Big Dirty Coldsore

misswex

Well as the thread title says I have a big dirty coldsore on my lip, never got one before. Husband gets them all the time but this is the first time that I've come down with one and its nasty. Any suggestions/remedies and the best way to get rid of/treat it?

Thanks

Zadkiel

misswex wrote: »

Well as the thread title says I have a big dirty coldsore on my lip, never got one before. Husband gets them all the time but this is the first time that I've come down with one and its nasty. Any suggestions/remedies and the best way to get rid of/treat it?

Thanks

For future ones, as soon as you feel the telltale tingle, get some compeed patches. They won't stop them or cure them but they do stop them from breaking out all fugly and spreading...and apparently you can still wear lippy over them:o

For what you have now....don't go anywhere near it. If you do have to touch it wash your hands and don't touch your eyes. No one wants to experience the horror of Herpes in the eyes.:eek:

smileysurfer

Im guessing you caught the coldsore virus off your husband then, I used to never get them until unfortunately I kissed a guy in a night club and got one a day or 2 after, been getting them when im run down every since
The only thing I find that works if Zoirvax and you need to use it until the coldsore disapears completly.

I got one after some arsehole forcable kissed me. :mad:
Never had one since though.

I used teatree oil, to encourage healing.

rose_2

+1 on the big dirty coldsore front...i never get them, its so annoying!!:mad: I'm using lypsyl, doesnt seem to be doin much, think il switch to zovirax

smileysurfer

rose_2 wrote: »

+1 on the big dirty coldsore front...i never get them, its so annoying!!:mad: I'm using lypsyl, doesnt seem to be doin much, think il switch to zovirax

Lypsyl wont do anything for it anyway, Zovirax it treats properly so id say try that. Its really pricey tho at about €11 a pop

smileysurfer

smileysurfer wrote: »

Lypsyl wont do anything for it anyway, Zovirax it treats properly so id say try that. Its really pricey tho at about €11 a pop

Asda have a cheap own brand version.

smileysurfer

Moonbaby wrote: »

Asda have a cheap own brand version.

does it work tho??

Khannie

What you want is an Aciclovir based product. Zovirax or any other generic brand aciclovir (5% cream) is where it's at. The sooner the better you get that stuff on you. The compeed patches are decent enough too but you need to catch it early. There are zovirax tablets and they are ULTIMATE (i.e. if you take them when the coldsore is on its way it just doesn't come) but you need a prescription for them.

smileysurfer wrote: »

does it work tho??

The patent on aciclovir has run out, so there are lots of generic brand versions now for a fraction of the price. In short there's no reason to pay full whack for zovirax if your chemist has an alternative. Just make sure it has Aciclovir in it. I got one called acic from the chemist. Made in Cork. About 4 euro cheaper. Worked perfectly.

edit: since you're new to all this; Be very careful about spreading it. Cold sores are a virus. Once you have it, you have it for life (though it will only come out every once in a whlie). One kiss to a baby and you've screwed them for life. Same applies to glasses, cutlery, etc. etc. No sharing anything while you have an outbreak. I'd advise you change your pillowcase each night (unfortunately you can spread the virus on yourself ). You can be a bit more relaxed if you're using the compeed patches, but only a bit.

smileysurfer

smileysurfer wrote: »

does it work tho??

Well I havent had one since I stocked up.
But It has the exact same ingredients.

misswex

Thanks for all the advice, how long do these things last for? Oh they are so disgusting and horrible!! I could kill that hubbie of mine!

old boy

why not go down the natural route, buy a aloe vera plant, then you are sorted, it cures cold sores, mouth ulcers pimples you name it it cures it, 15 lids in your local garden centre, also you have a nice window plant.

Zadkiel

old boy wrote: »

why not go down the natural route, buy a aloe vera plant, then you are sorted, it cures cold sores, mouth ulcers pimples you name it it cures it, 15 lids in your local garden centre, also you have a nice window plant.

+1
Its like having a growing pharmacy. They're also good for burns and healing tattoo's.

Khannie

old boy wrote: »

why not go down the natural route

Sorry, but it just doesn't work. Zovirax trumps _everything_ for cold sores. It works by inhibiting the protein that the herpes virus needs for reproduction. In a best case scenario, zovirax can completely stop a cold sore. At best something like aloe will improve healing time marginally but you'll still get the filthy outbreak on your face.

Before you go jumping on me: I'm not saying aloe wont help, only that zovirax is much much much better.

edit:

misswex wrote: »

how long do these things last for?

5-7 days unfortunately.

