Loading...
Have you been troubled with recurrent cold sores? The herpes simplex virus (HSV1) that causes cold sores, aka fever blisters, never really goes away, but it can go into hiding for months or longer. If the immune system lets down its guard, the result can be painful lesions on or near the lips.
Presumably, we call them cold sores or fever blisters because they tend to occur when you have a cold or a fever due to infection. But we feel that is a misnomer. People can experience an outbreak in the summer when they get too much sun. Is there a link to dementia? What about using oral valacyclovir or l-lysine?
The Yin-Yang Balance and Recurrent Cold Sores:
Stress can also trigger herpes lesions. Somehow, the immune system is not able to keep the herpes virus in check. Chinese researchers have offered an impressive explanation for how this happens (Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B., March, 2020). Their article is titled:
“Disturbed Yin–Yang balance:
stress increases the susceptibility to primary and recurrent infections of herpes simplex virus type 1″
The authors also point out that the herpes virus has been linked to:
“…nervous system degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Reactivation of HSV-1 will increase the risk of developing AD…It might likewise be the cause of Meniere’s disease, an inner ear disease with spinning sensation, loss of hearing, and pressured feelings in the ear. Hence, all these findings have emphasized the importance on the study of HSV-1 latent infection.”
They conclude that:
“When the Yin–Yang balance maintained in latency is disrupted by stress, HSV-1 enters its reactivation cycle and causes recurrent diseases. Stress induces the reactivation of latent HSV-1 through multiple mechanisms. When the stress is removed, the latency will be re-established due to the re-silenced viral genome.”
Most American health care professionals have not been trained in the Yin-Yang balance. As a result, physicians don’t understand why the virus moves from the trigeminal ganglia in the brain where it has been “hibernating” down our nerves to our lips. Some researchers have recently pointed out that the virus can move up into important brain structures (Journal of Virology (Oct. 30, 2024). You can read our latest review of this investigation at this link.
Prescribing stress reduction may seem like a quaint concept to them. They are much more comfortable prescribing an antiviral agent.
What Can You Do about Recurrent Cold Sores?
Q. I have always suffered from recurrent cold sores as far back as I can remember. I am especially vulnerable in the summer when I spend a lot of time outdoors. Even with lip balm that has a sunblock, I am frequently in pain.
These sores are incredibly ugly and people always stare. That makes me even more self-conscious about them. What can you recommend to prevent cold sores or speed healing once they occur? I have heard that lysine might be good but I know nothing about this stuff. What is it and how well does it work?
A. Cold sores, also called fever blisters, can be painful and look yucky. Some people have outbreaks once or twice a year. Others seem to have recurrent cold sores every few weeks.
Once our bodies are infected with this herpes virus it remains forever. Why some people are more vulnerable to attacks than others remains mysterious. Clearly our immune systems play an important role in this process. Sun exposure can bring on an outbreak. So can a trip to the dentist (presumably because of mild trauma associated with such procedures).
Although we are enthusiastic about lysine (more about this supplement in a minute) we would be remiss if we did not mention that there are effective anti-viral agents for type 1 (HSV-1) herpes infections that cause cold sores. Acyclovir (Zovirax) and penciclovir (Denavir) are available in cream form. In addition, your doctor could prescribe oral anti-virals as famciclovir (Famvir), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and Zovirax.
A Reader Likes Antivirals!
For years I have taken Zovirax or Valtrex to stop fever blisters. If I take either one when I first notice the irritation, it stops the fever blister right then. Amazing! I thought your readers would like to know.
We appreciate this anecdote. Such antivirals represent an extraordinary advance in pharmacotherapy. Want to learn more about why such drugs are exciting? Here is a link to our article about anti-herpes treatments against Alzheimer’s disease:
Can Anti-Herpes Treatments Prevent Alzheimer’s?
There is growing evidence to suggest that herpes viruses contribute to dementia. Could an antiviral supplement or drug like Valtrex prevent Alzheimer’s?
Is Topical Acyclovir Like Taking a Knife to a Gun Fight?
Another reader complains that Zovirax ointment did not work as well as an oral antiviral:
Q. I used Zovirax ointment for two decades while I had employer-funded insurance. Once I went on Medicare, I learned the real price of this cold sore ointment – outrageous!
I asked my dermatologist about this, and he prescribed oral valacyclovir. He winked and said: “Compared to the ointment, these pills are like taking a gun to a knife fight. Do you remember the scene from Indiana Jones?”
He is absolutely right. The pills are way more effective than the ointment at a fraction of the cost, plus no greasy mess on my lip.
A. The first antiviral drug developed for herpes simplex infections was Zovirax (acyclovir). It was first approved in 1982 as a topical cream to treat cold sores. Oral tablets also became available; the FDA approved them for shingles, chickenpox and genital herpes.
A similar antiviral medicine, valacyclovir (Valtrex), was approved in 1995 for treating shingles, cold sores, genital herpes infections and chickenpox. There is evidence that the oral formulation is quite effective, especially when taken preventively (JMIR Dermatology, June 14, 2022).
A 5-gram tube of Zovirax cream runs over $200. A month’s supply of valacyclovir (500 mg) tablets costs between $23 and $30. We agree with your dermatologist that valacyclovir seems like a better choice.
L-Lysine for Cold Sores:
If you prefer a more natural and affordable approach, you may want to seriously consider l-lysine. The arginine/lysine theory of cold sore management remains somewhat controversial within the medical community.
It goes something like this. The amino acid arginine is essential for herpes viruses to replicate and multiply. Arginine is found in good quantities in nuts (such as almonds, Brazil nuts, peanuts, walnuts, etc), pumpkin and squash seeds, sesame seeds, red meat and some cereals (oatmeal for example). People are advised to cut back on high arginine-containing foods and add lysine supplements to their regimen (1000 to 1500 mg total daily dose). Lysine is supposed to make it harder for the herpes virus to replicate.
The Science of L-Lysine for Recurrent Cold Sores:
We were somewhat skeptical of this approach as there have been both negative as well as positive studies with lysine. Most of the research is with small numbers of patients and seems inconclusive to us. Nevertheless, some of the double-blind, placebo-controlled trials lasted from 12 to 52 weeks and reported significant reductions in cold sore outbreaks among the lysine groups.
A review of the published research concluded that people need to take at least 3 grams (3,000 mg) of l-lysine daily to see benefit against cold sores (Integrative Medicine, June 2017). As a precaution, the authors suggest that people with gallbladder disease should avoid l-lysine.
L-Lysine Testimonials:
What has convinced us that something positive was happening with lysine has been the outpouring of letters from dental professionals and our readers. We have received so many anecdotal reports of success that we are convinced something is going on here. Below, we share just some of the lysine success stories with you:
One oral surgeon wrote to say his patients do well on a preventive regimen of one 500 mg tablet of l-lysine daily. If they develop a sore, increasing to four tablets a day seems to help it heal faster.
A reader said,
“I suffered from cold sores since I was a little boy. My doctor prescribed acyclovir, which wasn’t any help. My pharmacist suggested lysine, and I have been taking 500 mg of this amino acid for two years now. I am free of fever blisters and that’s a great relief.”
Q. When you wrote recently about home remedies for cold sores, why in heavens name didn’t you tell people about l-lysine?
For 50 years, I would develop fever blisters every time I went out in the sun. About four years ago a pharmacist told me about l-lysine. Since then I have taken it for a week before I know I’ll be exposed to sunshine. I have not had a cold sore since.
A. We were flooded with letters like yours praising the power of l-lysine.
One young woman wrote,
“my boyfriend got these sores constantly, and as a last resort we went to the health food store to see if there was anything that could help. He was told to take lysine and the sores have never returned.”
Another reader reports suffering from nasty fever blisters that lasted 3 or 4 weeks. A friend told her to take lysine. But this individual was skeptical. The response: “Then live with them, if you’re stubborn.”
She now takes l-lysine whenever she feels a cold sore coming on or if she is in the sun more than usual.
She says,
“it quickly nips them in the bud. Doctors and druggists don’t seem to believe this, but I know it works.”
Judging from our mail bag, l-lysine does help many people. Though it may not work for everyone, this amino acid may be worth a try.
We would love to hear your story (positive or negative). Share your experience with l-lysine below in the comment section. If you would like to learn more about the connect between herpes infections and Alzheimer’s disease, here is a link you may find intriguing:
Do Cold Sores Increase the Risk for Alzheimer Disease?
Herpes simplex type 1 infections cause cold sores and reactivation of the virus has been linked to Alzheimer’s dementia.
If you think this article has value, please share it with family or friends. Thank you for supporting our work.
Ellen
What about HSV-2, genital herpes? Where does it lie latent? When there is an outbreak can it get to the brain? Has anyone looked for a connection of HSV-2 with dementia?
George
What shocks me is that I’ve never read an article that addresses the possibility that different causes might necessitate different treatments. Over my 80 yrs of talking with victims, I am confident that there are at least 6 causes: fatigue, stress, colds or viral infection, sun exposure or citrus ingestion. That is a wide range, so why wouldn’t each have its own unique story including remedy? Now retired with a dusty alarm clock, I have few encounters with this menace, but appreciate having Abreva handy. I’ve also been using Lysine for 30+ yrs.
Joanna
L-lysine works great on COVID too!
T M
Lysine works. At the first sign of a blister I take lysine powder and put a little in a vitamin bottle top with equal amount of coconut oil and make a paste, take a Qtip and dab it on the spot every chance I get. Doing it before bed lets it set longer. Works every time. I also noticed if I wait until it’s already formed, by starting the lysine paste, it heals really fast.
Alice
Oil of oregano works consistently for me.
Janie
I use L-lysine and Abreva. I’ve had “fever blisters” since 8 years old, and I’m 80 now. As a child, I was given smallpox vaccinations because I had so many and my mother seemed to think they helped but were certainly not a cure.
Now, about 3/4 a year after nick on lip, fever, or ???–at the first tingle or lump, I put ice cube on it, took L-lysine 2x day, and used Abreva. I’m thrilled with smaller “blister,”, less pain, less blister (scab, etc.), and faster recovery!
Mimi
I find teatree oil works as well as zovirax did for me. Lots cheaper and natural.
Lee
I’d be interested to know if Lysine also helps prevent Alzheimer’s Disease as the anti-virals are suspected to do.
I get a cold sore (not on my lip) maybe twice a year, so I’m taking lysine daily and I will see if one occurs again.
Joe
I’ve gotten cold sores since I was little kid. I would get one or two a year. After getting the COVID vaccinations I was getting them back to and no less than 2 times a month. I had my dermatologist prescribe Valtrex 500 mg per day as a preventive. Started that in late 2023 and have not had a cold sore since.
Lottie
The best, fastest, and most economical, safe (no side effects from long term use) is….HONEY, Honey😊
I don’t get cold sores, but lots of friends and family do. None of them believed me when I told them to try it. The response was “AMAZING” every time. No more expensive meds or balms necessary.
If you feel one coming on, dab a little honey on it. I wouldn’t recommend going outside because it will attract some insects. Best time is overnight or when you don’t have to go anywhere for a few hours. The hardest part is restraining yourself from licking it off:)
Susan
I also take 500 mg of l-lysine daily. When I feel a sore coming on I take 3000mg for 3 days. Advice from a DO. It also works on the rash I get from steroids, after an illness.
Judy
I’m in the midst of a spike in outbreaks in various spots on my lips. I started taking lysine about 1 mo. ago but am still having issues. I found that applying infant diaper rash ointment, Desitin extra strength, has helped shorten the duration. It’s cheap and always on hand in my house. When it is healing I use A & D ointmnet. I would still prefer to eliminate them rather than treating.
Sue
L-Lysine is much more powerful and effective than the Zovirax I took for a year. Plus – my doctor had me test my liver every month while taking Zovirax because he said it was very hard on the liver. Not good. Now that I know about the amazing L-Lysine I keep it around me at all times – at home, of course, but especially while traveling. As soon as I feel the little tingling of a cold sore coming on, I take massive amounts of L-Lysine. I may not need 5,000 mgs every hour for a day or so, but it can’t hurt. I guess much less can work too, but I don’t want to tempt fate. The Lysine stops the cold sore in its tracks. If you wait, it will stop it, but it will be further along in its development and bigger and more painful. It IS like a miracle drug. No need to take the drugs. Though perhaps it doesn’t work for everyone? But maybe people aren’t taking enough.
Catherine
I have a treatment that has been successful 100% of the time. I have had fever blisters since age 10 or so and am now 66. In my 20s I first tried onion juice from a fresh onion for a few minutes when I felt the itch that always came before the blister appeared. I cut an onion and held the juice up to my lip. I would do this a few times for a minute or two while the itch was still present. I would always get a scab instead of the actual puffy, ugly sore. I have told several people about this who get fever blisters, but none tried it. But for me, it was always successful.
