 3 times a year.
simby
10-28-2001, 12:51 PM
Tara,
yes u can although sometimes it's hard to find. wal-mart n rite aid usually have it on hand. it is the best thing i have tried and others i have got to try it agree.
------------------
May this wing of a dove
Heal with love.
yes u can although sometimes it's hard to find. wal-mart n rite aid usually have it on hand. it is the best thing i have tried and others i have got to try it agree.
------------------
May this wing of a dove
Heal with love.
YUPPER2
10-28-2001, 02:58 PM
COLD SORES .... AS SOON AS YOU FELL ONE COMING ON .. SIMPLE SOLUTION .. WORKS EVERYTIME ...NO NEED TO RUN OUT AND BUY STUFF .. ALL I DO IS WASH MY FACE .. USUALLY LIP AREA AS SOON AS I FELL IT COMING , WASH IT WITH SOAP AND WARM WATER FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES IN ONE DAY.AND KEEP THE AREA VERY DRY AFTER EACH WASHING. KEEP YOUR HANDS AND ANY OTHER IRRITATION FROM THAT AREA.. AND YOU WILL SEE THAT IN 24 HOURS .. YOU WILL NOT BE FEELING THAT SORE AND IT WILL START TO BRWON OUT ... LET ME KNOW YOUR RESULTS .. WORKS EVERYTIME FOR ME .. FOR YEARS !
[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 11-24-2001).]
[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 11-24-2001).]
RedRobynNAU
10-30-2001, 10:49 PM
I was prescribed Acyclovir by my doctor...it's an oral medication and has worked just dandy for me.
Tara A. Baldini
10-31-2001, 12:40 AM
I will try that as soon as I feel a cold sore coming on. Thanks for helping me out in this way.
redd123
11-08-2001, 07:16 PM
I use a prescription called "Zovarax" Not sure if thats spelled correctly. It's around $30 for a small tube. Works great if you apply early on.
Tara A. Baldini
11-09-2001, 12:44 PM
Haven't gotten one yet, but will try washing my face to get rid of it when I do get one.
[This message has been edited by Tara A. Baldini (edited 01-21-2002).]
[This message has been edited by Tara A. Baldini (edited 01-21-2002).]
Tara A. Baldini
11-17-2001, 03:17 PM
I am taking the L-Lysine 3 times a day and hopefully that will work.
Tara A. Baldini
11-22-2001, 01:41 PM
Well I have been taking L-Lysine for about a week and I still got a cold sore. I'm going to try the techinque you use. I will let you know my results.
Tara A. Baldini
11-26-2001, 10:37 PM
Washing my face really helped. I also was using Abreva. My cold sore is almost healed. Thanks for the advice you gave me.
simby
12-04-2001, 09:27 AM
tara,
when u have a cold sore you need to take 2 500mg. tabs. of lysine 3 times a day til it's gone. then take one 500 mg. tab once a day - like vitamins.
------------------
May this wing of a dove
Heal with love.
when u have a cold sore you need to take 2 500mg. tabs. of lysine 3 times a day til it's gone. then take one 500 mg. tab once a day - like vitamins.
------------------
May this wing of a dove
Heal with love.
squirkie
12-05-2001, 06:16 PM
I have used Abreva before, and it works to speed up healing, but does nothing for the discomfort. It is rather expensive (here in Michigan it was almost $13) and I needed no where near half the tube to heal the cold sore. I ended up throwing the rest of it away because I very very rarely get cold sores and it had expired before I needed to use it again. I think it was well worth the $13.
equivocated
12-16-2001, 05:05 AM
I was wondering if anyone had any information on how cold sores appear, and what they ARE exactly.
I've NEVER gotten a cold sore before, and I'm very happy about this...i'm just wondering, are they contagious? Is it something you're born with? Is it something that comes with age?
Everyone around has seem to gotten at least on cold sore in their lifetime, and i'm wondering if there is anything i can DO to prevent me ever getting one.
