[Raghavendra]

lost of dollars we have to spend> []

[Sparky1970]

Okay, its expensive but it lasts forever (batteries excluded) and boosts your local immune system, thereby making recurrance less likely. Actually it costs the same as 5-6 tubes of cream which isn't bad if you are a regular sufferer. It doesnt in itself do anything to the virus, just helps your own cells to fight it off. It seems on average to cure cold sores in approx half the time of Zovirax according to the data and reviews I've read.

[tess3757]

This is my first post, I too am a sufferer. Mine are brought on by sunlight so I use sun block which I find works but they still come through. Ive tried everthing the last treatment was Vectavir ( pencyclovir ) but Im going to try Lysine which has sun block in it. Has anyone used Lysine

Tess

[vdice1]

I have suffered with cold sores for most of my adult life. There are 2 stages of a cold sore. The first stage is when you get that tingling feeling that says a cold sore is on it's way. This is where most prescribed drugs attempt to treat it. For the drug to work, you must take it when you have the tingling feeling and most of us are unaware of the tingling feeling. The second stage is when it erupts. At this point, forget about. It is now a healing process, no different than healing any other minor skin wound. The key to making a cold sore heal fast is to dry it out and let the dry, flaky skin take over. This may sound strange, but Ralph Lauren original "Polo Cologne" works great. Just a tiny drop of it on a Q tip, then on the sore before you go to bed. The next best thing is the "Styptic Pencil" Styptic pencils are sold everywhere and are usually used to stop the bleeding of shaving cuts. They have an incredible drying power. After you have taken your morning shower, prior to work or school your cold sore is probably blazing. Moisten the Styptic Pencil under warm water and roll it over the cold sore. There will be some serious burning sensations. There will also be some dry white residue after about 5 minutes. Dab this away with a paper towel.

[Gitch]

I have been getting cold sores for 13 yrs now and have tried every rememdy know to man, the best one i have found is white tooth paste and L-Lysine, as soon as i start felling a cold sore coming on i whack down 2 L-Lysine tablets staright away and 2 a few hours later i also put a blob of toothpaste where it is affected, i know having toothpaste on your lips isnt the greatest sight but its damn better than a big blister. I use warm water and a soft cloth to wipe the tooth paste off after around an hour and replace it with some more, the toothpaste also takes all of the pain and itchiness out and gives a cool feeling.

Cold sore using this method if im too late to catch it before it manifests will only last 2-3 days before scabbing over.

And the absolute best advice i can give to anyone getting cold sores is to take 1 L-Lysine tablet every day in the morning, doing this i never get cold sores (its only when i get lazy and dont take one for a month or so that i usually end up getting one)

P.S I have tied the ice and zovirax method but found this one better

[Gitch]

I should also add that using this method when i do get one i have 2 lysine in the morning and 2 in the afternoon until it is completely gone then i go back to 1 a day

[Jessica94402]

I found this awesome blog last year by somebody called “Lab Rat v-Ki-ras2” that has a bizarre treatment that WORKS in one day. The blog was called “How to kill a cold sore in one day”. I have never in my 33 years found a way to get rid of my cold sore until I found this blog. I am almost in tears because I’m so grateful. I found it on WordPress but it has now moved.

I wanted to pass this along to other fellow sufferers because it has worked wonders for me.

newbielink:http://cureacoldsore.blogspot.com/ [nonactive]

[Jessica94402]

Oopsy, I found it now. The blog is at two sites now. "How to cure a cold sore in one day" and "How to kill a cold sore in one day". I just realized it’s the exact same blog by Lab Rat v-Ki-ras2. Here are both links:

newbielink:http://cureacoldsore.blogspot.com/ [nonactive]

newbielink:http://killacoldsore.blogspot.com/ [nonactive]

[Katrina221]

