Wellness

[RedTop]

I've dealt with these my entire life, and hated that first warning burn/tingling feeling that let me know what was coming.   

After years of painful swollen lips from the occasional double sore, and trying everything from Blistex, Campophenique, Listerine, peroxide, vinegar, I finally asked my medical doctor for prescription meds.  

I always have Valacyclovir and Zovirax on hand, and haven't had an ugly, painful sore for about 15 years.  

[femmebot]

Licorice balm.

[SoCal Bred]

Cold sores are stress related too, worked with a controller of a company years ago, she would break out with cold sores when we had auditors doing their quarterly visits.

[qvcaddition]

I put proxide on it when I get them, but the drugs store has something for it.

[FastDogWalker2]

Yes, Alum.  You can find it in the grocery store usually in the spice area.  I think it is used in cooking for pickling things?  It stings when you first put it on but I have found it to quickly dries up a cold sore.  My DH's grandfather was a doctor and that is where I learned of this remedy.

[ECBG]

DH used to get cold sores which is a virus inside the body.

Lysine is a mineral in the body that can be taken to prevent outbreaks. 

According to infectious disease doctors stay on it.  No more outbreaks!

[Tinkrbl44]

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@RedTop wrote:

I've dealt with these my entire life, and hated that first warning burn/tingling feeling that let me know what was coming.   

After years of painful swollen lips from the occasional double sore, and trying everything from Blistex, Campophenique, Listerine, peroxide, vinegar, I finally asked my medical doctor for prescription meds.  

I always have Valacyclovir and Zovirax on hand, and haven't had an ugly, painful sore for about 15 years.  

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@RedTop 

I always thought that cold sores obviously happen for a reason, and a doctor should be consulted if they recur.  

Sometimes home remedies are enough, but if I got them, my doctor would involved ... stat!

[RedTop]

@Tinkrbl44 

Cold sores are not something to run to a doctor over.  

After you have that first blister, you know you have the herpes simplex virus in your system and can expect to have the occasional outbreak.   

Once I started working in the hospital is when I learned about the prescriptions available to reduce the severity of these breakouts.   

[Trailrun23]

Abreva is OTC and works when nothing else will. It is pricey for a tiny tube, but you don't need very much for it to do its job.