ALSO, if i ever get a cold sore, is it with me for life? (not the partcular cold sore, but the ABILITY to get them.)
Thanks a lot!
I've NEVER gotten a cold sore before, and I'm very happy about this...i'm just wondering, are they contagious? Is it something you're born with? Is it something that comes with age?
Everyone around has seem to gotten at least on cold sore in their lifetime, and i'm wondering if there is anything i can DO to prevent me ever getting one.
ALSO, if i ever get a cold sore, is it with me for life? (not the partcular cold sore, but the ABILITY to get them.)
Thanks a lot!
squirkie
12-16-2001, 05:09 PM
Cold sores are caused by a strain of the herpes virus. Yes they are VERY contagious (by skin contact with one, not airborn)
Once you get a cold sore, you always have to ability to get one and often they are brought on by stress, or other illness like a cold or the flu.
Once you get a cold sore, you always have to ability to get one and often they are brought on by stress, or other illness like a cold or the flu.
Jay Tor
12-16-2001, 09:00 PM
Herpes simplex virus [HSV1] causes cold sores. It's contagious, recurrent, with occasional serious complications. Here's a link for in-depth information.
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic246.htm
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic246.htm
redd123
12-16-2001, 10:03 PM
I read this last week in Redbook. Says to use Maalox, yes that stuff for upset stomach. Also my co-worker swears by hydrocortizone that you can buy over the counter.
Tara A. Baldini
12-17-2001, 10:53 PM
Simby, I now am taking l-lysine 3 times a day and I also take 2 vitamins. But when I got a cold sore right before Thanksgiving, I went and got some Abreva. It shortened the healing time, but it costs like $13.00 it was worth it.
RedRobynNAU2
05-02-2002, 08:16 PM
So what happens if you only take the l-lysine WHILE you have a cold sore?? I'm a poor college student and really can't afford to keep up with food half the time, let alone vitamins I need to take daily. It gets expensive!!
Also, what are the possible side effects of l-lysine?
Also, what are the possible side effects of l-lysine?
Hawk
05-02-2002, 11:51 PM
Hmm I usually just let them heal as they rarely last more than a couple days with me. Good ideas though, Ill have to remember them :)
niecsey
05-03-2002, 04:49 AM
a dab of perfume or aftershave dries them up and some of the ways you can catch them your stressed, run down ,even off the sun http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/bang.gif there so annoying
Tara A. Baldini
05-04-2002, 12:45 AM
Doesn't perfume and aftershave make it sting?
1Dove
05-08-2002, 10:17 PM
I'm cheap. So the last time I felt a cold sore coming on, I went down to longs and got the least expensive thing I could find. It had all the ingredients of the expensive cold sore medications. "Longs protective Lip Balm" comes in a little round .5oz container and costs only $1.29. It really worked. After I put it on, the cold sore cleared up right away. Now I use it on my lips all the time to moisten them. I haven't had a cold sore since.
Tara A. Baldini
05-08-2002, 11:28 PM
Does that really work?? I don't like spending too much money either. Do they make that anywhere? Please let me know.
1Dove
05-12-2002, 02:38 PM
It works for me. You can only get it at Longs Drug Store because it is their store brand. But you may be able to find other store brands that work as well. The ingredients you are looking for are: menthol, camphor, phenol, alum, and salicylic acid. The most important being the phenol and camphor. :round:
niecsey
05-12-2002, 03:31 PM
yes it makes it sting as it has alcohol in but it dries it up and it works
Stockswinger
01-16-2003, 02:07 PM
I've been a cold sore sufferer for about 15 years now and I’ve tried practically everything to stop the growth or shorten the healing time. I used to get them about 3 or 4 times a year but now I have cut that down to about 1 or 2 a year. Sometimes I’ll go a year without getting one, something that never has happened before I started treating them. Here’s what I do:
I use Zinc Oxide ointment along with Pure Lip Prevention (over the counter) on my lips a few times a week before bed. This is a preventative against the outbreaks. Every time I get a new outbreak I’ll add a new weapon to my arsenal. I recently just added 500 mg of L-Lysine daily as a preventative and I’ll take 1500 mg per day during an outbreak. This routine of Zinc Oxide, Pure Lip and L-Lysine (yet to determine its efficacy) has about cut the outbreaks in half.
