Cheap way to treat cold sores?

[LoriKutchey]

I'm a dental hygienist and see this all the time it's called angular cheilitis, the most common cause is a fungus actually.
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/sta123239.asp

 

[crusoe2]

I've had really good results with plain old hydrogen peroxide. I dab it on several times a day and the cold sores always seem to heal much faster. HTH

 

[dfarner]

Tea bags! Just steep a black pekoe (even Lipton) tea bag in hot water for about a minute, remove from water (wring out excess water with side of teapsoon) and place over cold sore as soon as it cools enough to apply.

The tea bag has tanic (sp?) acid in it and is so soothing!

I've had cold sores off and on since childhood and this has always worked better for me than anything I could smear on or ingest.

Plus, you can also sit and have a cup o tea to boot!

I have had a stomach virus this week and absolutely nothing has made my stomach feel better. We ran out of ginger ale and just by chance I drank a strong glass of unsweetend iced tea and my stomach ache went away for awhile. I am feeling a little better today, but everytime my stomach starts to feel too nauseous I drink some tea and I feel better. Just thught I'd let everyone know, as I never have heard of iced tea being used for tummy aches.

 

[newscick27]

My dd5 gets cold sores all the time, we have zovirax which works great ! But the best advice I had came from the pediatrician who said they have found that in about 75 percent of people, holding an ice cube on a cold sore when you first notice it will keep it from swelling. It works for us! The trick is getting a five year old to hold ice on it long enough.

good luck!

Laura

 

[crazelion]

I've had really good results with plain old hydrogen peroxide. I dab it on several times a day and the cold sores always seem to heal much faster. HTH

That wonders for a cold sore. I always have a bottle on hand for that reason. Plus it's so cheap. Nothing like a good old school medicine.

 

[aesalsa]

Wow! Great remedies for the cold sore!

Zovirax actually does nothing but make my cold sores worse, and ABREVA stops it as soon as I feel the tingle. I apply it several times a day whenever I think about it, and I apply it in the middle of the night if I awaken. It's the only thing that has worked for me. It's so funny how different things work for different people.

And as another poster said, you only need a tiny bit of Abreva to do the job if it's a cold sore.

Good luck!

 

[JennCa]

Love herpecin, and also the lysine.

Jenn

 

[Stacerita]

Ive heard carmax works great on cracked lips. And I just heard a tip from my Survey of Disease instructor about cold sores. She said that the minute you start to feel one coming on, put an ice cube on it and leave it on, and keep applying ice for as long as you can. This is supposed to help.

I don't get cold sores and almost never get cracked lips, so I can't give any tips from experience.

 

[amp078]

I use Aquaphor- made by Eucerin- every night before I go to sleep to prevent a break out. A tube costs about $4-$5 in the baby section of the grocery store or drug store and lasts a really long time. I use a little bit- smear it over my lips, and then go to bed. It is fragrence free as well!

I usually get them every 3-6 months or so and I haven't had one in 2 years!!
Unfortunately, I just got one the other day- but I had let myself run down and I was under alot of stress at the time as well.

I am going to try that lycine stuff along with the Aquaphor in the future!!

 

[car55]

It's Freezing here in CT. I get them all the time as I work outside. I use a product called Lip Medix it heals them up quick.

 

[Braque]

I haven't heard anyone suggest TANAC. It is a liquid that gets applied with a q-tip. I've felt that most of the petroleum based ointmnets or balms seal the cold sore from the air and actually make the sore grow larger. I worry about trying to pop the blister with a needle - ew, but I like the Hydrodren peroxide or even bleach suggestions.

 

[vhoffman]

I'm a dental hygienist and see this all the time it's called angular cheilitis, the most common cause is a fungus actually.
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/sta123239.asp

YOU know, I think it is a fungus. I had some leftover foot fungus cream, perscription, Lotrisone. Its a combination anti-fungal + cortisone. I've used it for 3 days, seems to have disappeared already! I'll continue to use it until the tube is gone to clear it up, thanks for the advice.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Campho-Phenique works best for me. The old fashioned oily formula in the bottle, NOT the newer version in the tube. Try it!

 

[LoriKutchey]

VHoffman,
Well that's great that you had an anti-fungal cream at home, so glad it worked for you!!

Lori