Anyone else get cold soars?

[soccercruiser87]

i hate cold soars!..ive had one for about a week now and its at the end of it. I usually get cold soars every 5 months or so and they stink! lol..anyone else get cold soars?

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Nope. But have you tried Abreva that I see advertised on TV?

 

[soccercruiser87]

yup, abreva works and so does campo-phenique (sp?). They do heal them a little faster but its just the idea of having a cold soar that stinks lol.

 

[JKMastalski]

I get them all the time. My whole family does. I have about 5 right now because I was sick all last week. I get them usually after I have been sick.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I get cold sores all the time. Abreva is the best thing I've found, esp if you catch the sore before it comes to the surface.

It's pricey, though. I paid about $15 for a tiny tiny tube, but you don't need much.

 

[browneyes]

I get them usually after I have been sick.

That's when I get them too. I've got a nasty looking one right now from where I was horribly sick on Christmas. It takes me about a week after I get to feeling better before the cold sore pops up.

 

[dmadman43]

i hate cold soars

Not much can be done about that. The air is always colder the higher up you go.

 

[marydmjj]

Yep, all the time. I tend to get them in bunches ~ 1 every month for a while and then none at all for a while. I'm in the none at all phase right now. Abreva works the best for me. I've tried everything and Abreva definitely shortens the cold sore or stops it completely if caught early enough.

I'll probably get one now that I'm talking about it

 

[grinningghost]

My mom does. They get pretty nasty. She was given something by Rx by her doctor which works good, but unfortunately, they still come back all the time.

 

[cvemom]

yup, abreva works and so does campo-phenique (sp?). They do heal them a little faster but its just the idea of having a cold soar that stinks lol.

I seem to get them all the time...even though both meds work they still seem to stick around about 3 days. They are so annoying!

 

[jtm1631]

Like others, I usually get them after I have been sick. I talked to my doctor about this and he says the cold sores I get are a remnint of Chicken Pox. Once you have chicken pox the virus is always in your body. When you are sick you immune system is worn down and the virus can "break through" in the form of cold sores.

My doctor gave me a prescription which works really well if you start using it before the cold sore comes through. When I first get that tingling feeling, I start using the cream for a couple days and usually never get the cold sore.

I can look to see what the medicine is when I get home tonight if anyone is interested. I believe it is the same ingredient that is in some of the over the counter meds, just a higer concentration.

 

[buzzlady]

I get them and honestly Abreva does nothing for me. It's 10 days of pure...well you know.

 

[totalia]

i hate cold soars!..ive had one for about a week now and its at the end of it. I usually get cold soars every 5 months or so and they stink! lol..anyone else get cold soars?

No. You may like to go to the doctor to have it checked. Especially if you get an outbreak of it fairly regularly.

A cold sore is a form of (I think) herpes. You may like to get treatment.

 

[shelbyjosh]

Zovirax cream works well for my DH. He has also taken Valtrex (500 mg/2x daily) for 3 days and that stops it in its tracks. The key is to get the meds going as soon as you feel it coming on.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I take L-Lysine (an amino acid) when I think one is starting, or if I am sick ore run down. It seems to help. I also found a L-Lysine ointment that helps too.

 

[robinb]

Cold sores are not from chicken pox, they are the herpes virus. However, it seems that chicken pox and herpes are in the same "family" of viruses.

I used to use Zovirax, both pills and cream. I now take Valtrex since I have to take fewer pills. Both drugs work well on stopping the outbreak if I start using them as soon as I feel the tingling.

 

[WilmaBud]

Abreva works best for me. I put it on as soon as I feel the tingling, and usually that stops it from "erupting." I'm so self-conscious when I have them. They're hideous!

 

[krissy3483]

Cold sores are not from chicken pox, they are the herpes virus. However, it seems that chicken pox and herpes are in the same "family" of viruses.

Yep. Shingles, which is similar to chicken pox, is a form of the herpes virus. Since there is no cure for herpes (boy that sounds a lot like those terrible commercials) the cold sores will keep coming back.

 

[kylara]

Information on Cold Sores from coldsore.com

Cold sores are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1
(HSV-1). The HSV-1 virus is part of the same virus family that causes chickenpox (varicella-zoster), shingles (herpes zoster), and genital herpes (herpes simplex virus type 2). Once the HSV-1 virus is in the body, it stays there in the nerves and never completely goes away.

HSV-1 infections are extremely common - it is estimated that 80% to 90% of the US population age 50 years and older has been infected with the virus. HSV-1 is very contagious and can spread through physical contact, such as kissing.

The virus usually stays dormant in your body until something "triggers" it to the surface in the form of a cold sore.

Some of these triggers may include:

Stress, tiredness, or being "run down"
A cold, fever, or the flu
Exposure to the sun
Cold weather
Hormonal changes, such as from menstruation or pregnancy
Trauma, such as shaving cuts or dental work
A key to managing your cold sores is knowing what your triggers are. If you want to fight your cold sore virus you need to be prepared. Keep track of your trigger patterns so that you can take charge of your cold sores.

 

[ebaynut31]

I've tried those expensive products but I found that Herpecin-L which is like chapstick works real good also. I use it often in the spring and in the late fall when I am prone to get them (and when I get sick) from overworking. It costs about $4 or $5 from anywhere that has chapstick.