If the virus still manages to infect my lip after the preventative measures I take I’ll stop using the Zinc Oxide and Pure Lip Ointment and switch to Denavir (prescription only) and Abreva (over the counter). I’ll switch back and forth between the two every few hours. The Denavir is an antiviral (attacks the virus) and the Abreva prevents it from spreading (although I’m not entirely convinced of this). This regiment has dramatically shortened the time from the initial appearance of a blister to the time the blister erupts and the scab forms from about 6 days to about 3 days.
After the scab forms I stop using the Denavir and Abreva since the virus won’t spread after the scab forms. Now you must keep the infected area clean. I use antibacterial soap and water a few times a day to clean the area. I follow that with Peroxide (can be slightly painful) and the scab will turn white. After the soap and peroxide the area should dry and scab up.
If I’m not going out in public I’ll apply a little Neosporin to the infected area which speeds up healing time for the scab and prevents scaring.
This regiment has worked for me as I have tried practically everything. Years ago it took about 12 – 15 days for me to go from the initial blister to the healing of the scab to a point where it’s not noticeable anymore. Now the time it takes to heal and become unnoticeable is about 6 – 8 days. Hopefully one day they’ll be a cure for this so none of us will have to deal with it ever again.
I use Zinc Oxide ointment along with Pure Lip Prevention (over the counter) on my lips a few times a week before bed. This is a preventative against the outbreaks. Every time I get a new outbreak I’ll add a new weapon to my arsenal. I recently just added 500 mg of L-Lysine daily as a preventative and I’ll take 1500 mg per day during an outbreak. This routine of Zinc Oxide, Pure Lip and L-Lysine (yet to determine its efficacy) has about cut the outbreaks in half.
If the virus still manages to infect my lip after the preventative measures I take I’ll stop using the Zinc Oxide and Pure Lip Ointment and switch to Denavir (prescription only) and Abreva (over the counter). I’ll switch back and forth between the two every few hours. The Denavir is an antiviral (attacks the virus) and the Abreva prevents it from spreading (although I’m not entirely convinced of this). This regiment has dramatically shortened the time from the initial appearance of a blister to the time the blister erupts and the scab forms from about 6 days to about 3 days.
After the scab forms I stop using the Denavir and Abreva since the virus won’t spread after the scab forms. Now you must keep the infected area clean. I use antibacterial soap and water a few times a day to clean the area. I follow that with Peroxide (can be slightly painful) and the scab will turn white. After the soap and peroxide the area should dry and scab up.
If I’m not going out in public I’ll apply a little Neosporin to the infected area which speeds up healing time for the scab and prevents scaring.
This regiment has worked for me as I have tried practically everything. Years ago it took about 12 – 15 days for me to go from the initial blister to the healing of the scab to a point where it’s not noticeable anymore. Now the time it takes to heal and become unnoticeable is about 6 – 8 days. Hopefully one day they’ll be a cure for this so none of us will have to deal with it ever again.
kdobbins
01-17-2003, 12:36 PM
I know your feeling. I get those atleast once a year. I tried that Abreva, it sucked! What a waste of $15! I have been getting fever blisters as long as I can remember and the best thing that has worked for me is Vitamin E capluts and, excuse my spelling, canphoneke. At night put that one and during the day break open a vitamin E caplut open and keep it moist all day. For me that has worked for me for years. I hope that helps and this way is a very inexpensive way to handle them.
manderee
01-17-2003, 04:55 PM
another home remedy for drying up cold sores is putting toothpaste on them. You may not want to do that if you are going out...lol but it does dry them up. :)
Mandee
Mandee