If I would stage the course of a fever blister, I would say stage 1 is the itch, and stage 4 is the scab. I went from 1-4, skipping the middle stage. For me, it was a big success not going through life with that ugly thing on my lip.
Ronald
To share an experience from my days of over-seeing cold sore clinical studies, we once tried to do a study among skiers to see if our study medication could prevent sun-induced cold sores. Neither the placebo recipients nor those assigned to the drug group experienced any cold sores for the duration of the study. We interpreted that to mean that just knowing they had control had changed the stress burden to the point of being preventive.
Marilyn
I had cold sores on my lips during winter. I also got them if I was outside too long in the sun. I found information on Peoples Pharmacy to use Milk of Magnesia. I use Milk of Magnesia now when I feel a cold sore come on and it never goes into a blister. It stops the pain and heals quickly. I have recommended it to other people and they have had success, also.
Kristine
Lysine has been a savior for me. I don’t get a lot of cold sores but when I do they are in and around my nose. Now, however, since I discovered Lysine, I can usually prevent the actual outbreak. The minute I feel that familiar pain I start taking 500 mg five times a day and the monster either never arrives or it is a cakewalk. Skeptical doctors need to listen carefully. It works!
Larry
Valacyclovir suppresses the outbreaks but does not rid the body of the virus.
Lysine suppresses the outbreaks but does not rid the body of the virus.
Now that we have shown our expertise in combating viruses (COVID vaccines of several types in 11 months), why not put that expertise to work in an HSV-1 vaccine?
It would prevent those who don’t have HSV from ever getting it. And if it didn’t completely eradicate the virus from those who do, it would at least prevent lesions when the virus breaks out from hiding by eradicating it before it causes contagious lesions.
We have all this great theoretical knowledge but no one is putting it to work on practical problems.
Katherine
I use the supplement BHT for cold sores. Works wonders, even better than lysine.
Jay
DMSO right on the cold sore will knock it out.
Karin
When I get cold sores, I’ve had good luck just dabbing slightly moist baking soda on and around my lips, several times a day. I let it dry and brush of the excess. For convenience, I keep a little pill container full of baking soda in the bathroom. I’m careful to wash my hands before and after.
Sheer guesswork (what would happen if I changed pH around lips?) made me try it some years ago. It worked fine, just this past week.
Ellen
I take 500 mg of lysine daily and almost never have herpes outbreaks any more. Because I take lysine I can eat whatever I want, which includes nuts, seeds, peanut butter, fish, etc. When I do have an outbreak, which is rare, I increase the lysine to 1000 mg every 3 hours, and within a day or two the sores are gone.
Spence
For years, I suffered from cold sores on my lips and in my nose (talk about painful). About 35 years ago a dermatologist suggested I take lysine, and the cold sores stopped almost immediately and have only returned a few times. I keep a bottle on hand at all times.
Nell
I began taking lysine for herpes simplex 1 back in the ’70s ad have managed to curtail serious outbreaks ever since. I usually feel a tingly sensation along the trigeminal nerve, so I take about 2,000 mg of lysine for a day or two, curb my nut intake, and it doesn’t develop;
It only happens two-three times a year, if I’m stressed.
Joy
I am 75 years old and had struggled with cold sores since I was a child. A number of years ago I heard a popular doctor and medical editor say that l-lysine was a good natural remedy for them. I have had only one or two minor outbreaks in the many years of taking it.
Brian
Split lip, I found out: not caused by dryness. Tea may be the best alternative to modern medical treatments. There are a variety of products to help control the symptoms, not try to remove the cause all together. Tea makes me Happy! I feel good! Good Tea Service and Happy Holidays.
Ron
First a disclaimer – although I am retired and won’t offer individual advice to any particular patient, it does seem within reason to share some of our experiences during the time the research team I worked with were studying the treatment and prevention of cold sores.
One study supported the idea that stress relief alone might control recurrent cold sores. In a placebo-controlled study to learn if an oral anti-herpes drug could prevent sun-induced cold sores in skiers with a history of usual, sun-induced cold sores while skiing, none of the participants (neither those given active drug nor those given placebo) had any recurrences during the study.
This finding suggested that the stress-relief accompanying their ability to do something for themselves alone prevented recurrences. I am wondering if this is the effect being seen by those who use and believe in the potential effects of L-lysine or other preventatives.
There are alternatives out there for those whose attempts at control have been unsatisfactory. A search of the literature going back to the early 1980’s will reveal some of these data. Hopefully, stress-relief alone will prevent many recurrences for many people with normal immune systems. Those who need more aggressive interventions should seek their own physicians’ advice to fit their particular situations.
Vivian
My husband had an outbreak of cold sores nearly every month, all of his adult life. When he was age 45, I began my study in complimentary medicine and because he ate a lot of peanut butter, decided he needed to balance that with L-Lysine. He has been on 500 mg ever since. He is 73 and has not had one cold sore in 28 years!
Elizabeth
I have suffered for a number of years with these cold sores. Mine appear in and around my nose and are incredibly painful. Last year my doctor prescribed Valtrex daily, and it has helped so much. I’ve only had one flare up, and it was manageable.
Marianne
Last Thursday I felt a cold sore popping out so I referred to my People’s Pharmacy Home Cures folder and found that some of your readers had used vanilla extract. Pour some in a tiny plastic container with a lid, using a cotton swab rub on the blister (with a new swab) several times a day. It tastes yummy, and today (Sunday) it’s gone. ;-)
L-lysine didn’t work as well for me, plus I don’t have to take another pill.
Sandy
When I feel a cold sore coming (burning and tingling on my lip) I take a lysine tablet and hold an ice pack on my lip. I haven’t had one in years!!
Melinda
I suffered terribly with fever blisters from early childhood. Stress, too many sweets, and sun were the usual culprits. In the 1970s I read an article in “Prevention Magazine” that explained what now sounds like the “Yin-Yang” theory, but it wasn’t called that back then. The article advocated L-Lysine to correct the “imbalance.” I’ve never taken it daily, but the instant I can feel a blister forming, I take my first tablet. Then I continue taking them 2-3 times per day. That does the trick! As I’ve grown older, I’ve noticed that I get fewer fever blisters, for some unknown reason. Regardless, L-Lysine always comes through for me!
Dave
I applied a dab of zinc oxide ointment, and the sores started shrinking in hours! Daily vitamin C also keeps them in remission. Has worked for me for 50 years!
Jill
I have used a commercial product “Curasore” for almost 30 years since my pharmacist recommended it. At the very first sign of a fever blister, dip a q-tip in the liquid and hold against the forming sore. Do this several times every day and the blister never develops. Amazing. It think it’s the direct coldness of the ether but it truly works. I buy the product online.
David
Is lysine taken daily or only during outbreaks?
Terry Graedon
Most people take it at the first hint of an outbreak.
Joan
Cold sores were the scourge of my teen and young adult years, seemingly triggered by sun and/or stress. Doctors prescribed meds like Zovirax which seemed to help but not dependably. Finally my dear chiropractor/nutritionist suggested L-Lysine, up to 3,000 mg spread over a 24 hour period when a cold sore threatened. Caught quickly with onset it made a huge difference. For decades now I have taken 1000 mg of Lysine daily as a preventive, and cold sores are just a nasty memory at age 85.
Sheila
I first experienced angular chelitis in my 60’s. I tried Abreva, which is expensive and didn’t help at all. A friend recommended L-Lysine, and it works great. I initially bought it in pill form, but found the large pills were hard to swallow. I switched to the powder form, which I add to my morning coffee. I use creamer, so I don’t taste it; not sure what it would taste like in black coffee. It absolutely works for me.
Reggi
My sister was able to eliminate recurrent cold sores from her life by drinking concord grape juice every day. My son takes lysine, and that also seems to help.
Pat
I used to get cold sores every few weeks, especially when I was stressed and/or sleep-deprived. I read in the People’s Pharmacy fifteen or more years ago about L-Lysine. I take 500 mg daily and have not had a cold sore since!
Candice
I’ve been suffering for decades from herpes simplex and have tried everything, including daily medical prophylactics. I have found that Bach Rescue Remedy cream applied as soon as I experience an outbreak has been one of the most effective applications for shortening the duration as well as minimizing the intensity.
LE
You mentioned that gall bladder sufferers should avoid L-Lysine. What if you had gall bladder REMOVED due to gall stones? Does L-Lysine then stress some other organ?
Marilyn
My husband had cold sores, and I never got them until recently. I found that putting tea tree oil on the cold sore, as soon as I start to get one, keeps it from developing. You have to use the tea tree oil 2 or 3 times daily, and immediately when you notice a cold sore starting.
Chris
I get cold sores frequently and have received rapid relief by applying a cotton ball saturated with hydrogen peroxide to the sore(s) for a minute or two.
James
The OTC acid blocker Tagamet (cimetidine) has been shown to be a viral-cide for HHV-3 (varicella/zoster) responsible for chicken pox and shingles and has successfully resolved shingles and its associated symptoms (pain, disorientation, vesicles) in Europe for years. It has promise with other herpetic viruses such as HHV-1 (cold sores) and HHV-2 (genital herpes), and some interest in HHV-6a which is associated with with multiple myeloma patients.
Dermatologists have ruled it out as effective against the viruses associated with warts.
There are excellent articles with dosage regimens online.
Judy
I’ve battled cold sores since childhood, dreading going to school with these ugly sores by my mouth.
I don’t recall exactly what prompted me to finally try L-lysine, but I do know that it works!!!
I take a 500 mg supplement every day with dinner, and if I happened to overdo on nuts or sweets and feel a sore starting, I take one or two extra at other meals. Even if I don’t catch it at the very beginning of the sore, it still works, and if it doesn’t seem to, I just take more.
Nc
Have been using l-lysine for 20 years. I have outbreaks only if I neglect dosage for a few days (1000mg daily). If an outbreak occurs, the lysine stops it before it blisters, especially if combined with 1-2000 mg vitamin c.
Beverly
My dermatologist recommended that I take 500 mg. of L-Lysine daily prophylacticaly to prevent outbreaks. And to increase it to three times a day if an outbreak occurs. Has worked pretty well for me.
But what works best for me is to take 1 gram of Valtrex the minute I feel the prodrome and one 12 hours later. It only takes the two doses to kick it if I begin the regimen as soon as I begin to feel the symptoms.
Ken
Campho-phenique has always worked for me. It burns a little, initially, and then a slight numbness, but my blisters are gone within a day or two.
Alice
Have never used lysine but use a dab of oil of oregano on a cold sore as soon as I feel it coming, inside or outside of my mouth. I use a dab a few times a day, and it’s usually nipped in the bud completely.
Jk
I had a smallpox booster and experienced no cold sores for years!
PeggySu
Lysine works for me. But recently I’ve become a BIG fan of Abreva which is OTC. It’s pricey but you only need a miniscule amount.
What triggers cold sores for me is certain foods. Corn is a problem. Also I can’t eat apples, especially dried apples.
Pat
I have had cold sores since a young child. OTC stuff worked till my cardiac cath 11 years ago. At the time it got out of control and popped up in unusual places. Docs thought I had MRSA but biopsy showed it was a systemic herpes zoster virus. I gave up and started taking Acylovir 400 mg 2 X a day. I have been on this now 6 or 7 years with no outbreak since. A bonus has been no flu or colds since.
It has been a lifesaver for me when all the Lysine and other supplements offered no relief. I hate drugs and drug companies but will gladly take this one till I die.
Colette
Absolutely! My mom knew this 40 years ago, and L-lysine works. Helps with chickenpox too, as I gave it to my children. Other benefits: shortens Bell’s Palsy duration. I wonder if it would help shingles sufferers?
Peggi
I occasionally get a cold sore, especially when I am under more acute stress than usual. While L-lysine does seem to help reduce the eruption, I find that after a few days I get heart palpitations if I also decrease my consumption nuts, seeds, and oatmeal to decrease arginine. I guess that’s because I’m getting less magnesium, so maybe the lesson is to eat normally while taking the L-Lysine. I also find that Valtrex works great and wonder if it’s not better in the long run because it attacks the virus.
John
Lysine works! I was plagued with cold sores several times a year until I tried lysine. I take 1000 mgs per day and have had no outbreaks in 4 years! It is a miracle.
Faith
Several years ago I worked in a local pharmacy. I had a cold sore, and when I went to work that day the pharmacist told me to get some l-lysine, and take it every day. I did that for a very long time. I have not had a cold sore in so many years, I can’t remember the last time I had one. My son-in-law suffers from shingles, and when he starts feeling like an attack is coming on he takes the l-lysine for a few weeks and does not have an outbreak. L-Lysine is not expensive and sure works better than anything that I have tried!