Love2love

I get coldsores all the time. I get run down very easy and I get them pretty bad - Not just on my lips but other parts of my face. I find nothing works for them to be honest. The doc had to prescribe in something before because they just kept coming back. I think it had steroids in it but it was that long ago, I can't remember. I find the best thing to do is stop it from becoming dry. It will crack and spread then. I just dab it with vaseline

R.D. aka MR.D

just my 2 cents from a long time sufferer. Getting them since i was about 3 or 4

I always get them at the worst times, starting new jobs big events when their will be lots of picture and going out with some one new.

Anyhoo, i find that if when you find the tingle you put zovirax on it can be good and lessen the amount of time.

However, if it has already broken out then DON'T put zovirax on it unless you want a big yellow disgusting mess :mad:

You used to be able to get iodine and it would burn them off which was amazing. i'm already scared in the place i get them so it doesn't matter!

What i do now is get tea tree oil and put it on undiluted and it dries them up. they still last over a week but it ends up looking like a cut and not a puss filled disease.

I feel your pain!

PK2008

I used to always get cold sores- at least 3 a year, every few months- when it got sunny or when I had something important coming up like an interview, and then just for no reason.

After a while i just accpeted that I would always have them- then I didnt get a cold sore one year and thought, nice one, then I didnt get it the next, or the next- its been 3 years since i had a cold sore and Im trying to think whats changed.

The only thing I can think of is that since then I drink 1 actimel every day in the morning, obviously its a tenuous link but its the only thing I can think of so it might be worth a shot.

Also, if you're a cold sore pro, you'll know that the sun, stress and sickness/being run down are the big triggers so dont wait for the tingle just put some zovirax on during those times at night anyway and pre-empt it. always have a spare bottle of it, as someone said it is only really effective if you get it early.

mintymint

Zoirvax all the way, even just keep your finger clean when your putting it on so you dont spread it. Keep using it right till the end so its all dried up.

PK2008

mintymint wrote: »

Zoirvax all the way, even just keep your finger clean when your putting it on so you dont spread it. Keep using it right till the end so its all dried up.

Agree- in fact dont use your finger at all just hold the tube like you would chapstick and apply it directly

cormie

I'm all for the natural too.

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and Garlic, put a bit of mo fo ACV on it then slice a clove of garlic and rub it on it and you may aswell hold it against it if you're sitting down watching tv or anything.

ACV and Garlic are excellent natural remedies for many many ailments. Garlic is a great anti bacterial and ACV is great at getting your balance back in order.

Keep a constant supply of these and if you ever feel anything coming on, a cold or anything, they should help greatly

I just have a question about coldsores. I don't remember ever having one before but about a month ago, I got what looked like one on my lip. It looked like 3 tiny blisters and then scabbed over, the scab kept falling off so it looked a bit red like I'd bitten my lip, then scabbed over again. Eventually it stopped scabbing over but the area was still red for 3+ weeks and if I bite my lip, I can still see 3 bumps where the blistery things were. I thought coldsores lasted less time than this and didn't leave any 'evidence' behind?
I bite my lips a lot always have cuts and scabs, and right before the thing came up, I was eating Pringles so perhaps I irritated a cut and that's all i was? The scabbing over was unusual for me though, and I've never had that before, so was it probably a cold sore? It never looked weepy or pussy or crusty, just red. hmmm.

Ruthee

the best thing that i have found to prevent them is L-lysine. its an amino acid that is found in high protein food like in meat, eggs etc(i dont eat meat so i take the supplement), but u can also get it in supplement form in the health food store. L-lysine inhibits the growth of cold sores and since i started taking them, i havnt got one. and its been 4 years since my last one...google should throw up some more info on it

Another amino acid called L-Arginie allows cold sores to thrive.. so if you get a cold sore avoid foods that contain this to help speed up the healing. chocolate and peanuts contain high levels... i believe the last cold sore that i got was a result of stress as i was studying for final year exams and i was constantly snacking on chocolate covered peanuts at the time!!!

so glad i discovered this. it has defo worked for me....best of luck in fiding some thing that works for you..

stiff kitten

I've been getting cold sores every winter since I was about eight. I always found Zovirax useless. It's also quite expensive. Use Chapstick. It doesn't say on the label that it treats the coldsore and suggests that it is more of a preventative measure. It works well.

Khannie

Chapstick is a really bad idea for using when you have an outbreak (though probably not a bad idea to help prevent them). Can't stress that enough: Using something that's covered in the herpes virus and smearing it over the rest of your lips is just _begging_ for trouble.

