Dear DOLLY DR, I have tried L-lysine, Zovirax, Blistex and every other cold sore cream under the sun! I get them when I'm run down and tired, and I feel so depressed when I have one. How can I get rid of them quickly?
That cold sore virus is a nasty thing. Once it's in our bodies, it just doesn't go away. The virus lives at the top of the nerve near the spinal cord and 'reactivates' particularly during times of stress. It also comes out to play if you've had too much sun exposure on your mouth and lips.
There’s no cure for it, but the cold sore creams do make them go away faster as long as you apply the cream the moment you feel that tingle on your lip before the cold sore appears and then keep reapplying it several times a day during the outbreak.
If you're getting cold sores frequently it's probably a sign that you're run down and it's a good reason to stop and look at what you’re doing. Are you getting enough sleep? Is your diet healthy and balanced, are you getting enough zinc? (Zinc is good for the skin). Is there a lot of stress in your life at the moment, and if so would it be helpful to talk to someone about it?
Preventing cold sores recurrences is better than trying to get rid of them once they're there. So try the above measures, also look after your lips by wearing moisturiser on them when it's cold outside and sunscreen when it's sunny. There are prescription tablets that might help reduce the frequency of outbreaks but these are recommended only when it's severe. Talking to your doctor might help decide whether that is worth trying, or if there's anything else that might help in your situation.
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