MB
I had heard about L-Lysine also and tried it a few times. Then I heard about lemon balm. I use the salve. I heard about this on another medical show also. It definitely works. I just apply it before an outbreak, and it stops the sore from coming out. It is definitely the best remedy I have tried!
Vee
Thanks so much about the L-Lysine. I am going to pick up some!
Missy
Indiana
I’m do glad to see I’m not the only one with this much trouble, but also sorry were all in the same boat.
I’ve gotten cold sores since I was a kid, thanks to my dad spreading it to me. I use to have constant breakouts as a teenager but thanks to a low carb diet, a reduction in stress, and stable hormones I only saw one out two breakouts a month in my 20s.
Now I’m in my late 30s and after one of the worst years of my life I developed rosacea (both ocular and facial – at the same time) and the cold sores would show up with it. It went from being a one week month, to two weeks, and now it’s non-stop daily outbreaks, both the rosacea and cold sores.
I’ve been taking 3000mg lysine every day for months but it’s only made them smaller. I’m going through a tube of Avreva every month, and the antivirals aren’t doing anything. It all started with the rosacea last August and not one doctor (I’ve been to 3) has any clue what to do, how they’re connected, or what to try next.
After talking to a nice lady who experience something similar, I’m wondering if the stress messed up with my body and hormones to the point it sent me into peri-menopause. I have PCOS so that system has always been touchy. I guess if that’s it then this is life until everything settles back down. Is anyone else going through something similar?
Kristen
colorado
I take Zovirax and L-lysine and Abreva and essential oils for the lesions I regularly get in my right nostril (a couple times per month depending on stress levels and sun exposure). When I get them my glands swell up on that side of my jaw and neck. I am exhausted and achy, and I often get migraines on that side of my head, and my vision on that side gets blurry. It’s an ongoing struggle for my health. I wish I had more answers but even doctors do not have answers so I continue to stay on an anti-inflammatory diet and work hard to get plenty of sleep. However, one thing that I have discovered that helps the lesions go away faster and helps the pain is Calamine Lotion. When I looked up the ingredients I realized why. It contains Zinc oxide and and Ferric Oxide that dry out the blisters and reduce pain and itching. Also zinc has many healing properties. So just an fyi – maybe it can help you too.
blanquita
Florida
Hi: I feel for you. I’ve had to deal with the same pesky thing for years. The most terrible news is that it’s a virus called herpes SIMPLEX. Note the difference with plain herpes. That stays with you for life and is contagious. You can get it by drinking from an infected person’s glass. I love straws! and always ask for them.
I’ve heard that one contracts it as a child, and there are millions of kids in that situation. It remains dormant until certain things awaken it: stress, stomach ailments, cold weather. I’ve been able to control mine when I’m in the sun by applying generous layers of high UV protection chap stick. In addition, I extend the application to all areas around my mouth (like a clown). I don’t see why it wouldn’t work in cold weather as well. There is medication that really expedites healing and relieves pain. It’s available in cream or pill presentation I can’t mention names here. I prefer the cream.
Good luck, and be brave! Accept the fact that you’ll have to live with it for life. Help yourself by avoiding the above causes. Go see your Dr. to consult on the matter. He or she might even prescribe the cream for you.
Jean
California
Wonderful chance here for discussion. Thank you. I have had cold sores and sties in my eyes since age 3. I’m 59 now. They says it’s a form of herpes, but I have never ever had them in the nether regions.
Back when my sisters and I were young we had the same doctor who delivered us. He even came over once in a while. I remember a picture of me with a patch over my eye and some sort of salve on it. My cold sores didn’t have to be directly on my lips or in my mouth. They could be above my top lip, even over to the side. Unfortunately Doctor Lawther retired. The new doctor simply said it a virus and was environmental. Why on Earth can’t doctors ever tell you where it derived from? They continue to simply place a bandage on a problem that’s probably some kind of warning of something bigger about to happen.
I’m all about healthy habits and healthy food. Was it the vaccines they gave us, the fluoride, the metal, Mercury, lead, that we breathe everyday with the pollution and pesticides on our crops? I need straight answers. I think we all do. I think we have a right to know.
Mags
Ct
I too suffer from this dreadful ailment can I take antiviral meds WITH they Lysine tabs? Anyone know if it’s a waste of should I take the lysine AFTER the sore has cleared up
Thanks
Steve
Tamworth NSW Australia
Dang, I got the stress, dry climate, am nut addict (smoked almonds are droooool bacon for almost all vegetarians). Am 36 too. It seems that coffee, for many, is an addiction at this age. Less energy? Perhaps. I find that an acyclovir l-lysine combo at the first tingle stage turns it into a scab before a McMassive blister on the face. I only ever get them at festivals, sharing ciggies and drinks. No, I don’t smoke or drink, and I get them every month.
So am:
– cutting almonds.
– reducing coffee
sammy
detroit mich
I’m 44 now and have been getting cold sores since a child. used to get them every 6 months or so but recently I’ve been getting them every month since I started a new job with terrible hours. having to wake up at 5am 3 days a week and its taking a toll on my sleep cycle. I’m assuming that’s a big trigger because I wake up half the night and are very sleepy at work. I’ve tried everything, acyclovir and abreva and lysine 500mg daily and still get them. I wonder if there are any clinical trials for a cure going on? I wonder if the 40 minutes of aerobics I do daily worsens it? because I’m assuming exercise helps the immune system. also my white blood count is always one point under the range, does that mean my immune system is weak?
Lisa F.
Indiana
I’m only saying this because nobody knows me. When I feel one coming on, and I get the tingling which I thought everyone got (but just learned that not everyone does), I have no idea who told me to do it but I have put ear wax on the cold sore. I don’t get the ear wax in my mouth at all. I normally just lightly dampen my finger, put it in my ear then right on the cold sore, and like I said it never has a chance. When I know I have it on the sore I don’t touch it and let the ear wax do its work.
Osca
Oregon
I’ve been getting a cold sore one after another,for the past 2 months. Nothing really works for me, not even lysine or any other creme. My last resort is to burst them and dry them out with acetone. That’s my only cure cause nothing really works for me. I’m 38 years old, and I’ve been getting these nasty things since I was a kid. I’m getting them more often now that I’m older, twice a month. It sucks that nothing seems to work for me.
Robin
CA
OMG, Osca! Don’t DO that! ‘Bursting’ a cold sore causes pain right in the area where the virus resides which makes it worse, the virus digs its heels in increasing the healing time, and can easily cause additional eruptions elsewhere around the mouth. And think about the toxicity of the acetone, in an open lesion, no less. Just buy Cold Sores Begone Stick, looks like chapstick, has lysine and other herbal ammunition that kills the infection when you feel the early symptom, for me, a tingle. I apply it then, the tingle stops, the sore doesn’t develop, and you’re good to go. Testimonials all over Amazon and on product website, http://www.coldsoresbegone.com
blanquita
Florida
Zovirax or acyclovir works best for me. In addition a drop of campho phonique (sp? in a small green bottle, sold over the counter) that does heal at the start, during and after the outbreak. The thing is to avoid the triggers and attack it as soon as one feels one coming.
Lisa
New Zealand
I definitely feel the pain! I have been a coldsore sufferer since I was a child, and its an awful thing to go through. I don’t get them as badly as I used to, but triggers for me are dry lips, sunburn and windburn. If I am feeling a little run down I can also get them. Interestingly enough, I came across this feed as I just had a coldsore go away, only to find myself traveling for work, and two starting to appear in its place. I have two days of intense meetings. I am stressed out for fear that these are going to get out of control. In preparation for the onslaught (I couldn’t find lysine this late at night), I have dolloped on Zovirax (which doesn’t usually work), taken ibuprofen, taken turmeric tablets (3x the dose), Exectuive Stress B tablets (2 x the dose) and garlic oil tablets (2 x the dose). Will keep you posted, feeling the tingle and have a little swelling but hoping my concoction will help me out.
Rocky
AZ
Vitamin B12 causes cold sores for me, have to avoid it.
Bobbi
AZ
When I feel that tale-tale tingling that almost always comes just prior to the cold sore I immediately begin taking L-lysine in megadoses, I also apply Campho Phenique gel many, many times a day which drys the lips, so I follow those applications with Carmex. Since I began this regimen, I rarely get them.
btw – if my lips get very chapped, a cold sore usually follows, or tries to!
Les Green
Atlanta, GA
Nothing works..believe me. When I catch a virus or a cold, i get huge cold sores all over my face…multiple ones too. I have tried everything and nothing has worked.
etashiana
Hi Les
I feel your pain. I tried everything and after a couple of years I just stopped and dealt with the cold sores as they came. I stumbled across this particular lysine. I tried lysine before and it never worked but this one did it. As long as I take this I am fine and it clears of my skin. I hope it helps.
Sorry it’s so long but just copy and past it. The reviews were great
https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Super-Lysine-180-Count/dp/B012T9A8DS/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=frh02-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=e383803116ae25fc424f04c228a9b397&creativeASIN=B012T9A8DS&th=1
Kay
Napa, CA
I’d like to add something bizarre. Ha. So… I’ve had cold sores since I can remember. I’m 29. And I get them multiple times a year, religiously. However, I thought it was interesting that during my pregnancy, and the 2 years after that I breastfed, I did not get ONE outbreak. Once I stopped breastfeeding, they began to return in the usual frequency. I’m curious if it was related to my hormones/immunity.
Robin L Barr
CA
That’s interesting. I know one of the most common triggers for a cold sore (and canker sores) are hormonal changes – menstruation, pregnancy, menopause.
Kay
Napa, CA
I use L-lysine the second I can tell one is coming, and it doesn’t seem to help with me. I still use it, though. Ha. Hoping to ask for an anti-viral oral medication soon. I seem to hear that those work well. None of the over the counter topicals ever work for me. But, again, I still use them. So who knows, maybe they lessen my symptoms.
Liz
Calistoga
Did you stop drinking during that time? Maybe alcohol or something you do when only not pregnant.
Chantal
Lebanon
I have been suffering from cold sores all my life , every 2 weeks I get not one , but 5 and 6 and 7 inside or outside. It is frustrating. I get it most when i am stressed and recently I found out that the INVADE my mouth whenever i drink RED WINE.
I tried everything so far , nothing works with me.
I am considering to try the lysine. Are they any bad side effets ?
Ruby
London
I started suffering from them as a little child and I think it was due to the big sloppy kisses my mother and grandma used to give me even when they had cold sores. I do wish people wouldn’t kiss children on the lips as they do not know if they are carriers or not. For some reason I hadn’t had an outbreak for 5 years then last year whilst on holiday in the sun I didn’t protect myself properly on the first day and got 2 on my lips, I had to bear these unsightly things for my holiday and yes people are rude enough to stare, if I had known I would have taken a bell and rang it and shouted clear the beach the infected monster is here.
Anyway, I had no more until the past month then 2 and now another 2 and what did I do to deserve them? eat nuts! Thanks to all the people on the internet that bought my attention to that, otherwise I would have never known that they were the cause. I will look into the cold sore machine from Boots chemist it is said to be very effective and as a five year guarantee if its prescribed by your GP.
Andy
UK
You guys all need to look up the electronic cold sore healing machine. It is sold here in Boots in the UK.
If I feel a cold sore coming on, I zap it with the machine, and 70% of the time it won’t appear. If it does appear, they only last a few days if I use the machine, and don’t leave me with the yucky feeling.
sally
Kansas
I have had these aggravating cold sores or fever blisers for years. Yes, I did have chicken pox as a child and I understand this makes you vulnerable. Once, I had one that would not go away and I do believe it got infected. It lasted a month and I was extremely depressed, couldn’t go anywhere. Never had one that bad since.
A friend told me to get Llisine and never forget to take it. Everytime I do forget or go out in the sun, I’m sure to get one! Anyone recomment a good sun block for lips or the fever blisters, bring it on! I hate these things!
Aindreas Scholz
London
I have been suffering from recurrent cold sores for the past 10 years. Over the years, I have tried many things to either prevent or minimise the symptoms. Personally speaking, I found Acyclovir 200mg capsules to be very effective. In fact, since taking the capsules I experience less and less cold sore attacks per year. In addition, I noticed that electric dry shaving increases my chances of developing cold sores. I now only wet shave. Hope this helps. Andreas
Coco
Sf
Lysine is the only thing that can stop a coldsore for me. I start taking it every 4 hours once I feel one. Never thought to continually take it but now I may add it to my daily vitamin regimen!
Carole
New Jersey
What lysine brand do you recommend??
