Cold sores

[clockwatcher]

Does anyone have any tips for how to deal with a cold sore, please? Normally I can feel them before they actually appear, and zap them with Zovirax, but I've got one now that just appeared from nowhere. I'm using the Zovirax, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good. Is it possible I've become desensitised to it, as I've been using it quite frequently recently?

Any advice gratefully received - as long as it's not putting strong black coffee on it, as my Mum recommends. Ta!

[Gizmos]

I dont get many but Zovirax worked for me - the other was to dab perfume on it - my mum did that but it can have an awful taste

[tyroleandancer]

I find that cold sores become very painful when they dry out. keep the sore supple by using vaseline with aloe vera. Tesco sell one in a little tin for around £1. The aloe vera will help with the healing and the vaseline will keep it soft and prevent the area cracking.

[happybunny]

i was going to say perfume also, that is what i use if i have forgotten to put cream on and i have gone to bed and i could not be bothered to get up again, i use perfume off my bedside table.

[SHELLY]

I suffer with cold sores quite a lot and ive tryed all sorts of creams and the only thing that seems to work for me is whitch hazel it drys it out very quickly and stops it from spreading.

[Angel]

I used to constantly have cold sores. My lips used to be almost covered in them. Once they disappeared, within a couple of weeks I would have them again.

The GP did not prescribe me anything that worked and zovirax had no effect.

I used a supplement called L-Lysine (http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product.asp?xs=83264BA65BF24EE38151633C2ED286F3&PID=117&np=1&cpid=29) which not only got rid of them, but also prevented them recurring. I found this extremely effective.

When I actually had the cold sores, I would use a damp cotton pad to clean my lips. I would then apply vaseline (always washing my hands before dipping my fingers in the vaseline pot and after applying the vaseline to my lips).

I hope this helps.

[clockwatcher]

Thanks everyone. I find keeping my fingers off it the main problem. I'll look into the L-Lysine.

[rainbow]

I've heard that rubbing toothpaste in at the first sign stops them. I've never had one personally, so can't vouch for it, but a friend gets them regularly and swears by this.

[pinkieplum]

I have suffered with cold sores all my life. My mum still has a lovely school photo of me with a stonking one! (my mum used to dab perfume on when I was a kid) The most effective thing I have ever found is dabbing it with a cotton bud soaked in neat tea tree oil. It works better than zovirax does for me (and much cheaper!) Doesn't taste that nice if you get it in your mouth though (no wonder head lice don't like it)

[Angel]

CW here (http://www.gnc.co.uk/vf/healthnotes/HN_live_uk/index.htm?Hcontent=All_Index) is some more information for you. If you click on health centers (from the menu on the left) and then cold & flu then cold sores.

[gwillymsarah]

i thought i'd frighten you all but your normally harmless cold sore virus can turn nasty if it gets into your brain. it can cause brain hemorrhage, but don't worry too much as this is a extremely rare event.

[clockwatcher]

i thought i'd frighten you all but your normally harmless cold sore virus can turn nasty if it gets into your brain. it can cause brain hemorrhage, but don't worry too much as this is a extremely rare event.

Would that happen through your skin/flesh from the original site, or would the virus get into the brain via a different route?

[gobbyash]

It appears to be more common for women to get cold sores.

There is some useful information on the NHS Website:

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=194&sectionId=12168

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which also causes genital herpes. The strain that causes cold sores around the mouth is called Type 1 (HSV-1).

Herpes simplex viruses are highly contagious........

regards

gobbyash

[gwillymsarah]

Would that happen through your skin/flesh from the original site, or would the virus get into the brain via a different route?

i dont know for sure but i think your natural defences stop it going farther than your mouth and it gives you youtr cold sore but on very rare occaisions the virus gets into your system and if it gets to the brain can cause hemorrhage. this is what happened to my daughter. nothing you can do to prevent it but doc said he had worked for 20 yrs and never seen it before and proberly won't again. but it makes you think differently about these harmless little things

[rainbow]

You also have to be very careful when changing babies nappies. My SIL had one when my neice was a baby, and the baby got herpes which flares up every now and again. She is now 13. It's very important not to touch a coldsore before touching a baby's botty.

[Angel]

It appears to be more common for women to get cold sores.

There is some useful information on the NHS Website:

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles/article.aspx?articleId=194&sectionId=12168

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which also causes genital herpes. The strain that causes cold sores around the mouth is called Type 1 (HSV-1).

Herpes simplex viruses are highly contagious........

regards

gobbyash

So if you suffer from cold sores it means you have herpes? Isn't herpes a sexually related disease?

I have always been a clean person ......

[gobbyash]

I believe you, Angel :)

gobby

[rainbow]

It's the same virus. See here......

http://www.skinsite.com/info_herpes_simplex.htm

[gobbyash]

Casting no aspertions.......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6639461.stm

gobby :)

[tiger]

I wonder if some people are more prone to cold sores and that maybe they run in families.
My DH often gets them and so did his mother. He uses TCP on them.
I've never had one and nor have our 3 sons. (Touch wood)

[princess_poppet]

i have never ever had a cold sore! But i also heard that if you do have a cold sore you should neve ever kiss a child or adult who has eczema as the virus gets into their sores and that it can cause real illness and sometimes fatal! Not sure if its true or the person who told me was being dramatic but she told me cos my little girl is a bad eczema sufferer. It may be connected to what gwillymsarsh was saying above about the brain haemorage thing?!?!

[tiger]

I have always understood that cold sores are very contagious so you shouldn't kiss anyone in case you pass it on.

[scorour]

I wonder if some people are more prone to cold sores and that maybe they run in families.
My DH often gets them and so did his mother. He uses TCP on them.
I've never had one and nor have our 3 sons. (Touch wood)

My wife and her family suffer a lot from coldsores, they tend to get them when they are run down (not by a car or other motor vehicle).

I always say she has a 'stick on' cold sore as certain sexual acts are a no no if you have a cold sore.....

[ploverpalace]

Will have to get DH some iron and B6 then. He gets one on his cheek each year and is usually able to catch it with Zovirax before it kicks off, but it has appeared in ultra quick time today. Thanks for the advice.

[nixx]

I get them if I'm run down, if I cry a lot, or if I go out without sunblock on my lips. If I open the oven and bend down too quickly to look in, and expose my lips to sudden intense heat, I get one.

I used to get really bad ones, all over my lips, and my GP prescribes acyclovir tablets for me now. If I feel one starting, I'm supposed to start a 5 day course which stops the cold sore getting as bad as it would, and sometimes stops it altogether.