8 year old with a cold sore?

[Dizneefamily+4]

I have no experience with cold sores. I've never had one. Nobody in my family has ever had one. My dh hasn't even ever had one. My 8 year old dd suddenly had one pop up on the edge of her upper lip. It's definitely not pretty and according to her, it itches and hurts.

I know WHAT a cold sore is and what causes it. I'm just not sure what caused it to flare up for her. Any tried and true remedies that can ease her discomfort and maybe help it dissipate faster?

TIA!

 

[Straitlover]

If you don't want to buy medicines like Abreva, etc, I've read that tea tree oil is supposed to work well on clearing them up.

 

[Southernmiss]

I have no experience with cold sores. I've never had one. Nobody in my family has ever had one. My dh hasn't even ever had one. My 8 year old dd suddenly had one pop up on the edge of her upper lip. It's definitely not pretty and according to her, it itches and hurts.

I know WHAT a cold sore is and what causes it. I'm just not sure what caused it to flare up for her. Any tried and true remedies that can ease her discomfort and maybe help it dissipate faster?

TIA!

We swear by Abreva (it's a topical application) for cold sores. DS 19 gets them from being in the sun.

Abreva is expensive, but its the only thing I know of that knocks them out.

 

[Tinijocaro]

An ice cube can help. Encourage her to not pick it. Let it scab over but don't touch it. Keep it moist , Vaseline helps, esp at night or it will crack and bleed. Encourage frequent hand washing in the early stages when it can spread to other parts of the body.

 

[redrosesix]

I have no experience with cold sores. I've never had one. Nobody in my family has ever had one. My dh hasn't even ever had one. My 8 year old dd suddenly had one pop up on the edge of her upper lip. It's definitely not pretty and according to her, it itches and hurts.

I know WHAT a cold sore is and what causes it. I'm just not sure what caused it to flare up for her. Any tried and true remedies that can ease her discomfort and maybe help it dissipate faster?

TIA!

what I absolutely can tell you is the sooner you treat it, the more treatable it is. In fact, the best time to treat it is when that stingy tingling feeling starts, before it breaks out into a sore.

The only medications that truly work are bought in a store. I'm in Canada, so our brands may differ, but I use Lipactin for me and my DD, but my mom likes Abreve.

Your best bet is to head to the pharmacy asap, like now, and ask them what the best new coldsore ointment is in your area. The longer you leave it, the worse it will get and yes, I mean hours. It would eventually heal on it's own but they're very uncomfortable and they can make you feel somewhat flu-ish and run-down. It's actually a virus that affects your whole body but the sores only break out on your mouth.

 

[lolainkent]

Your poor DD! I get cold sores, by no fault of my own and it's one of the most frustrating things in my life.

Abreeva is good for taking away the stinging. It will also help the fluid inside the sore to deflate, though the 'torn' (I can't think of a better word) lip will stick around for a few more days. I also keep the area moisturised with basic lip balm (use lip butter type brands, like Burts Bees, not Blistex) and then toss the stick when it's gone. Also throw out her toothbrush right at the end. If she touches it, she needs to wash her hands ASAP.

No fun for her

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Thanks for all the suggestions ! I actually work right across from a pharmacy, so I'll run over when I'm done and pick up some Abreva. I've heard of it, I just didn't know if it actually worked. And I'll definitely have her wash her hands constantly. And thanks for the tip about her toothbrush - she just got a new one from the dentist that we haven't opened yet, so we'll save it until the sore is gone.

 

[Christine]

Call your dentist or GP and ask for a prescription of Zovirax or Denavir ointment/cream. This will halt any further progression and possible swelling. As another poster stated, it's best applied at the very beginning but it still works to some degree if you get to it late. Hang on to the tube (it will work even after the expiration date) and have it at the ready for when/if it happens again.

 

[tina.tina]

When my son was 4, a worker at my his preschool had a cold sore just before Christmas. To our dismay, DS broke out with a cold sore, too. DH works at a school and is always off for a couple of weeks at Christmas and keeps the kids home with him. DS's sore did not last very long at all and healed quickly within a couple of days.

Then, I got one. I tried Abreva and I was able to mostly cover it with makeup but I kept getting them into the spring. I was so upset and about to go to the dr when a co-worker told me that she used to get them all the time and she started using Carmex and never gets them now. I was skeptical, but I tried Carmex on mine and it really did heal it very quickly. I use Carmex daily and in winter I use a thick layer at night. I've never gotten one since and it's been 3 years now.

Good luck!

 

[Liberty Belle]

An ice cube can help. Encourage her to not pick it. Let it scab over but don't touch it. Keep it moist , Vaseline helps, esp at night or it will crack and bleed. Encourage frequent hand washing in the early stages when it can spread to other parts of the body.

Not that your daughter likely has to worry about this now, but...it can spread from your mouth to your genitals, so hand washing and when she's older, being very careful is important.

 

[lilkimmyk]

Call your dentist or GP and ask for a prescription of Zovirax or Denavir ointment/cream. This will halt any further progression and possible swelling. As another poster stated, it's best applied at the very beginning but it still works to some degree if you get to it late. Hang on to the tube (it will work even after the expiration date) and have it at the ready for when/if it happens again.