ZOVIRAX and other topical medications JUST SWELLS UP THE SORES MORE AND MAKES IT SPREAD. I have tried it repeatedly. I have had recurrent cold sores since I was about 6. Damn the adult or child who gave it to me since I am a hypochondriac with germs and very careful. In any case, I get them at the slightest drop of the hat, not just from colds, but also from stress and especially from any aggravation to the sensitive skin around my mouth. In fact, I have a bad one right now. I have tried everything repeatedly over the years - toothpaste, salt, lancing, Zovirax, orange juice, and they all did not work, but instead inflamed the sores and made them spread. The only thing that works to make it go down is pressing a HOT TEA BAG every few hours and LYSINE pills taken together. The tea bags have anti-viral properties due to tannins activated when hot, and stop the spread, stop the tingling and pain and dry up existing ones in 1-3 days. When it is big and I am really desperate, I lance it with a sterilized needle, and soak up liquid with paper towel for 5 mins. Then apply hot tea bag, and soak up liquid for another 10 mins. Make sure you cannot see any fluid at all, and it will scab in 5-10 mins. I advise this as a last measure because it can spread and make it worse, so be very careful that no fluid is left, and that is scabs up.

For avoiding sore, try to eat lysine rich foods if you are going to eat arginine rich foods, such as my weakness chocolate, wheat and caffeine (strong tea). I am bad with taking pills because I fear side effects, but I think Lysine is safe, so taking it on a regular basis is a good idea also.

Good luck. I am sorry that we all have to deal with this stupid virus, but at least you're not alone, and there are some measures.

[GetTestedFirst]

I'd like to add something here. There has been for years now alot of false info being passed around that every single person that suffers from cold sores has HSV-1/2. I too have gotten cold sores from time to time. I have been tested for HSV-1/2 via anti body blood work and cotton swab method several times over the course of years, everytime negative.... so far(crosses fingers). I also have never gotten a clear answer as to WHY I get them, just the usual "it's herpes" from the doc, then a confused look when the test results come back. I have been told that low calcium WILL cause them, low vitamin C might cause them, and a few other reasons that never pointed to a real answer. I also don't get sores like other people. When I have an outbreak, my tongue will swell and blister, I get blisters down my throat, in my mouth, and sometimes on my lips and it's not a fun experience.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, there are other reasons besides HSV-1/2 that cause sores and if you suffer from cold sores(or similar), before you start looking for over the counter remedies, and here-say, GET TESTED. If you come up positive, at least you will know 100% and you can go from there.

[bettyboop]

Hi there

I know this is an old thread but I came onto today to search for a remedy to stop my cold sore from errupting!

I noticed this thread and decided to try the ice theory.
I was on day 2 of the tingle and sore lip sensation where the
cold sore has actually not formed. But there was a dark red circle on my lip where the cold sore would eventually pop up.

So anyhow I  put an ice cube directly onto the area while holding a cloth so there would be less mess.i held it there for 5 minutes until it had melted and then I put on another cube for a further five minutes just to give it the best chance!

I went down to the mirror then to apply a compeed patch(patch you buy in the chemist to keep the cold sore covered and help healing)however when I looked at my lip the red area was gone and my lip was not  swollen!

I put a patch on anyway just in case and I will apply the ice again in a few hours and see what happens..

just wanted people to know that this really does work!


Thanks to the person who made the original post!  []

[javelinpc]

I'm not sure is this is current but here goes
My daughter and I both suffer with cold sores and like several people here, we too have
never found anything over the counter or from the doctor that works. She came
across a website that sells a home made remedy.  She ordered a pot of this
mixture and it healed her cold sore within about 4 days.
She was delighted to find something that actually works for a change, especially
as she was to be a bridesmaid at a wedding the following week.  She gave me some
to try and it virtually stopped mine in its tracks when I started to develop
one.  I have told several of my friends about it and they are all giving it a
try.  Personally, we think it’s an excellent product and it’s all natural
ingredients. 

The website address if anyone is interested is carmans.org.uk

I apologise for the delay in writing but this is all a bit new to me (forums)
Geoffrey

[Andie152204]

Hiya, this is my 1st posting on the site.
I have suffered terribly from cold sores my entire life (as I have with tonsillitis as well.) My G.P and pharmacy always tell me whenever I go for my quarterly collection of Zovirax to get in there as soon as I feel 'the tingle'. It infuriates me that after reading so many posts so far on the topic on this site from others that start with creams, lotions, potions and other forms of help whenever they feel the tingle that I must be THE ONLY person who never gets a tingle. I just wake up in the mornings and WHAM there it is! I got a cold sore 3 days ago and woke up this morning with another one on the same side of my nose a bit further down, so now I look eve more beautiful!!
I have remembered a time when I was younger and was going through a sufferable time with cold sores I begged and pleaded with my then G.P and he actually cured a site that was guaranteed I would get a cold sore every time. It was right on the end of my nose, he heated up a sterile needle with and stuck it right in the centre of the site, I have never had a cold sore there since- that was 13 years ago. Why can't they do that all over your face?!
Anyway, enough of the ramblings and good luck finding more possible cures and fast fixes for these horrific ailments.