Megan
oregon
I am desperate for recommendations or if anyone suffers from cold sores as badly as I do. This fall i started getting them on and around my mouth. I started taking valtrex and went without one for about a month. However, Since November I have literally suffered with a cold sore EVERY WEEK. I have tried 4 different anti-virals in pill form, zovirax cream, abreva, campho, and when all of those stopped working I started taking 1000 mg of lysine 3 times a day but I am still suffering. It is a mystery. My doctor said I likely have a compromised immune system as she and my dermatologist have never heard of anything like it..I try taking vitamins, milk, but nothing is stopping these awful things. Not only are they embarrassing but painful! If anyone has any sort of idea or recommendation please let me know.
TARA
WEST WARWICK RI
I am with everyone on this board. I have been suffering with fever blisters(herpes 1 virus) my whole life. I am 42 year old female. I have shingles (herpes 3 virus) 1 month now they are going away but very very slow. Now I just woke up today and have fever blisters under my nose. This is where I usually get them every time on right side and the right side of my neck gland swells. My lymph node swelled under my armpit on left side where I have these shingles. Take lysine everyday. Watch what I eat nuts,chocolate,grains etc.. I get stressed easily and I know this contributes to these fever/shingles virus! I hate the fact there is nothing that can be done to rid these forever? The prescribed valcyclovir pills & denavir creams just don’t work for me. I have started taking oil of oregano and using that on the blisters it’s an antiviral & antibacterial supplement. I am just at my wits end. It seems I am riddled with this virus inside me? It’s just so frustrating
Anita H
Arkansas
I am the same. Searching for answers. I too had chicken pox as a child. I didn’t know that made you more susceptible to the hsv1 virus. Something that is different for me is that I basically get a new one or two every single day. Sometimes I will have 4 or 5 tingling and wanting to break through. As long as I put the lysine ointment on them they don’t get out of control but still take around 3-4 days to be gone.
And by then I have new ones starting. This constant recurring has been going on for over a year now and I am so desperate to have it stop! I started taking l-lysine by mouth as well. I have heard that it could take up to a year of taking it before the symptoms lessen. So sad that dealing with this is going to be lifelong. Before this past year I only got one every few months. The only thing I can think of that is different is that we moved from California to Arkansas. I am wondering if it has something to do with the climate change.
Danielle
Sydney
I get bad cold sores. About 10 years ago I went through a stint where they were so bad I was getting them again just after they went away for close to 6 months. Big and angry. My doc put me on a 6 month dose of the medication they give people who have genital herpes (!)
She said the medication occupies the space where the virus lies dormant so that it cannot awaken. I was cold sore free for close to 18 months after that. Now I take lysine to manage the odd outbreak, but they are starting to get bad again so I’m thinking of doing it again. Anyway, thought I would mention it.
BPC
Have you found something that has worked for you? I am in the exact same scenerio. I have had them my whole life but it was usually just 1-2 times a year. Now it is more like once a week. Even started taking valtrex once an day and still got them.
Kylie
Australia
Hi Megan, I know you seem to be getting these more regularly than every month, but please make sure that you try to avoid any medication containing naproxen, which is used in some period pain medicines . I can’t explain explain the link but I used to experience terrible coldsores every month and eventually found that for some reason the naprogesic I was taking was triggering attacks. I stopped taking it and didn’t have a cold sore for more than 15 years. It may not be of any help but, just in case I thought best to share this
Ruby
If you eat nuts you should give them up for a couple of weeks and see if it helps.
Laura
Minnesota
Megan, I’m having the same issues. I’ve had cold sores (fever blisters) for 30 years. I’ve been taking Acyclovir for about 7 years, and it helped for the little bit, and now has stopped. I have tried campho, abreva, lysine, home remedies (online), but haven’t tried the electronic cold sore device – have you? I have had 3 in the last month and once one ends, another starts (and in all different places – bottom lip, lower left; then bottom lip lower right; then top). I feel your pain – so ugly, annoying, and super super painful at times. If you have had any luck – would love to know. Thanks, Laura
angel
I have been getting cold sores irregularly since I was infected about 7 years ago. In the last 2 and a half years I’ve had less than five outbreaks except the last week I’ve had 6 cold sores. I am attributing this to taking olive leaf extract (it destroys viruses within the body and temporarily worsens symptoms) so my body is working over time.
Triggers for me include extreme stress and being run down/ill although I had a recent infection and never got a cold sore. My daily regime is: 1000mg vitamin c and zinc, copper, vitamin b and 1000mg l-lysine, an olive leaf in the morning then another one in the evening with my meal then a garlic oil before bed. I sometimes take reishi mushroom extract too 1 a day just during my current outbreak.
I also follow a relatively balance/low arginine diet and balance meals, however these last few weeks I’ve crept up to 3 coffees a day from my usual 2 which seems to have had an impact and triggered my cold sores. I treat with sudacrem (zinc oxide) and lysine ointment works a charm. My 6 cold sores never came up and blistered just remained flat and are almost healed (2 at the start of the previous week that quickly went and the last 4 about 36 hours of having them so far)
Jessica L
Marianna FL
I had 1 fever blister when I was 15 after getting a sunburn on my face and apparently my lips, 1 fever blister at age 24. Now I’m 36 and in the last 2 years I have started getting them regularly. It started every couple months and now every month.
I read on another site to try Lysine and it said to take 1000 mg every 6 hrs during an outbreak. It said it only takes 5 hours for the pill to go from your stomach to your lip tissue to stop the replication of the virus and it was right. I found that article at 8am with a small cluster of new blisters and by the next morning it was completely flat and didn’t hurt, on the 2nd day it was completely gone.
It was about 32 hrs from the first sign to gone, it had erased it completely. I went from the 4 pills a day to 3 pills a day and then 2, 1000mg pills a day within 4 days of starting. Now this morning I awoke to a new cluster on a different place on my lip.
My new strategy is to start the 4 pills a day and keep taking the 4 pills for a full week this time before weening down to 3 and then 2 and then hopefully some day just one a day. If anyone else first this be aware that one site said large doses for long periods (they said long periods being 5 years) can cause kidney inflammation and to cut back on dairy because lysine can make you absorb too much and cause gallstones. I don’t know if it’s true just thought I would mention it so if you try this and all of a sudden get kidney pain or discomfort you can stop taking it.
I will say that the only thing I have changed since starting to get fever blisters often is I started DRINKING COFFEE. I never made the connection until reading this thread. All of the other triggers that were mentioned I don’t believe trigger mine because I gave not increased the eating of nuts or chocolate BUT coffee I started drinking lots more of after I had my son because having a baby is exhausting. I will stop drinking coffee and see what happens.
Dori
Montana
Vitamin C will give me a cold sore. For some reason if I take 1000mg of C I get a cold sore. So try taking less vit C to see if it will help. I just do not take vitamin C.
Maggie
Georgia
I don’t think it’s the coffee at all. I never drank coffee up until about 6 years ago. I had them long before that so I don’t see a connection there.
Laura
Alabams
Milk. Something about the amino acids or proteins. No chocolate or peanuts (I still eat other nuts and it doesnt seem to make the outbreak worse). Lots of milk and lysine. And milk.
Valerie
Montreal
This virus is highly contagious, be very careful not to spread it to the rest of your body, especially into your eyes. I got infected 8 months ago by taking a sip from my friend’s bottle at a summer festival. We both forgot she had a small cold sore on her lip when she passed me her cider. I developed a cold sore almost the next day and the virus has been torturing me ever since. I’m 29, healthy and athletic, with a pretty strong immune system, I used to think. From having 4 outbreaks in the past 8 months, I’ve learned my triggers are stress, menstruation, and alcohol.
After the first two outbreaks, one right after the other, I started taking Trilex supplement from Natural Wellbeing with lysine (+other natural extracts) and it worked!! I didn’t have another outbreak in 5 months until I decided to take a break from lysine. Going through my second cold sore this month, I’ve realized I absolutely have to:
-take lysine for the next few months
-alternate it with elderberry extract
-start coconut oil pulling
-try immediate icing at the first signs of a cold sore (it seems to work for many people)
It could be just me, but Abreva or acyclovir cream do not help at all.
To speed up healing this new cream Aubio works for me, it’s a little overpriced though. After applying it every 2 hours to a freshly developed cold sore, I have a brown scab the next day. Then I apply tea tree oil so that the scab dries out and falls off over the next couple of days.
Before using Aubio, my healing period was 7-10 days, which is now cut in half. Hopefully, the right diet (NO coffee, almond milk, nuts, and seeds), lysine and elderberry supplements, oil pulling, and vitamin C will keep me cold sore-free. It’s also very important to relax, and try not to stress out. Good luck to all of us!
Jay
india
I got cold sores from sharing drink too..my question is how you maintain daily hygiene and routine..thanks for any comment
Lora
Arlington,WA
I have gotten cold sores since I was a child…am now 40 and getting the a lot…I never knew that nuts could contribute! I have been eating tons of nuts lately…that might be the reason. It’s a bummer to stop eating them, but I will try and am going to add lysine.
Lynn
Omaha
I am 66 and am getting a cold sore about every couple of months.I use to get one once or twice a year.
I thought cold sores lessened as you got older.Any answers as to why it has increased for me? I am a very healthy woman, but wondering it could be a suppressed immune system.
Little Lumatic
Victoria BC
I get terrible fever blisters every 4 months, about 3 or 4 at a time. It’s awful! I work in dental too, so my patients often give me weird looks. Maybe I’ll try the I Iysine thing. I’ll try Anything at this point.
Sam
Nothing has really worked for me either. This year has been the worst year for me. I actually did a lot of detoxifying treatments such as iodized foot baths and 2 colonics and I got outbreaks right after treatments. My guess was that my body was doing just that…detoxifying…but, unfortunately in the form of herpes. I’ve been getting them since early childhood. So does my sister mom aunts and uncle. They have all pretty much found what works for them and me…I get them the worst and most frequently of everybody. Triggers are definitely stress, disrupted sleep routine, SUN, dry climate, chapped lips, thinking about them( just kidding) I apply ice right away and that has works a few times, but I swear these things have their own agenda. I have had a very bad hot rash up my back the first time I ever started taking prescription acyclovir with l-lysine supplements . At the same time while taking vitamin B. I like the method of drying them out. Alcohol, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, carmex, l-lysine ointment (which used to work great, but now just doesn’t like abreva) when I was a kid living by the ocean, the sea water used to do wonders…now I live in the dessert and I swear the dry climate is killin me….well anyway..good luck to all. Hope you find what works for you.
karen
south africa
I have also suffered from cold sores or fever blisters as we call them in my country. A few things I have learned.
Never overheat at night, I have found I wake up with one if I get too hot (heated blankets are a big no)
Overeating oranges
Stress
Lack of sleep
sunshine
Overexertion. I run marathons and can almost guarantee a coldsore after a race.
extreme cold and dry weather.
I have found Lysine works but I usually go against recommendations and pop the blisters immediately then apply listerine. It stings like mad but does seem to lessen the severity. I usually take a pain killer with an anti inflammatory. All this while applying zovirax almost all the time and leave a blob on my lip for as long as it takes to absorb.
Any helpful tips would be appreciated.
Lee
Toronto
I’m in my 30’s now and have had cold sores ever since I was a teenager. They were severe and affected both lips making it very difficult to eat. Once I figured out that the sun was the main trigger, I started applying lip sunscreen SPF 60 on my lips everytime I go outdoors. I would still get an outbreak maybe once a year or so and it would take about 1 week to heal. The regimen that was magical for me was start 2g Valtrex twice daily for 1 day as soon as I feel the tingling, 1g of lysine three times a day for 5 days, apply ice cube to both lips 3-4 times a day, apply Abreva 4-5 times a day for 5 days. This worked great for me and by day 7 it was completely healed. But for some reason this year I’ve had 9 outbreaks in a period of 8 months and currently nothing seems to work. I’ve been to dermatologist and infectious disease doctor and now thinking of going to an immunologist. I don’t know if giving birth a year ago messed up my immune system or there is some hormonal imbalances. Whatever it is I am so desperate for an answer because it’s interfering with my social life, career, mental health, and most importantly my ability to care for my 1 year old.
Leah
Manuka honey and bicarbonate of soda.
Greg
New Jersey
No help here for women, but I have had cold sores my whole life, and ever since I grew a beard and moustache, I have been less self conscious about them. People do not notice them anymore, and the fact that I am less self conscious about it has made me not touch them so much anymore as they go through their week or two cycle to scab and heal. The fact I don’t mentally obsess and touch to see how bad they are significantly impacts the severity and size of them in a good way.
