Cold Sores

[FreshTressa]

My poor son. He has his 5th cold sore this winter. I feel so bad for him. He gets these huge nickle sized ones, and not just on his mouth, but on his face too. He still has scars left from last time he broke out in them.

I'm taking him to the doctor this afternoon.

Anyone know why kids get them and a way to prevent them? I put Abreva on them, but it doesn't seem to help much. No one else in the family gets them.

 

[buzzlady]

http://www.skinsite.com/info_herpes_simplex.htm

The above link will answer some of your questions. There are many sites that you can read - just do a search for cold sores.

I really feel for you son. I get them also and they REALLY hurt. I haven't found anything that helps.

 

[Griggle]

Poor guy is right

My entire family gets them - bad. Both my boys starting getting them before they were a year old. But the Abreva has really been a life saver for us! I have noticed though that the longer you take to put it on, the less it ends up doing. The key really is to put it on at that very first tingle.

It's always been my understanding that since they are caused by viruses, somewhere along the line he picked it up from somewhere.

As far as preventing them, I've read that lysine is supposed to help, but I took it for months and still got them, so I gave up on it.

Sorry, I'm not of much help, but I'm definately full of empathy. Like your son, I also get them on my face, and also have a scar on my cheek bone. I've also gotten them on my scalp, in my nose and on my eyelids.....ugh.

Paint quite the pretty picture, huh?

 

[Growin'upDisney]

Your son probably carries the herpes virus. It's not genetic but can be passed on but it basically always lives in your bloodstream. I am prone to cold sores and fever blister outbreaks myself. I usually get them in bunches. Abreva doesn't seem to help me either. Things like exposure to sun, extreme cold and moisture, eating acidic foods exacerbate the virus and cause it to manifest itself.

They are the worst, I hate them. Try to keep them as dry as possible - hard when they are inside the mouth and check your local vitamin store for Lysine. It tends to keep the virus at bay. There is no cure for the herpes virus, just have to cope with it.

Good luck

 

[WilmaBud]

I use Abreva, and I'm happy with it, but you have to get it on at the first sign of the sore. I also use "Viractin," which works great to dry it up. There's a prescription pill called "Famvir" that you can take to minimize the outbreak, too.

I feel bad for your son. It's very painful, AND it's embarrassing. You know, I have a friend whose son gets fever blisters when he has Strep Throat - it's his first sign of strep. So maybe you should get him checked for that, too.

 

[Wishing on a star]

My DH used to have cold-sores all the time when he was young! (Do the outbreaks lessen into adulthood???) Then, at the advice of a family-friend physician, he went on the Lysine, and it really helped. He does take it religiously.... don't remember the last cold-sore he's had now. Also, one thing that has not been menioned is Zovirax prescription ointment. Very expensive, but works! If they are really really bad, then I would consider a prescription like Zovirax or the others mentioned.

I sometimes get the ones inside the mouth. Canker sores. I found that when I switched to a toothpaste with baking soda and peroxide (Mentadent) I never got them! Temporarily used my former toothpaste... voila - broke out! Now I use a toothpaste with baking soda only (no peroxide) Arm and Hammer Brilliant Sparkle, and I still do not get the mouth sores! I just love to be able to pass this helpful info on to anyone plagued with this problem. I even swear that I caught the last bit of a toothpaste commercial yesterday that mentioned something like 'lessens canker sores'?????

Also, since Zinc is supposed to be antiviral - perhaps Zicam, used as a topical treatment. How about this alternated with treating with baking soda? Might be worth a shot.

And, what has been said is right... If the things get full-blown, then seems that NOTHING helps. Try to treat at the first little Tingle!

Good Luck, I know how excruciating these things can be!

PS: Are they for sure cold-sores if they are appearing on areas of dry skin and not mainly the mouth-nose??? Is it possible that it could be something different? May want to mention this to the Dr.

 

[ebaynut31]

My daughter gets them also, all year round. On her forehead even! The best thing for us is a product called Herpecin-L. It is like chapstick, about 4-5 dollars or so and works AWESOME. If anyone wants to try it, and you don't have it near you, I will mail you one. I swear by this stuff. You should be able to find it in any store that carry's chapstick in the first aid section or around there.