coldsore remedies?? - Herpes Message Board

Cariabu · 12-30-2005, 02:58 AM

I was wondering how everyone prevents coldsores, and what they have found to be the best prevention and cure. And or how they have limited their coldsores to tiny breakouts? Sometimes I get one coldsore and it is off my lip and on the skin around my mouth and the size of a nickel, just ugly, big and gross, so embarrassing! WHAT is the best way to heal it QUICKLY?? Is it best to keep it lubricated and moist when healing (after it is crusting) or is it best to let it dry out and heal?? Sometimes the coldsore even leaves a red mark on my face for even a month or more afterwards that I need to cover up with makeup to hide. I try NOT to pick at it to prevent this redness or any scarring but it sometimes still happens. I just need to know how to heal them most quickly, I have a tendency to get large coldsores rather than just a small one in the corner of my mouth. But they are annoying and ugly no matter what!

Thank you
Cari

lysineuser · 12-30-2005, 06:19 AM

Hi, it is nice to know that there are others like me who suffer from this. I have only had one real outbreak after thanksgiving this year. I think I am having another right now but it hard to tell. My doctor had prescrived me Zovirax ointment and I put it as soon as I feel anything. So far nothing has showed up. I also take lysine daily but not sure how that is suppose to help. it is not even a good month and here I am feeling like I am having another outbreak. I believe the trick is to catch it before it is visible and take valtrex or zorvirax or lysine. I hope this helped.

Gainup · 12-30-2005, 08:09 AM

Coldsores are the worst!!! I have an unlimited prescription for valtrex. For some reason, I haven't had a coldsore in quite a while, but I was getting them on a regular basis about a year ago. I would take 1 valtrex everyday to prevent them. I also make sure I use a good zinc sunscreen when I am outside to prevent coldsores. Do you have a lot of stress? My stress has been lower lately, maybe that's why I haven't gotten one in a while. I probably just jinxed myself.

To heal quickly I would put vitamin E on it. Just break open a vitamin E gel caplet and keep it on your sore. That works pretty fast for me.

Audrey-B · 12-30-2005, 07:54 PM

I went through a period of getting big and nasty cold sores and began taking lysine for quite a while. Now i only take lysine twice per year. I rarely if ever get cold sores and when i do it is very tiny and barely visibly. I apply carmex ointment the moment i feel a tingle. It is very cooling and soothing and is a clear gel, unlike a lot of other cold sore creams which are very white and obvious. Straight toothpaste also is very relieveing for cold sores and it takes away the stinging/itching/burning feeling. It might look odd, but it's something you can do if you are staying at home/indoors or at night when going to bed. You can apply tea tree oil to dry it up quicker and tea tree also helps take away that awful stinging sensation.

Cariabu · 12-31-2005, 02:29 AM

Thanks for your replies!! I hadn't been getting coldsores for a long time and was very happy, and if I did get one it was very small and gone very fast... but now all of a sudden without even warning I woke up with a huge one, I was shocked!!! UGH!!!!

I have been stressed lately, just went through lasik eye surgery and healing and nervous about it, taking a long time to see so I must be thinking about it more than I thought?? Just want to kill the coldsores asap!! And I hope this doesn't mean that more are on the way. Stress definitely activates them on me, or if I'm in the sun too much or get sunburn around my lips. And even if I have the flu or fever one will pop up, it's usually during the time when my immune system is low. stressed, sick or period times. what's left in life? ha...

Someone told me applying vinegar to them works to kill them when you first feel it coming or I've also read lemon juice mixed with salt. But I try everything. Just hate it when they are big and on the skin area, not just the corner of the mouth, they last so much longer.

Thanks,
Cari