Tomasa
TX
I’m only 19 and I started getting cold sore break outs when I was about 7. I do not know what caused them, I’m guessing when I was a baby someone who had a cold sore must have kissed me or something but my mom couldn’t breastfeed me because I would cause her to break out. Anyway, I had my first cold sore when I was about 7 and I used abreva but as the years have gone by, Abreva does not work. I’ve tried other cold sore treatments that can be bought over the counter. Nothing seems to really work. I usually get about 2 a year, maybe 3. This summer alone, in the past 2 months I have gotten 4, 3 of which have been back to back. When one is almost healed, another one comes out. I went to a dermatologist and I believe he prescribed valacyclovir but I had to stop taking it because I began having back problems due to my kidneys and wasn’t going to risk a kidney infection. I’ve been reading this forum(?) and I’m hoping some of the treatments y’all have used will work for me. If anyone has any other suggestions, or similar experience to mine and found something that has helped, please let me know. Thank you.
Jess
Alabama
Was your mom breaking out with cold sores while breastfeeding? This is currently happening to me! I haven’t had an outbreak in years but have had multiple the past 6 months since having my daughter.
Nancy
California
I used to get many breakouts, started using Lysine, and didn’t get a cold sore for 10 years!! It was a miracle vitamin. However, you should not take it for more than 6 months straight or it can cause other severe side effects, so I used to take it about 2x a month just to keep it in my system. Well sad to say, the Lysine no longer works. I am now back to outbreaks. It has to be a lack of vitamin I think – especially since the lysine worked for such a long time.
Vanessa
Texas
Hi,
For the past few months I have seen my mother suffer in silence. She has been getting recurring fever blisters inside her mouth. The lysine, multivitamin and super b complex are not helping. She has tried valtrex & acyclovir along with nystatin because she’ll occasionally get a white tongue. Blood work is fine, HIV test is negative, Hep is negative. We can’t seem to figure out why. I can only imagine the discomfort of pushing through clusters of throbbing blisters in your mouth. Any other remedies that have not been mentioned would be greatly appreciated.
Lisa
AK
I have the same problem I find an answer that helps then after a year or so it stops. I have been using Elderberry supplements they are GREAT and helped for 3 years, now it seems to being not so much. I will probably go back to lysine and keep switching back and forth and see if that will help. Thought I would mention Elderberry supplements for you to try if you hadn’t heard of it.
Rich
My cold sore experience:
1. They started about 5 years ago when I started eating almonds daily. I hadn’t realized until I read the article above that this feeds the virus!
2. The cone on every several weeks, and stress definitely contributes to the onset.
3. Lysine hasn’t worked for me to prevent or reduce the severity.
4. Vitamin C has been my lysine. It doesn’t seem to prevent them, even at 6,000 mg per day. But there is no question that heavier vitamin C either prevents an oncoming cold sore from blistering, or I’ll get a minor scab without any puss. My MD (more alternative than most) had recommended this and the lysine, but only the vitamin C really has worked for me.
Rich
Oh, the vitamin C dosing I use is 10,000 to 15,000 mg each 3x/day
janelle
Joshua tx
I have had fever blisters every since I can remember. My sisters and dad also get them a lot. I know sun and any acidic food brings them on. Also if I go to the dentist I always get one or two. A while back I took acyclovor 800 mg for about 3 months straight. I didn’t have a fever blister for about 3 years after that. But for the last year I get one or two and before they even heal I get another one! I have been drinking sugar free energy drinks. One a day or so. I wander if this could be my problem. At this time I’m using acyclovor ointment with 500 mg valtrex. I just think I need a few months of valtrex or acyclovor oral medz! I would like to know what some of the other triggers are though! Thanks!! Janelle
Amanda
Canada
I am the exact same way!! I take 500mg of valtrex daily and the second I stop a cold sore forms and I will get them non stop until I start the valtrex again! It’s so frustrating! I sometimes still get cold sores while on the valtrex but just not as much or as bad!
Nicky
NZ
Ok ladies, have any of you experience traumatic cold sore break outs right before that terrible time of the month??? I have been suffering these crazy break outs for a couple of years now, but they are now so bad that the cover most of my nose, a whole lip (either top or bottom but never both at once) plus now down half of one side of my face! The oral medication makes a huge difference but I feel like I am almost constantly on it now. Not so cool at the age of 33…
Monica
MD
Yes- and it seems like they have been happening more often recently:( so frustrating- but the only thing I can link it to this winter is my time of the month. I am going to try the lysine right away! This is terrible!
smf
FL
going through LITERALLY the exact same thing! I have never had it so bad before. I am humiliated and don’t want to leave. And, they just leave me feeling unwell.
Pauli
Lysine has always worked for me and has prevented outbreaks when I took it on a daily basis. Unfortunately, it always gives me a headache as well so I do not take it daily. I have also found that applying vaseline at the first sign of tingling drastically limits progression and most importantly eliminates the pain plus, quite often, there is no visible eruption.
Interestingly, I started an oral care regimen using coconut oil for oil pulling (swishing with coconut oil for 10-20 minutes) about a year and a half ago and a few days after that my mouth broke out inside (not on the lips) with hundreds of small blisters. I was not sure what to think but I kept oil pulling and in a couple of days the blisters were all gone and since then I have had one or two outbreaks that were very short-lived, and much less severe and not noticeable (unless you use bifocals maybe). I think if I was more regular with the oil pulling they would not occur at all.
Samuel
I recommend you check out the article posted on this at Patient.info it goes in to much more detail on how cold sore started and different ways they can be triggered.
Amie
UK
Lysine for me has been a horrible experience – a friend has had a great experience with it but for me it has only made the coldsores worse and I have had constant coldsores all over my face for the last couple of months.
I have an allergy to nuts and I think the lysine triggers this – avoid at all costs is my advice!
Awix
Va
I was suffering from reoccurring cold sores pretty badly over the past 2 years or so. And I mean REOCCURRING. As soon as the outbreak would heal, I had one or two days, then I would have another outbreak. Sometimes I would get a two week break or so. But still that’s crazy! L-lysine in my experience does help. And the sooner you take it, the better. It was the end-all-be-all cure for me because I would have to take such high dosages of it, and had weird side effects (serious constipation). So I didn’t want to take it every day as a preemptive measure when the virus was in remission.
My doctor prescribed me acyclovir cream. Which helps a lot, and is way more effective than abreva. Super cheap too! My insurance didn’t cover the name brand that came in the tiny, tiny abreva size tube. So I got the generic for ten bucks in a HUGE tube. Seriously it will last forever.
However I am pleased to say I finally figured out what was causing my outbreaks, freaking ALMOND MILK. You know, the stuff I was drinking because I thought it was “better” for me. I always thought my cold sores were a byproduct of what I wasn’t putting into my body, I.e. Vitamins, eating enough fruits and veggies. Or that my immune system was somehow seriously compromised. Why else would this be happening?
Nope, just the almond milk turning on me. I only drank the Kroger brand almond milk, and have since gone back to drinking regular milk. Not sure if those factors exclusively mean anything, but I’m not going to find out. my cold sores are gone, and that’s brilliant. I’m sort of kicking myself for not realizing it sooner. Though I did learn a few tricks on how to handle out breaks.
I got the entire thing down to only a three day heal time. the second you think you have a cold sore, PUT ICE ON IT. seriously, I always read this, and ignored it, chalking it up to just being for the pain. But it will take the severity out of your out break if not sending it into remission. I’ve had a pulsing spot dodge becoming a gross blister into a hardly noticeable scab. Completely skipping the stages of the blister forming, weeping, and crusting. The acyclovir ointment helps when you can’t ice (I will sit around my apartment for thirty minutes at a time with ice wrapped in a paper towel on my face to ensure nothing would continue to blister). Taking l-lysine while icing and using the acyclovir ointment is a big help as well. Any way. Sorry for such a long post! Some some things I’ve learned.
Lynn
Winnipeg
I’ve had cold sores all my life. Very bad cold sores. Right now I have one on my bottom lip and two huge ones inside my mouth – only the second time that’s happened. They are horribly painful and my glands are sore and swollen. In the past few years I have had more and more breakouts. I know the sun is the worst offender for me and I don’t leave the house without a hat in summer. The dryness of the city I live in doesn’t help either. It’s interesting that the article said a trip to the dentist could cause an outbreak because I just had a root canal done (more fun) and then I got these lovely sores.
Something that does work for me is camphor spirits. If I can put that on my lips the minute I feel the tingling, it usually stops a breakout, or at least I break out with fewer and smaller ones. You have to keep putting it on until you are sure you aren’t going to break out. It does smell and it does dry out your lips, so you have to put a lip balm on as well. Occasionally though, the cold sores are just determined to come out and nothing can stop them. The camphor spirits help to dry them out once you have a breakout. It also stings, which for me, actually reduced the pain of the cold sore.
I am going to try L-lysine though, because I used to get them maybe once a year and now it seems like once a month.
Mike
Calgary
I have had cold sores since I was a small child when our grandmother kissed me and my four sisters. I’m a PT and golf instructor and I am outside for 8 months a season and used to get several outbreaks per season. I spent hundreds on Abreva and Valtrex. What a waste of money. I take L-Lysine every night and haven’t had a breakout in over two years. Knock on wood. I use a 60 lip balm religiously and 60 sunscreen. L-Lysine is rather cheap compared to all the prescription meds. It works for me.
Nick
Canada
I suffered from 2-3 horrible cold sores a year for 10 years, they were huge and very painful/embarrassing. Nothing would help them and I’d have to wait two weeks for them to clear up. I started putting a bit of abreva on the spots they would occur about once a week or every two weeks and have not had an outbreak in 2 years. Don’t know why it works but I’m sure glad it does.
Kathy
Denver
My young son would get recurrent cold sores. He would heal up and then a new one would come on within a few days. I think for every school picture from 1st grade through 5th he had a cold sore. Finally I decided to see if going with a gluten-free diet would help at all. It was just a shot in the dark and occurred to me only because I myself had gone to a gluten-free diet (for a different reason) and felt so much better. Well, it did the trick — no more gluten, no more cold sores. By now, at age 15, he is well aware of how much gluten he can get away with eating (a few non-gf chicken tenders once a week, for example). I suspect that his system had been sensitive to gluten and therefore was constantly in a state of immunodeficiency and just couldn’t suppress the virus. For someone else, it might be a different food(s) that causes the same. His pediatrician tells me no way did gluten have anything to do with his cold sores… I just give a half smile and remind myself that we see her only for purposes of school physicals and immunizations. (Sorry to say that even though I have been eating gluten free for 10 years now, I ‘ve been suffering for at least a year with recurrent cold sores. Interestingly, I’ve just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia… I know my immune system is just not right.)
Adam
New Jersey
Some people say you will have fewer outbreaks when you grow older. It wasn’t the case for me. Maybe the stress from work and poor sleeping schedule, I had frequent outbreaks. It was totally embarrassing. I tried almost all of medications that my doctor could prescribe for me. I read every site I could find, hoping for magical remedies. Some of them seemed helpful, but nothing worked for long. The next one came out sooner and sooner. Side effects of medicine started to show on me: itchy skin and constantly itchy lips. Last May, I made a purchase from homemedlab for something else, and surprisingly got a free sample of cold sore control, which was actually not listed on their website. I was ready to try anything at that time, so I used it right away. It says vegetable and fruit based, and does smell like fruits. This sample stopped the itch on my lips within a few days. In the following months, I just applied a little on my lip, whenever I felt the monster was coming again. Every time, it stopped it, mostly overnight. I am feeling cold-sore-free now. The sample is not listed in their website, but if you have tried everything else and are desperate like I was, it is worthy to ask for a sample from the site.
alan
Hi Adam, please cut a fresh ginger root and use it like lipstick on your kids lips every day if he has the cold sore or not —Every day you will see a miracle …. Good luck and Shalom!
Sara
US
For a year and a half, I was getting at least one cold sore every month. I tried EVERYTHING: zovirax, lysine, red marine algae and every “get rid of it fast” remedy I could try. It was starting to depress me. Especially when I got 3 IN ONE MONTH. I thought long and hard about what changed in my diet over the past 1.5 years and the only thing was my caffeine intake. I never used to drink coffee and I started almost every day, plus I was drinking pre-workout drinks that had a lot of it. I cut caffeine out of my diet and I haven’t had one in almost 5 months. Try it!!! It’s so worth it.