[mattvs]

I've been suffering with cold sores since I was 8 or 9 years old and am now 23. I get them in the early fall, through the winter and very early in the spring. I have about 3-4 breakouts per year and my summers are breakout free for the most part. Like essentially everyone here, I always felt they were embarrassing, painful, annoying, and had awful timing. I tried all the OTC meds; they would work once then never again. I was prescribed denavir, which worked well, but still had a 7-10-day healing period. In desperation, I recently started trying ice. The genesis of the idea (besides the high tier 3 price tag on denavir) was thinking along the lines of reducing the swelling and cold temperature's effect on bacteria. Like most other posts, the ice technique has been amazing! I stumbled upon this forum in search of anyone else who experienced the same results.

For me, if the ice is applied at first signs, they never become visible. However, mine have a tendency to pop up overnight. The ice still almost instantaneously reduces the swelling, size and appearance, but a scab still occasionally forms if the cold sore has already risen. The ice trick works well for me because I have a desk job and I can just sit at my computer with an ice cube from my drinking glass applied to the lip. I tend to be self-conscious about the sores, so this works well in that few people notice me doing it, and I can keep the sore on ice practically all day.

Bottom line, ice is the way to go. It's free, it's fast and it's effective. Chalk up another supporter here!

[project1]

Just found something that works on existing sore. It relieved pain and kept it from getting larger. Product is Salonpas. It is a pain relieving patch made in Japan and can be purchased at oriental grocery. They are cheap only about $2 for 20 patches (I cut one pad into 3 usable strips to use on side of my mouth)...product is labeled for use on sore muscles and joints. Used the patch everynight while I slept and at first I also used ice and of course took Lysine. The patch delivers camphor, menthol and methyl salcylate (up to 8hrs). During the day I used the same old over the counter products because I could not have a strip over my face.

[angeltoes]

Lysine has helped me a great deal taking it everyday plus when I get an outbreak I up my dosage by 25%-30% and I also use a prescription medicine that can be found here: newbielink:http://www.alcortin.com/about.php [nonactive]

it really works wonders and when put on at the first sign it makes it vanish and even if you use it once you have a cold sore out break it helps heal it fast! My boyfriends mom introduced it to me and I am forever grateful.
the active ingredients are: 1% iodoquinol, an anti-infective ingredient, with 2% hydrocortisone acetate
and it has done wonders for me.

[Osia]

Tea tree oil always helps. It is alo effective at many viral infections with their skin manifestations.

[sand dunes]

Hi Everyone

I have been suffering from cold sores for 32 years now, and have come up with a system which will greatly reduce the visibility and healing time of an (already blistered) cold sore.
Please let me know what you all think, or post comments on the blog too.
newbielink:http://8-day-cold-sore-technique.blogspot.com/ [nonactive]
 
I am finding that there is almost no practical information available for how to deal with a cold sore once it has already blistered.
( almost all coldsore websites simply state something like "...a blister, then scab, will form and last for about 10-12 days..."    )
My hope is that the blog can help in this area.

I'm very happy to have found this forum, as it seems I am not alone in my frustration at the lack of useful/practical information.

I am very interested to hear any feedback, on the blog, material discussed, or any other useful ideas people have.
Thanks all!
B


PS:
while reading this forum, I noticed this other technique 
newbielink:http://killacoldsore.blogspot.com/ [nonactive]
I would be very interested if anyone has tried this. 
I'm also interested in not just the accelerated time frame, but also the visible impact of using this method.

PPS:
I have also just found this blog too!
newbielink:http://bht-coldsores.blogspot.com/ [nonactive]

[Raymond75]

Ice rarely helps my cold sores from developing... but I believe it does help the swelling!

[naked64]

In my experience, Zovirax provides the best relief. Next up is Famvir tablets but only if taken early on. L-Lysine is totally ineffective and just gives me really bad headaches. Your results may vary.

Last episode was not stress related. Thinking the trigger may have been the half gallon premium OJ I consumed the day prior.