This. I get them as well and the only things that work for me are those 2 prescriptions. NOTHING over the counter will work and just makes the healing take longer and sometimes the sore bigger till I get the Rx. You will learn the triggers, mine are stress and acidic foods like tomatoes especially orange juice, one glass and I'll have one by morning. Good luck.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Hot teabag on it for 5-10 minutes

 

[Christine]

This. I get them as well and the only things that work for me are those 2 prescriptions. NOTHING over the counter will work and just makes the healing take longer and sometimes the sore bigger till I get the Rx. You will learn the triggers, mine are stress and acidic foods like tomatoes especially orange juice, one glass and I'll have one by morning. Good luck.

Yep! I used to get them frequently as a child. Started when I was about 5 or 6 and went on for many years. My triggers: the sun and if I get sick with a fever. That's it. No food or anything does it.

Once they invented ChapStick with sunscreen, I greatly reduced the number that I get so now I only get one about once every 5 years. The last one I got was about 6 months ago after a mild viral infection. I was lucky that I had the prescription on hand because I felt the family tingle and the beginnings of a "bud" on my lip. Got to it right away and stopped it cold.

I have tried all the remedies listed here:
Ice
Tea Bag
Carmex
Abreva

...and probably 100 others. None of them every stopped it. Without treatment, especially as a child, mine would get very bad, swell, bleed. It was awful and painful.

 

[holycow]

Melaluca

My DH had one coming on and I told him to put some on.

He called me the next day to tell me it was gone.

Poor girl! I hope you find some relief fast.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

ohhh that is so young to have to suffer with them! Poor baby!

The true miracle drug is Valtrex, bud sadly they won't give it to a young child.

I get 1-2 a year, and Valtrex literally clears it up the same day. I have never seen anything in my life work so fast as this drug. It is truly incredible. If your child continues to get them later in life, be sure to remember this drug!

I have tried all other prescription drugs and ointments mentioned in other posts. Creams are a total waste. They just come right off your lips any time you eat or drink. Kids will also bite, lick or pick at that area so that makes it even more useless.

Good luck!!!

 

[Hisgirl]

So sorry for your DD! Cold sores (fever blisters) are Herpes Simplex Virus 1. It cause sores around the mouth. The HSV 2 is the one that causes sores on the down-there parts. While they tend to stay in their respective places, they can transfer, so it is sooo important she understand this. The virus hides and can stay dormant for years. Too much sun, stress, chocolate, foods high in Arginine can trigger the virus to 'wake up'.

I started getting them when I was 5. My daddy had kissed me when he was 'shedding' which can occur right before a breakout. It is highly highly contagious and your DD probably just drank after someone at school with a blister. Unfortunately, there is no cure and she could possibly have breakouts for the rest of her life. They tend to always go back to the original site of infection. However, she may never have another one...or only get one a year.

I wrote an article years ago about a Japanese study which said an ice cube held for 20 minutes against the tingling spot just as it's starting would reduce the severity.

Lysine, an amino acid, can help. Along with several anti viral creams mentioned. Please make sure she understands the importance of washing her hands if she touches the area, as herpes simplex in the eye is a very common cause of corneal blindness.
Hand washing is a big deal with this.

 

[seven dwarfs]

I have no experience with cold sores. I've never had one. Nobody in my family has ever had one. My dh hasn't even ever had one. My 8 year old dd suddenly had one pop up on the edge of her upper lip. It's definitely not pretty and according to her, it itches and hurts.

I know WHAT a cold sore is and what causes it. I'm just not sure what caused it to flare up for her. Any tried and true remedies that can ease her discomfort and maybe help it dissipate faster?

TIA!

I have tried abreva, one that started with a C, a prescription (forget the name but helps stop the virus)....can't even remember all of the things but nothing works. It always takes about two weeks, it scabs, hurts and looks awful.

So, the other day I started getting another one and guess what does work?! Ice and baking soda. No joke. It went away, never scabbed over and worked the best of anything else I have tried. Just take an ice cube and rub it right on the spot. I did this maybe three times a day. Then try to wet her lip and place the baking soda right on it. It may burn just a touch. With in two days mine was gone and never fully developed. I put the baking soda on it three times a day too.

 

[Jennasis]

Sun triggers mine...which sucks since I work outside.

 

[Christine]

Sun triggers mine...which sucks since I work outside.

I know what works for some won't work for others, but sun was always my big trigger. As a child, each beach vacation ended with a huge, awful cold sore that lasted two weeks, swelled, bled, crusted, and just hurt something awful. This was back in the 70s. Intially I started using the white zinc and that did work but, man, who wants to wear that at the beach for a week. But I would do anything to avoid a sore.

Then, when sunscreen came out in formulations that could be applied to the lips, I never got another cold sore from the sun. I do have to be careful about going to places like WDW. I don't tend to wear the sunscreen on my lips just walking around (can't stand the feel or taste) but in a sunny place like WDW where I am outside all day, I have to do it. I don't use it anywhere else except for the beach.

I'm not sure if this would work for you. Maybe it's not enough.

 

[monorailsilver]

Hot teabag on it for 5-10 minutes

My sister has been doing this treatment since the 80s. So much better then her white zinc oxide lips when she was sitting in the sun!

It's the tanic (?) acid in the tea that helps.