Adam
NJ
Some people say you will have fewer outbreaks when you grow older. It wasn’t the case for me. Maybe the stress from work and poor sleeping schedule, I had frequent outbreaks. It was totally embarrassing. I tried almost all of medications that my doctor could prescribe for me. I read every site I could find, hoping for magical remedies. Some of them seemed helpful, but nothing worked for long. The next one came out sooner and sooner. Side effects of medicine started to show on me: itchy skin and constantly itchy lips. Last May, I made a purchase from homemedlab for something else, and surprisingly got a free sample of cold sore control, which was actually not listed on their website. I was ready to try anything at that time, so I used it right away. It says vegetable and fruit based, and does smell like fruits. This sample stopped the itch on my lips within a few days. In the following months, I just applied a little on my lip, whenever I felt the monster was coming again. Every time, it stopped it, mostly overnight. I am feeling cold-sore-free now. The sample is not listed in their website, but if you have tried everything else and are desperate like I was, it is worthy to ask for a sample from the site.
debi
Liverpool
I suffer with coldsores a lot I av just gone and bought l-lysine I really hope they work fingers crossed .
John
Ive dealt with them my whole life – usually 1-2 a year, but they would be really bad when i got them. Like 2 weeks to heal. Lysine never worked for me personally. Doc gave me a Valtrex prescription about 10 years ago and its made a world of a difference. As long as i take 2 1gm pills twice a day right when i see it, it never gets bad, and is gone in 3 days or so. I make sure to have a few on me at all times.
However, just recently, im dealing with a bout of back to back breakouts – like 4 straight weeks now. The prescription is still preventing them from becoming bad, but the recurrence is frustrating. Im wondering if my immune system is down or something. My diet and stress has caused problems in the past, but never this many. In the last 4 weeks, I’ve gotten more than i had in the previous 4 years.
Kate
Australia
Hi John. I too have never found lysine to be helpful but i was also taking Valtrex which was a godsend! I kept getting frequent outbreaks however so went to a new doctor for help. He prescribed me with aciclovir tablets which I now take daily. I have only had 2 coldsores in the 8 months I’ve been taking this medication. I was getting multiple coldsores every week beforehand. Much cheaper than Valtrex and I’m a new person. Hope this helps you!
Dawn
Kentucky
I used to get cold sores about twice a year. Then someone told me about L-Lysine-I started taking it and it seemed to work well for a while. I take L-Lysine every day and for the past 8 months I have been getting cold sores about every 6-8 weeks! I am so tired of this…
Jim
BC Canada
L-Lysine does work great, BUT, you don’t take it everyday or the effects will fade overtime. What you do is take it as soon as you feel the tingling of the sore under the skin. I take 400-600mg in capsules with a glass of water. Then place an ice cube in a paper towel and place the exposed side against the skin at the location of the sore and hold it there until the skin is numb. Wait until after the burning cold feeling goes away. I have been doing this for the past 3 years now and have not had 1 cold sore since! Not one. Stay out of the sun mostly and if you live somewhere with cold winters, cover your lips with a scarf/windbreaker when you go out to reduce stress to the skin that can trigger the sore.
ashley
Kalamazoo mi
I used to get cold sores twice a year, one when it got hot outside, and one when I got cold outside. They were often big and ugly, but since starting lysine tablets, I havent had one! I don’t even have to take them every day. Only when I feel “the tingle” or when the area I normally get them starts to look red. I also couple that with an application of abreva, and viola, no cold sores for a year now. I’m a believer!
Jim
BC Canada
Same here! It works great. I am living proof. Just take when the tingling comes.
Stephanie
Buffalo
I’ve noticed when I eat/drink oranges, OJ, grapefruit I break out. I don’t know if it’s just coincidence but I love these foods especially in the summer but try to avoid them as much as possible. I’m going to try icing it and I’ve heard garlic works too. Has anyone tried garlic directly on a cold sore?
Chloe
NZ
After reading this chain and seeing all the comments about icing early cold sores gave it a go this morning. Have been getting them for 3 years now and lately they have been continuous, its awful. Zovirax, aciclovir tablets and lysine have not worked. Happy to say that after icing my lip for 2min this morning (followed by zovirax ointment) the 2 new sores have completely disappeared!!! Will repeat this afternoon, fingers crossed they stay away.
Jodie
United Kingdom
I regularly get cold sores. I have been using compeed cold sore patches. These are great, but can be noticeable when I am wearing foundation & make up. I always get them when exposed to the sun. I need a quick remedy to get rid asap.
Haley
California
In the beginning stages of getting a zit under my nose, I thought it was a cold sore. I started taking an antiviral once to twice a day, and taking lysine twice a day, as well as rubbing abreva on the spot. Even though it just turned out to be a blemish, I was continually doing everything you can do to prevent and treat a cold sore when I woke up with a cold sore on my lip. It made me want to cry. Not that I’m going to give up, but it seriously makes me doubt there is anyway to actually control this. I will say since I discovered antivirals I at least don’t get cold sores as giant and scarring as the ones I got in childhood when no one was looking how to really take care of this for me. But even with the time and money I’ve put into trying EVERYTHING as an adult, I’ve been 100% unsuccessful at actually preventing an outbreak.
ashley
missouri
I first had a cold sore in the middle of my first pregnancy. I have no idea how I go them. I struggled for over two years with constant reoccurring breakouts. I started dealing with it by taking lysine. At first it seemed to help but soon seemed to be little help and I was still having frequent outbreaks, at least once a month. So I asked my doctor for a prescription of Valtrex. Since on valtrex, one year now, I have had three minor outbreaks, I think mainly due to missing a dose. It has been very effective for me. I take just 500mg a day. I hope to go back to something more natural but this is all that works for me currently. Lysine wasn’t effective enough for me
Corey
Colorado
For me, lysine definitely worked. I started taking lysine and didn’t have a breakout for a year and a half. When I did sense a breakout, I pumped up the dosage and the cold sore wouldnt be that noticeable. But, now the problem is, I just moved to Colorado and I’ve been getting chronic cold sores. I’m not sure if it’s just my body acclimating to the dry environment or if my body has become immune to the lysine. Hopefully, it is just me adjusting.
Lisa
Colorado
I was doing well in Florida. I was going to the beach and the sun for a change wasn’t bothering me at all. Now that I have moved to Colorado, been here a month, I am already on my second outbreak! I am starting to think it has something to do with Colorado also.
Jess
Colorado
I also came to Colorado from Florida last year, and was in Malaysia before that. Almost a year with no outbreaks. Since coming to Colorado I’ve had an outbreak every month like clockwork, & no idea why. I eat well, and get more exercise than I have in a while. Totally stumped, too! Could it be the altitude??
Peg
Oklahoma
I’ve had recurrent cold sores since I was a young girl (the past 30 years). This is what I’ve found most helpful …
Treatments for fever blisters / cold sores
Daily preventive regimen:
RX Valtrex 500mg suppressive therapy
L-Lysine 1000mg tablet
L-Lysine lip ointment
Probiotics
Meditation & relaxation exercises
Clean eating & whole food diet
Super Lysine Plus Lip Clear Coldstick With SPF 21 when outside & exposed to sunshine
Treatment for an acute breakout:
Valtrex 1000mg twice daily x 1 day
L-Lysine 1000mg tablet 3 times daily x 3 days
Lysine lip ointment
Zinc oxide ointment
RX Xerese cream (acyclovir & hydrocortisone) 5x daily x 5 days … this is an expensive prescription, so ask your physician to prescribe Zovirax cream if your insurance won’t cover Xerese.
Compound RX cream from local pharmacist: clobetasol & tetracaine (corticosteroid & anesthetic) 3x daily … this is extremely helpful for pain & my local pharmacy charges $20 for a 5 gram syringe … ask your physician to prescribe a compound like this with a *caine medication mixed in to numb the pain of the cold sore.
Someone told me to try this if I have another outbreak:
Extra Zinc tablets (15-30mg) daily x 1 week
If I have an outbreak, it’s usually related to increased stress or excessive sun exposure. Know your triggers (internal & external).
Hope this list is helpful & gives you other things to try as preventive measures & treatment. ~ peg
Lauri
Denver,co
I have experienced the same thing. Moved to Colorado two years ago from KC with maybe one or two a year before and 6 since the move. My diet has not changed, nor has my sun exposure for the most part. I seem to get them with severe temp changes. The first really cold snow and first warm days. This year is the first time I have experienced back to back sores. They are pretty small in comparison to previous one in five year outbreak, but much more painful which doesn’t seem to make sense either. Not sure how I can eliminate the cause:). Any ideas? This sucks but love Colorado!
Just FYI, I hydrate , eat very well, exercise every day.
Thank you
Cheri
California
I grew up in Southern CA and used to get frequent cold aores. I moved to CO when I was in my let 20’s and the frequency seemed to decrease significantly. After 20 years in CO I moved to Northern CA and have been having out breaks every 3-4 weeks. I was thinking that it might be tied to my severe pollen alergies.
sherley
rochester ny
I use l-lysine- tea tree oil – garlic fresh- vanilla extract- alcohol- coconut oil-honey to no avail as soon as the first one started to heal up under my nose I got 3 more pumps on my lip I never eat nuts or bread put I just started eating fresh pineapple and the next day they started and I have been eating it everyday for the vitamin c I wonder if that’s what causing it?
Alex
Richmond
So this may sound extremely out there, but I’m almost certain the Gummy prenatal gummy vitamins from Target keep my cold sores dormant. It could just be taking any multivitamin will do the trick of a lack of nutrients is causing your cold sores. The prenatal ones are just the ones I’ve always taken (for the extra benefits they provide for your skin and hair). But before I figured this out, I was suffering from persistent, reoccurring cold sores in the year and a half I stopped taking the vitamins. I would get one, it would heal, two days later a new one would sprout up on the other side.
That being said, I figured out a pretty solid regiment for getting a cold sore gone fast. It’s even kept them from blistering. The second I feel a tingle I take a lysine. After I know for sure its a cold sore, I take two more. And then continue taking two every 4-6 hours. I also take extra vitamin c and zinc to boost my immune system. (Always take with a meal, or you may get sick, and drink LOTS of water.) I also ice the spot as much as possible, especially after a nice warm shower. I used to never do this, but gave it a shot and found it to truly be a game changer. I also put on abreva just for peace of mind when I’m out and about.
Hope this helps!
Haley
I religiously take multivitamins (very specifically the prenatal a from target as well) and can tell you they don’t work, unfortunately. Though boosting your immune system can only be helpful.
Pineapples, especially fresh, tends to really (tear up) your mouth. The acid causes tiny abrasions in your mouth, and then cold sores take advantage of your immune system being diverted taking care of that to set up shop else where around your mouth.
Stephanie
Canada
Hi guys,
I use to get cold sores all the time. It was horrible. At one point I was getting one about every 4-6 weeks. I’ve tried everything under the sun to avoid, prevent, lessen, and cure the little buggers. Including most of the remedies below. Nothing ever worked. Occasionally I’d have success with prescription meds, or l-lysine supplements. But it would would work once and then the next time would be ineffective. Anyhow, about a year ago i really took a look at my diet. I didn’t have as many outbreaks when i was very young. Maybe once or twice a year. The only food that I could think of that I was consuming more of as an adult was dairy. I consumed a lot of milk, yogurt, and cheese etc since moving away from home and living on my own.
I never thought in a million years that dramatically reducing my intake of those foods would help. But it has. Last year i virtually eliminated milk and yogurt from my diet. I don’t want to temp the gods, but i haven’t had an outbreak in over 6 months. For me, that’s a small miracle. Nothing else in my life, food, job, relationship, exercise, stress, sunlight, etc etc has changed. I just find it strange that many home remedies, if you want to call it that, recommend a diet rich in the amino acid l-Lysine which means lots of dairy. I’ve gone the opposite, and I still enjoy chocolate, nuts, whole wheat bread etc type foods (low in l-lysine) without any troubles. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced lower outbreaks after cutting milk from their diets?
Russ 88
Toronto
What worked for me was applying a paste made of pressed garlic. I only leave it on the lip for a few minutes, because it really starts to sting after 30 seconds, or so. I suspect only one application will do the job, but I really want to ward off the cold sore, so I do about six applications, more or less. Applying the garlic as soon as I get the tingle, works the best. Garlic paste seems to pretty much stop the herpes virus in its tracks.
brigitte
United States
My daughter gets them constantly. I have tried everything and read once real vanilla extract worked well. She started with one and I thought i’d try. It works just as well and quickly as the other stuff we had tried, plus it tastes good. I dab it on many times in a day. I also read to soak a cottonball in milk and press it on the sore often, we do this too. I no longer buy any of the creams as I have found this to be equally as effective and costs much less!
Kat
Canberra
I’ve suffered from cold sores all my life. They come out when I’m run down/sick or experiencing high levels of stress. I use lysine and Zovirax and a little something extra that is the nail in the coffin for my cold sores. The moment I get the tingling sensation or the beginning of a lump, I put an ice pack on it and I’ll do this a couple times a day, especially after a hot shower. After making the little devil numb, I put on the Zovirax. Along with taking two lysine in the morning and two at night during an outbreak, I can cut the healing time down to 1-3 days, depending on how quickly I can get to the outbreak. Back when I was only using Zovirax, healing time was 2.5 weeks.