Albert Sharp Mayonnaise: It's hard to say from a description really. It's the kind of thing you'd need to see.

jolo

Ok unfortunately I'm a bit of a coldsore pro:-(

Zovirax does a good enough job most of the time. I know it doesn't make a whole lot of sense but the Boots generic cold sore cream I find pretty useless. I tried the Compeed patches recently - first time I tried them it worked brilliantly, second time not so much and it took ages for it to disappear.

But what really does the business is l-Lysine as previous poster says. Avoid chocolate and nuts as these are high in the amino acid which promotes the herpes virus and you need to get the balance back in the lysine's favour. If I'm getting a cold sore I take about 2,000mg of lysine(most health food shops and lots of pharmacies stock it) 3-4 times a day for a couple of days and then reduce the dosage for a few weeks. I don't take it all the time though.

Also if you've got a cold sore again take the lysine in high doses(2,000mg) 4 times daily for 2-3 days and then reduce the dosage and it will really speed up the healing. 2,000mg is generally 4 tablets of 500mg but check the strength of the lysine on the bottle.

I've also used lysine in combination with Propolis extract/tincture. You dab on the Propolis with a cotton bud - it looks quite revolting as it'd dark brown but wohoo the combination is powerful and there is no trace after the shortest period of time.

Good luck with it:-)

MoonDancer

OMG, I've got one inside my nose! :eek:
At least you can't see it I suppose, it hurts like crap tho

Quality

Ahh I hate when I feel that thingle in the corner of my mouth..

The aciclovir is the best... It relieves them as well...

ladhrann

Khannie wrote: »

edit: since you're new to all this; Be very careful about spreading it. Cold sores are a virus. Once you have it, you have it for life (though it will only come out every once in a whlie). One kiss to a baby and you've screwed them for life. Same applies to glasses, cutlery, etc. etc. No sharing anything while you have an outbreak. I'd advise you change your pillowcase each night (unfortunately you can spread the virus on yourself ). You can be a bit more relaxed if you're using the compeed patches, but only a bit.

You seem to know all about this, so can you spread it to your genitals I wonder or somebody else's?? So then it would become genital herpes instead of regular?? If you can spread it to other cuts or your eyes then thats plausible isn't it?

I've tried a few google and yahoo answers searches on this before and haven't been able to find an answer.

NotSoDumbBlonde

misswex wrote: »

Well as the thread title says I have a big dirty coldsore on my lip, never got one before. Husband gets them all the time but this is the first time that I've come down with one and its nasty. Any suggestions/remedies and the best way to get rid of/treat it?

Thanks

CYMEX is the best remedy/treatment - it's even better than zovirax, which is the top stuff. Just keep on applying it, dont be shy with it! If I ever get a coldsore (and i will wake up with one tomorrow now because I said that) I just use Cymex throughout the day - it clears up really quickly. Tee Tree Oil is also v. good.

walter81

I have not had a coldsore since feb which is absolutely brilliant for me. At one stage i was getting a new one as soon as the old one healed! I agree with the actimel theory. I have noticed in the past that if i stop taking them im more inclined to get a coldsore. Stress is definatly a big factor in getting them for me. I find Zovirax or the generic brands very good but only if its applied early in the process. the health shop has an aloe vera lip balm which contains tea tree and lysine which i find very good. I have used tea tree oil also but it smells so strong and it really dries out the cold sore making it crack and bleed. so attractive:rolleyes:

Khannie

ladhrann wrote: »

You seem to know all about this, so can you spread it to your genitals I wonder or somebody else's?? So then it would become genital herpes instead of regular?? If you can spread it to other cuts or your eyes then thats plausible isn't it?

It's plausible but I don't think it happens. Someone may contradict me but my source on the not spreading it to the genitals is the "embarrassing bodies" program on Channel 4. I wouldn't be taking any chances though tbh.

ladhrann

ladhrann wrote: »

You seem to know all about this, so can you spread it to your genitals I wonder or somebody else's?? So then it would become genital herpes instead of regular?? If you can spread it to other cuts or your eyes then thats plausible isn't it?

I've tried a few google and yahoo answers searches on this before and haven't been able to find an answer.

Yes, you can. From what I've read, spreading it to your own genitals is unlikely as once you have HSV-1 antibodies, it's unlikely to spread it to yourself elsewhere. I asked my GP about oral sex and she said just to abstain while sores are present to avoid spreading it.

