cold sores

[digitalmuse13]

I get cold sores frequently, always have, ever since I was a child. I just developed one yesterday, and I woke up to my lip double the size. Not cool, since I'm going on vacation next week and would prefer to not take this thing with me

Comments

[lady_bird]

Rubbing alcohol works great. Soak a cotton ball with it and ring out most of the excess. Hold it on the coldsore as long as you can stand it and as often as you think about it. I won't lie - it will hurt. But it works, dries it up like a charm. The doctor recommended I do that in conjunction with the prescription cream he gave me.

Once it has scabbed over Tea Tree Oil will help to heal up the scab more quickly.

I get them frequently as well, so I understand your pain.

Good Luck!!

[lady_bird]

Also, take a bunch of B-Vitamins (B Complex), Vitamin C, Zinc & Ecchenicia.

[sh4des_of_grey]

Some things that help are if you dab some witch hazel on the cold sore. Also, if you brew a tea bag, the tannins and things in the tea bag will reduce the swelling if you press it to the sore. Salt water baths are also good for sore like that. If it hurts you can put some ice on it to numb it, and hopefully it will heal before your vacation!

[ericthemage]

I pop mine and use hydrogen peroxide on them, and take l-lysine supplements.

[misfit4leaf]

Deodorant! At least, that's what I use.

[lilbrigid]

Here is my multi-part, cold sore attack plan:

Soak a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and hold it to my lip for 2-5 minutes.
Soak another cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and apply for 2-5 minutes.
Pat dry with something clean, then apply vitamin E oil. (I just have gel caps that I poke open.) Keep that on there for 10-15 minutes.
Afterward, I apply Abreva.

I try to keep the sore itself dry most of the day because mine heal faster that way. I take an l-lysine tablet morning and night, get more vitamin C (I really doubt this helps, but oh well), and perform the above regimen at least twice a day, but four times is even better. I also have a prescription for Valtrex that I take at the first sign of a cold sore. It really helps.

Cold sores are the worst! I hope yours heals soon.