Dee
Good idea, if I put ice on for about 20 minutes at the first tingle, it often stops it in its track.
I just woke with one and found I must be eating too many almonds and peanut butter,
bn
cpmt, what vitamins and herbs are you taking?
My first outbreak was about 2 and a half years ago, and I’ve only had a few cold sores each year and they are mild, but this year I have had continual trouble with red spots coming up without tingling or warning. they do not turn into blisters, but they are still annoying. I don’t know what to do. I use lysine, hl30, oils, and take some other vitamins to help my immune system. also valacyclovir. I have been dealing with the red spots (that I believe can still be contagious) for too long. It’s taking a toll on me. I know I am lucky that they aren’t worse, but I fear I can’t be close with anyone or kiss as I might transmit it to them. Also, it has prevented me from eating lots of foods I used to because anything remotely spicy causes a red spot, as well as other food. Does anyone have the same problem? This has become a daily disturbance and I can’t figure out what to do besides stop eating, like I want to.
cpmt
TO DJM In my opinion YOU SHOULD stop everything you are taking. you’re probably allergic to something, also check if you are allergic to gluten or lactose etc…
your immune system is low or damage probably from all the things/meds you are taking. Something similar happened to me. Doctor prescribed 5 medicines to stop ONE illness… I got so sick I ended in the ER I guess I am allergic to some of the medication OR one medicine doesn’t go with another.
I feel better now that I stopped everything. I went to an acupuncturist (who is treating me) and she gave me a special formula vitamins + herbs to improve my immune system. I am feeling better and the original illness is very much improving. Good luck.
DJM
I have been plagued by cold sores for 20 years. I take 1000mg l lysine everyday, I take a 200mg maintenance dose of Zovirax everyday. I use 50 SPF lip balm every second I am in the sun. I have been suffering since the first of June 2014 with outbreak after outbreak. When they break out I use 2 grams of valacyclovir every 12 hours for two days, two tubes of those newer Oragel vials, and almost an entire tube of Abreva every outbreak along with every single hint from Heloise I can find but they keep coming back.
What the heck is going on with me? I don’t even get a sting or a pulsing anymore, they just show up like the unwanted guests they are.
This crap is costing me a fortune and short of cutting my upper lip off, I am at the end of my rope. Any help or hope other than the slew of information those of us that suffer from them already know? I feel it is stupid there is no cure for this….. Come on science, how about a cure for something that afflicts millions of people instead of all the focus going to just a few.
dlw
I just purchased some 1000mg L Lysine. Does it really work?
MS
Aside from prevention methods such as avoiding stress and fatigue, as well as exercising and eating appropriately (getting all your vitamins, proteins, upping lysine intake and avoiding arginine-rich foods), there is a winning formula of 4 treatments that will fight any outbreak (provided you catch it in time). When you feel the dreaded tingle:
-Take 3 L-Lysine supplement pills daily (can be found at any GNC)
-Take 2 Valacyclovir pills every 12 hours for 2 days (need a prescription from your Dr.)
-Put Zovirax cream on the sore every 3 hours
-Put Abreva cream at the same time as Zovirax (mix both together and apply generously)
Until they find a cure, this is your best bet. Has been working for me for 8 years (since I started it).
Good luck!
PI
Thanks for sharing all the tips everyone. I’ve been getting coldsores since I was kid and as I get older they get worse. The past few months I’ve had one every few weeks. I’m going to get some Lysine asap and take it daily. Have the icepack on now.
Celeste
PA
How many mg of Lysine daily?
js
I too am a firm believer in L-Lysine, at the very first tingle I will take anywhere from 2-5 1000mg pills, if I know I will have lots of sun exposure, or that I am stressed out, or run down, I will take a couple in the morning and a couple before sleep; preemptively. I keep lysine in my glove box, in my day bag, golf bag, gym bag, and at home. I literally will not go anywhere without it, so that I can take it immediately if i feel a cold sore coming on, or if I am consciously stressed, tired, sick, etc. I also have learned to avoid caffeine, chocolate, most nuts, and other foods that are rich in L-Arginine. There are tons of articles explaining how food and diet can assist in preventing and limiting the extent of breakouts. With this current approach, I usually do not get any sores that are visible, and am able to keep them in check..
Sharon
My dentist told me many years ago to use Lysine as soon my lip starts to sting. I take three Lysine immediately and the sore will not go on and develop. The second and third days, I take three more. No blisters for me.
Celeste
PA
I have been plagued with cold sores for 45 years. They come and go – sometimes lapses have been months. But recently I have been getting them every week! I bought a Vitamix and have been making fruit/veggie drinks with Vanilla Almond milk. I just noticed almonds are rich in arginine which contain little lysine, they are rich in another amino acid, l-arginine, which is thought to trigger activation of the herpes simplex. So, I will stop using almond milk and try vanilla soy milk. I hope they makes a difference.
MB
Did you get any help? As I seem to get one after another and nothing helps it. My self esteem is shot. :(
Johnnie J.
2 years ago I started putting extra virgin cold pressed coconut oil on and all around the area when I feel the tingle, it prevented the cold sore. If I miss the tingle and end up with the Beginnings of a cold sore I put some on and it heals very fast.
Sfitz
I take 3,000 mg of lysine every day and still get them.
Doesn’t work for everyone unfortunately.
Gem
I have suffered with cold sores all my life and have found that the only thing that helps is tea tree oil and aciclovir 400mg tablets which can also be used as a preventor. The pills are given to people whose immune system is weakened by having chemo or radiation therapy and people who suffer bad breakouts frequently.
I also find if I take care of my lips during winter and summer with Blistex that I’m far less likely to have an outbreak. If you have a bad breakout I found that the treatments via your gp for impetigo (which is bacterial) also work.
cpmt
ah, I forgot to mention, stop eating gluten – flour – for a few weeks, and then do the same with milk products for a few weeks and see if that helps. Some people are sensitive to gluten and/or lactose /casein etc… and have different reactions.
cpmt
TO LEW I think you should check out if you are lacking some lack of a mineral, vitamin or enzyme or … something your body is not assimilating well. When this happens in a family is because genetics and something is missing. Try to boost your immune system with superfoods. Also, it is possible you are allergic to something/or food. I get blisters in my mouth and lips when I eat fresh pineapple (which I love).
Lew
Wow, interesting forum. I haven’t read an experience quite like mine though – I had the herpes first when I was 6 months – throughout my mouth and down my throat – nasty. I’m from Swedish stock and all the Swedes in my family get’em. I always got them every so often on my lips only when I was stressed or sick. I met my husband during veterinary school and I believe he carries a wicked strain of which he is asymptomatic.
Ever since the first kiss I started with an evil bloom on my bottom lip and now will get them not only on my lips but now sores IN my mouth – on the roof, on my gums, inside of lips even UP MY NOSE! GAHH! Lysine doesn’t work, Valtrex did for awhile but now doesn’t work anymore. I think now I have to change my diet to shortcut arginine – don’t know what else to do.
My husband makes fun of me when I have food on my lips. Well, I think so many cold sores for so many years has led to friggin nerve damage. I have to be really careful with my kids. I think this virus wants them too, argh.
cpmt
The cure with urine is a very old remedy used in the orient China, India etc… used for many skin problems like eczemas, ..toenail & athlete’s foot etc.
Grampi
As I have put in here before: When I was young, an old farmer, believe he was part American Indian, told me to put a dab of my own urine on it! Works 100% every time!
cpmt
Sauerkraut and the juice can help.
Diane
Ok, I’ve been getting coldsores for about 20 years, and like all of you I HATE THEM! I’ve tried alcohol, abreva, silver, camphor, and even zapping it with a 9-v battery! Nothing seemed to help once I had one and would have a hideous scabby, oozy, swelled up lip for about a week… I have had some relief with Lysine, if I catch it fast enough! But now when one sneaks up on me (sometimes I wake up to one) I apply frankincense essential oil several times a day and it heals it so quickly! I don’t have any oozing or scabbing, or swelling. It seems to dry it up. Within a few days it’s gone! Thank goodness! Hope this helps….(I also continue to take Lysine along with it, but I have noticed a remarkable improvement with the Frankincense)
Tammy
Be careful with the Lysine. I had been taking them for about 6 months and my back started hurting. I thought I had hurt it somehow. I have pulled it our before. I hurt so bad I could not get out of bed for a week. Finally, after starting to get a fever…I knew back aches did not cause fevers…
I went to the Dr. Turns out my kidneys were about to shut down. I had to take 2 rounds of antibiotics and it still took several weeks to get over it. I, not realizing it was the Lysine causing this, continued to take it. A month later I was back at the Dr. with the same problem. I knew it had to be something I was taking and the only thing different was the Lysine. I stopped it immediately and haven’t had any more problems with my kidneys. It’s been over 2 years! Just be careful. A fever blister is better than kidney damage.
Grampi
I replied to this a long time ago. But, perhaps, it is, seemingly, to gross for most people. Many years ago, an old farmer told me that is you dab a bit of your own urine on the cold sore, it will be gone in 24 hours! It has always worked for me, & for a few others who have tried it.
laura
I have also used lysene to no avail! I have found the only thing that works is geranium oil placed on the skin as soon as I feel a tingle. If you catch it in time in works.
Stephanie
Hi, I’ve been getting cold sores all of my life. This may sound a bit odd, but I put plain white toothpaste on them at night to dry them out. Then during the day… As soon as I get a tingle I put and hold rubbing alcohol swabs on it. It dries it right up and my blisters no longer spread. It does dry out my lips of purse but I’d rather have chapped lips than a cold sore any day.
I’ve found that although all my doctors said to keep the area moist, my blisters would continue to spread for weeks! And I’ve tried the lysene and it just didn’t work. Now from the time I get the first tingle to the time it dries out and stops spreading is only a day or two and they don’t get nearly as large as they use too. So like I said, I put alcohol swabs on the area as soon as I feel one coming, and then at night I put white plain toothpaste on the area. I know it’s really weird but I swear by it!!!
Trudy
I have had fever blisters all my life- the secret I have found that finally works for me is bitter melon in capsule form. It’s worth trying- but you have to take more than it says to take- I would try taking several throughout the day every couple of hours the day you get it. This works for me…. used to just get bigger and bigger even with lysine- now it doesn’t even fully form if I hit it right away with bitter melon and intermittently throughout the day. Hope this helps someone:)
Dee
Good idea, if I put ice on for about 20 minutes at the first tingle, it often stops it in its track.
I just woke with one and found I must be eating too many almonds and peanut butter,
Thanks for the idea about bitter melon, I have some of that
Erin
Thank you everybody on here for your helpful suggestions. I have been getting cold sores on and off since about the age of five. I am now into menopause and that seems to have made them come back with a vengeance! I do appreciate being told to keep away from nuts and oatmeal, etc. And will definitely be using the ice pack thing. I find that taking Lysine everyday keeps them at bay (I run out and forgot to replace so have just recently suffered one again). I use Zovirax which seems to lessen them also. All the best to fellow sufferers, I wish ‘they’ would find a cure.
Diane T.
I have suffered with cold sores, canker sores & fever blisters for over 40 years. About 9 months ago I read on Peoples Pharmacy that Folic Acid was helpful for canker sores & I began taking 400 mcg daily. It greatly reduced the number of canker sores I got & it has also helped in reducing the number of cold sores as well. Might be worth a try.
BW
I have suffered from cold sore since I was a child. In most of my adult life, I would maybe get 1-2 a year and I thought it was getting less and less. Then in the last 12 months, I have been getting them nearly every 3-6 weeks suddenly and much more severe. They used to always be in 1 place but not anymore, they seem to be appearing all over my bottom lip and even chin and I am getting multiple sores now, not just 1 like before.
I have no idea what is going on, the doctors can’t help. I have tried lysine, creams, ice, toothpaste, melissa balm, essential oils, light therapy, antiviral tablets, zinc, vitamin D etctec. What works for other people just doesn’t seem to work with the severe strain I seem to have.
pcav
Hello again…it’s been 4 days since my last post, and 5 days since my cold sore breakout and I’m thrilled to report that the ice pack treatment is nothing short of miraculous, thank you Shelley!!! As soon as I applied the ice pack, the tingling stopped. The cold sore has not reappeared. I only took the Lysene for 2 days, 1000 mg each time. This should be studied by the medical establishment. I wonder if it would help shingles? I also wonder if children who receive the chicken pox vaccine will never have this problem. Thanks again to everyone for the helpful info. I put the Zovirax in the trash!
pcav
I woke up yesterday morning to find the 6th cold sore of this season blooming on my upper lip. Most years, I have one or two, some years none, so this year is very frustrating to say the least. I keep Zovirax cream in the house for just this purpose but it doesn’t seem to do much. Since the frequency of outbreaks hasn’t been much, I have not found it necessary to take Lysene on a regular basis. I began searching the web as soon as I got out of bed and I came across this forum.
