cold sore sufferers

Here's another one just in case you wanted to see some more.

Here's another one just in case you wanted to see some more.

Ashley, try to get a prescription of Acoylvir from your primary care doctor that will help. I've heard that natural honey & witch hazel work ( I had not tried, I usually stick with the prescription)

ETA: Whatever you do- don't touch them or try to cover them with make up- it will only make them worse. Also switch your toothbrush right away and again after it heals

In mine and DH's case, we get more when our defenses are low, so we made sure to take echinacea and a vitamin supplement in the weeks prior to the wedding.

Elisabeth, I am running to the doctor today, I will ask them about it. Thank you for the advice!!

Ugh I HATE cold sores! I take Lysine pills which seems to help heal them and keep them at bay. I have not tried Acoylvir but I have heard it does wonders from friends.

Stress is what causes mine, so the increased stress of wedding planning may have something to do with the worse than normal breakout. Dabbing hydrogen peroxide helps mine to heal faster. It stings like a bitch, but it dries the sores out faster and speeds up the healing process. Also, ice compresses help to dry them out.

I take L-Lysine as a preventative which was reccomended to me by my dr when my insurance stopped covering the prescription. 1gram daily to keep them away and then 2g daily when you've got active ones. Stress definitely brings them out and even sometimes the abreeva can make them angrier looking

Witch Hazel. Works like a charm. For anything like that, even mesquito bites

L-Lysine tablets from a grocery store and Campophenique that you can also buy at grocery store! Those have helped me tremendsously!

Thanks everyone! Mine also come during stressful times.

I have heard about lysine, but hadn't kept up with it. I'm going to have to start that and see if it helps.

I'm just praying these bad boys don't pop up during e-pics or the wedding!

I second camphophenique!! I get cold sores when I'm sick and stressed! It really helps clear them fast. Also use ice on them.

I don't get them, so I can't really provide input on curing them. But you need to try to focus on keeping your stress levels down over the next year to keep them at bay.

I second what Elizabeth said about Acoylvir. It helps get rid of them in a few days and they stop spreading. You can ask your doctor about taking a low dose (50 mg/day) for a few months before your wedding to prevent getting a breakout on or near the wedding. Long term use isn't great for your liver, but I have done the low dose for several months around stressful times in my life with no issues, and it stopped me from getting cold sores.

I've never had them but my daughter get them (thanks to her dad...). This will sound odd but a friend who is a nurse told me that using bactine on them will clear them up. I told my kiddo and being a poor college student, she tried it and it was magic. She bought the spray (so it's sanitary in the bottle) then sprayed it onto q-tips to apply it a couple of times a day. She started taking more vitamin B supplements and L-lysine and she's had fewer problems.

Vitamin E gel gaps, pop it open and put the fluid on them.

The best I've found yet is Neosporin Lip Treatment - Absolutely awesome clears them up in 2-3 days. Mine are triggered by stress and allergies (chocolate, how unfair!) Good luck!

@Ekab - Mine are triggered by stress plus eating a lot of chocolate and peanut butter too.

@OP - Your breakout looks severe and if it has spread to your nose, that is not good. Go to the doctor for sure! Acylovir is great, it definitely works to keep them at bay. However, since you've already got these bad boys, I'll share my method that I use which shortens how long I have them. The first day or so that I have one, I'll use abreva and apply it once every 2-3 hours. First thing in the morning and the last thing before bed, I'll use a warm rag compress on it and use a q-tip to clean up any excess liquid. I let it air dry then apply abreva. On the third day, I do the same cleaning with warm compress, air dry and then abreva every 2-3 hours but I also apply a dab of Neosporin along with the abreva. On the 4th day I still do the cleaning, air dry and abreva but I only apply every 3-4 hours along with Neosporin. The Neosporin really helps speed up with the healing. I've never had them any where but my mouth, I can't imagine on my nose that really sucks. Be sure to constantly wash your hands and dispose of your toothbrush or toothbrush head after they clear up, you can easily spread it, if you don't.

Go and get some L-Lysine. I take it every day, as its an immune booster

Tea tree oil!!

I feel your pain!!!! I haven't had one in so long & I woke up with one yesterday. I normally have good luck with Abreva.. but I don't have any other suggestions.