Snukums

I am also unfortunately a cold sore pro! i get them when im stressed, excited, run down, in the sun or in the cold at one stage my poor boyfriend was waiting 5 weeks for a kiss!!!! I get them very severe aswell the space between my top lip and my nose gets covered and sometimes it creeps up my nose :mad: i find ziovirac useless i have become immune to it and all other treatments! for awhile i found a product call bio-prolipsis it worked really well for about 7 out breaks nut now doesnt work anymore!!!! i was in the carribean recently and had one (suprise suprise) and one of the natives told me to use toothpaste on it! so far so good

jolo

To those taking Actimel - it contains lots of sugars which aren't really good for you!

But I'm not saying the Actimel(or rather the GOOD stuff in the Actimel) isn't doing the job but maybe if you try to get the probiotics from a different source - Super 5s or Super 8s from health shops and some pharmacies - you get the best stuff in the probiotic line.

rainbow kirby

Khannie wrote: »

Once you have it, you have it for life (though it will only come out every once in a whlie). One kiss to a baby and you've screwed them for life.

This happened to me, first cold sore at 9 months old, apparently! I haven't had one in years now though.

dimple_smile

I've been getting coldsores since I was small,:( and I have to say I find Zovirex useless. Lately I've been using Cymex cream and I find it very good, if I get a coldsore it heals quicker but I havent had one in a good while cus I put some of that cream on as soon as I feel a little tingle.

Twee.

Horrible things altogether! Combination of being run down and stressed does it for me (had one for the secondary school grad AND the debs last year!)
I used to use Zovirax but now will go for the generic brand. Tea tree oil works very well too for me, mixed with a little bit of olive oil.

a-k-47

congratulations you all have herpes.

Mr Web

Herpes indeed... and I believe there is actually no CURE for this...

Prevention is better than cure anyway - so I say - try to avoid stress or getting run down - where I usually get those horrible things.

I hate them - they actually affect my mood too... none in a while now tho (touch wood)

ashyle

a-k-47 wrote: »

congratulations you all have herpes.

I got my first one when I was a baby. Don't make fun, its an awful thing for young girls to go around with big dollops of sudocreme on their mouths I haven't had one in a while, but being run down/on my period/stressed usually birngs it on. And it is not the same strain as genital herpes

Xiney

a-k-47 wrote: »

congratulations you all have herpes.

Please have a read of the forum charter before posting here again.

Ta,

Xiney

mandysmithers

Another coldsore expert here! I too have discovered L-Lysine in the past few years, and I find it very good. When I'm run down I take 2 a day to prevent coldsores, and I haven't had one in ages (better not be jinxing myself here!). I have even stopped using Zovirax now, which I used to swear by. I sometimes just put it on at night, and take 4 lysine tablets each day. Sometimes if you take Lysine quickly enough it will prevent the cold sore from forming at all.


I really can't believe that one person said they apply Zovirax directly from the tube!!! That's just asking for multiple coldsores. You should apply it with your finger, ensuring you wash your hands before and after touching your coldsore. they can spread really easily. I also wouldn't trust those Compeed patches, I wouldn't use lipstick over them.

You shouldn't kiss someone else or share anything that touches your mouth while you have a coldsore. If you wash your face/brush your teeth, use a tissue to dry your mouth etc. It's so irresponsible not to take precautions, as you could easily pass the virus onto someone else.

It's not the worst thing to have, but I would feel so guilty if I passed it onto someone else, especially a child (which happened to me, seeing as I've been getting them since childhood)

Anyway, to sum up - buy Lysine, take 2 a day all year round if you want, and 4 a day when you have a coldsore.

Piste

I'm unforutnately another coldsore expert/sufferer, have been getting them since I was 3. I tend to get them when I'm run down, but also when I go out too much. When I was in Barcelona I was out all night most nights and came home with a whopper coldsore on my face. When I came back from Electric Picnic yesterday I had two horrible puss-filled blisters on my lip because I had no zovirax or compeed stickers with me. I never found the zovirax to be of much use, even when I put it on when the coldsore was just a tingle. The compeed patches are much better, if I put it on at the very beginning it just ends up being a small spot that doesn't last too long and doesn't develop into a blister. Unforutunately I put the stickers on these coldsores too late so the compeed will only stop them getting worse and being sore, they still look really nasty.

NotSoDumbBlonde

I ALWAYS get one if something important is coming up such as a wedding / holiday / important dressy occasion - and it's not like i'm stressing about the impending event either. It's like life just goes "Ah, she needs to look her best in 3 days - bring on the herpes simplex for the craic!".

Literally, a pain in the face.

But touch wood it's been a while now. I guarantee you ill wake up with one tomorrow now.