I had no Lysene in the house, but I immediately put an ice pack on my lip. Within 2 hours, the soft, yellowish blister-like Mound that was bound to bloom into a cauliflower had shrunk to the size of a small whitehead. On my way to work I bought the Lysene and took 1000mg. I kept the ice pack on and off throughout the day and this morning it’s all but gone.
I don’t typically join posts but I had to thank all of you for your great info. At least I hope I’ve found a way to stop them in their tracks if I can’t prevent them in the first place! I will come back in a few days to let you know if it rebloomed or stayed gone.
AW
I would be very interested to hear if the results of your infectious diseases tests. I too have had only one or two cold sore outbreaks a year on my lip until last September (2012). Since then I’ve had nine. One appears, I treat it with Zovirax which takes about four or five days to get rid of it. Two days later I’ll get another one. I had five in this ‘group’ way September. After a couple of weeks the same thing happened again. This seems to be a pattern. Even though there is nothing obvious to me in the way of illness, I don’t feel that my body is operating at optimum health. I’m hitting the cold sore with everything now. Many thanks this site for the info on lysine. I am also using tea tree oil and rose hip oil which will help heal the cold sore site faster once it is destroyed.
MA
My child has had outbreaks continuously for 3 years straight. Pretty much weekly. Once one is gone another starts. Lately it is in just one spot. He was kissed by an adult with a sore when he was three and boy have we had a rough road! The initial outbreak in a small child will be quite severe, sores in and out of the mouth, etc Some will have recurrences, some will not. My poor child has definitely had recurrences!
He has developed a real complex about it and does not like to go to school when he has one. And he’s only 6!! We have tried absolutely everything – homeopathy, herbs, acyclovir, lysine, garlic, lemon balm tea, tea tree oil…. Acyclovir is available in a suspension form so he went on a 2-month suppression rx last year. I want to say that worked but it is so tough to isolate what works as they always come back!
He woke up this morning and had one – I didn’t give him his lysine yesterday, could it be that?? It’s just one of those immeasurable things – I used to get them here and there but haven’t had one in 8 years. I do believe garlic kills the virus in the cells as I have seen a sore turn brown after applying a drop of garlic oil with a qtip. I’ve read that plus Manuka honey is a good way to go.
I will continue to try everything possible to keep him comfortable and sore free and can only hope he will eventually grow out of it or at least be able to tell me when one is coming!!
DJ
Hello! I’ve had cold sores since I was 20. Had about 2-3 a year, some bad, some not. I’ve done every remedy in the book. Toothpaste (the white kind) which does dry it up a bit and make for quicker healing. As well as milk, oil of oregano, rubbing alcohol, etc, etc… All these things help the healing process along with my prescription of Famvir. Nothing prevents them for me even if I catch it at the tingling stage. The only thing that will stop it is the Famvir. But it’s very expensive and many many visits to the doctor to constantly have it on hand which is impossible. The last 7 months, I’ve had cold sores every 7-10 days. In total, I’ve had 17-20 bad sores. They are on my face (mouth area) and my lip. It’s been terrible.
No one seems to help when it comes to my doctors. The lysine doesn’t help me. I have an appointment with an infectious disease doc in 2 weeks. I’m sure I’ll have 3 outbreaks between now and then. I do my best to keep my stress level down with meditation but its impossible to constantly be stress free. I avoid the sun, wind, beer, nuts, red meat, spicy food, acid foods, everything! I’m just at a loss as to why for 12 years I only had 2-3 a year to know 20 in the past 7 months constantly. I feel so terrible and it’s starting to ruin my social life, career and my self esteem. Has anyone experienced the same thing as me and had a solution. :(
P A
For difficult to swallow pills (some are big enough for a horse) try a spoonful of yogurt. Pills slide down very easily.
a.s.
I’ve been using L-Lysine (off-and-on) for 25+ yrs now, but hadn’t used it for a while. I got severe shingles attack in my left ear (!!!!) and as part of my treatment I re-started the lysine. Don’t know how effective it was, but along with all the other anti-viral stuff, I took 3gms/day. The shingles is gone, but the lysine carries on.
betty
I get big cold sores/fever blisters when I eat grapefruit or too many oranges or pineapple. But I love them so I eat them anyway, and wash my face and lips thoroughly with soap and rinse my mouth thoroughly whenever I over eat them. And I drink a glass of milk whenever possible after I eat them. And pretty much it works.
msskwesq
My daughter, 27, has had the worst case of cold sores since she was one years old. She has tried everything: Lysine, Acyclovir (pills and cream), Abreva cream, lip balms, sun screens, everything. Stress, sun, her period, lack of sleep, spicy food, all cause terrible breakouts. Her doctor was not thrilled to have her take an antiviral daily but that is what she is doing along with the Lysine and Abreva. It keeps them mostly at bay, but not completely. I will pass on the ice therapy and avoiding the nuts and oatmeal. That is new info. I just don’t know why they have not developed a vaccine for herpes, it is a real scourge.
Cindy B.
It’s amazing how most doctors simply WILL NOT tell you anything about a natural product or nutritional remedy. They haven’t studied natural remedies and so are terrified to put their name on any advice in that arena. Also, they resist recommending any intervention that hasn’t been “proven” scientifically in research studies… but then again, NOBODY will pay to study something that’s already inexpensive and easily available. Why would they, when there’s no big payoff in it?
In the last few years I’ve discovered: bed soap for leg cramps, sour cherry juice for heel pain, certo/grape juice and gin n’ raisins for aches and pains, and magnesium for irregular heart rhythm. I had ’em all, applied the remedies, and now ALL these problems are in the past! Thank God for the web, and for excellent resources like Peoples Pharmacy.
ebm
Lysine really works. Many herpes (genital) plagued pts are told to use Lysine daily.
I use it if I feel a cold sore sprouting and also put baking soda and milk of magnesia on the site.
My sister in Germany gave me a cream called LABIOSAN which has phenol in
it. Works like magic, however the “new version” no longer has phenol. Bought a lip sore product at the Dollar Tree or Deals and it had Phenol in it.
I also make sure to stay away from nuts and from now on also oatmeal.
Thanks for the oatmeal tip.
FOR CANKER SORES, KIWI GIVES ALMOST IMMEDIATE RELIEF AND PROMPT HEALING, AMAZING FRUIT.
Thanks to People’s Pharm.!!!!!
CS
My husband has had problems with cold sores for years. When he first starts to feel the tingling on his lip he knows one is coming and he starts taking Acidophilus pills (found in any health food store), the stronger the better. If he starts soon enough he can stop them from becoming full bloom. If not he takes the pills and the duration is much shorter. Stress seems to cause his.
ns
I first began getting fever blisters as a child after I came down with what my doctor called “trench mouth.” I don’t know if this was an accurate diagnosis or how I could have acquired it, but I had blisters inside my mouth and on my lips. It was horrible.
I have had cold sores periodically ever since, but they have come less and less frequently over the years and now are generally single lesions on one lip. Applying ice as soon as the tell-tale tingling begins along with using Carmex through the course of the infection has reliably minimized their severity, reduced their size, and shortened the duration.
If I know I’m going to be out in the sun for any length time, I make sure I apply Carmex as a preventative. Give it a try. It’s inexpensive and doesn’t involve continuing to take a drug or supplement.
dk
Years ago I had cold sore and canker sore problems and read in Adelle Davis that L-Lysine could help. I started taking that and they disappeared. I continued to take it for a couple years as part of my supplement plan and they never returned.
Periodically, if it feels like one may be developing, I pop a couple for two or three days, the symptoms go away. A friend of mine said she had been having cold sore problems for years. When I advised her of my success, she began taking Lysine too and has had no re-occurrences. I’m a solid believer.
RC1956
When my daughter was in her teens, she develop a couple of fever blisters. We started on Lysine pills and Lysine lip balm. By the end of the day, she had 30 blisters in and around her mouth and was very miserable. Her doctor put her Valtrex. We continued the lysine pills and lip balm. She healed very well. We think the Lysine helped because she never had a severe recurrence and now once in a while will get a cold sore and they are not as horrible as that first episode.
My sister used to kiss her pony. On one occasion, she had cold sores all over her mouth, so I guess animals may carry the virus? I don’t remember what treatment she had though.
Dorothy
Around age 7 my daughter was getting cold sores one after another. I think is was in Prevention magazine I read about Lysine, which immediately stopped the outbreaks. From then on she only took Lysine if she felt a rare outbreak coming on. She’s now in her 40’s and I can’t remember the last time she mentioned an outbreak.
My husband got frequent cold sores but was much harder to convince. His father was a doctor so he’s of the opinion that doctors have all the answers. Eventually I convinced him to try Lysine. It worked extremely well and he rarely has an outbreak, which he nips in the bud with Lysine for a few days.
MJ
Have you researched using the (over the counter) acid reducer Cimetidine? I use it when I feel an outbreak coming on and it seems very effective in putting the virus ‘back to sleep’.
ALP
Many years ago, I had a recurring cold sores during a stressful time of my life. I asked for a prescription for acyclovir cream. I used this every time a new fever blister popped up, and the duration and severity decreased almost immediately. After a few months, I had no outbreaks, and remained free of that curse for several years.
Nancy
I take 500 mgs of lysine every day and have for years. I used to get cold sores constantly, and now get them very infrequently. Years ago I found a jar of lysine ointment at a now defunct drug store chain and I’m still using it whenever I get that tingling that indicates one is on the way. Often they will never fully appear. I recommend lysine most highly! I have lupus, so I am extremely sun sensitive and this has truly helped.
Shelly
I had frequent cold sores as a teenager. It took me years before I made the connection between the cause of the problem and the solution. The problem was, of course, the sun. The solution was simple. I figured that if heat was the problem then applying cold might work. I discovered that if I use an ice pack on my lip as soon as I start to feel that first tingling, the tingling and the impending sore simply disappear. Simple, cheap and very effective. I’ve not had a cold sore in 60 years.
Jkb
L-Lysine works. There is no need for anyone to ever have a fever blister. I cannot believe the medical community does not share this with the world. It is a terrible injustice for doctors not to know or share this. I had fever blisters all my life until someone told me about L-Lysine. I have had none since. I am 69 years old and haven’t had a fever blister in forty years. Here is the regimen: at first feeling of itching, take three 1200 mg. tablets of L-Lysine, then one every hour until itching goes away. It may take all day, but you will never develop a blister and it will be gone.
dey
I have been taking Lysine, 500 mg daily for the past 12 years and have had NO herpes outbreaks in that period of time. Prior to that time I was besieged with outbreaks on a regular basis. I am convinced that lysine is the effective prevention for me. dey
PP
At the first sign of a cold sore, my husband uses Lysine and it’s usually gone in a day or less.
Janet S.
After taking Metro-Gel for a year, I got a terrible cold sore on my upper lip that I hit in a fall. After that, I kept getting cold sores in that same place, until my primary Dr. said to take L-Lisine. It says take on empty stomach and being old, it sticks in my throat with just water. I hit my lip accidentally recently and developed a tiny cold sore- same place. But it wasn’t as big, didn’t hurt, and slowly going away. Don’t know why hitting that upper lip, brings out a sore. Little sun exposure, but I’m taking the 500 L-Lisine with a tiny bit of cookie.
M
B-6 & B-12 May be another tool along with folic acid.
AM
I live and play on a farm and enjoy water sports all summer. The last 5 years or so I have been plagued with fever blisters from June – August. I would take a lot of Lysine supplements without significant relief. Finally, my chiropractor/kinesiologist recommended taking a monolaurin supplement. WOW! It is like a miracle for me! It is now the end of July and I am blister free for the entire summer! I’ve read that it actually
messes with the cell wall of the virus. I take 1200 mg/day. I’m actually able to enjoy spicy foods this summer.
jim
licorice root liquid works for me.
Molly
I have had a lot of success when I feel that *pulsing* feeling you get before a cold sore using a pea-sized amount of alcohol (like in hand sanitizer) to dry the area and then a really covering lip balm like Carmex or Lansinoh (it’s a breast cream but I SWEAR by it- that’s all I use for chapstick now). I haven’t had a cold sore in almost 5 years. It’s really easy to keep those pocket sized hand sanitizers anywhere/everywhere!
Good Luck :)