Looking for Addive on Cold Sore Prevention and Treatment

Hi there. I am 25 years old and have been getting cold sores since I was a teenager. I know how awful and painful they are, and they spread sooo quickly. I have used everything, all the creams, chapstick, you name it, and nothing has helped me. then someone told me about L-lysine. It is a vitimain supplement you can buy at rite-aid, or any local drugstore, it is very inexpensive. It is an amino acid and I take it as soon as I start to feel that little itch on my lip indicating a cold sore is about to pop up. It usually only takes one or 2 of these vitamins to completely heal my cold sore. It takes the swelling down, and most of the time, if taken soon enough, they don't even break open. They have been in my medicine cabinet ever since. You might only give her 1/4 or 1/2 of a pill because she is so young. Good Luck

Hi S.,
I have dealt with many nutritional issues. L-lysine is great for cold sore. Remember, it is only one of several essential amino acids. Consider also supplementing a general amino acid supplement, containing the other necessary amino acids to keep her system in balance. Generally, a 6 year would take 1/4 the recommended adult dose.
L.

try giving her Lysine (vitamin section ad pharmacy) on a regular basis - it helps. they do take 7-10 days usually. also md can give you acyclovir prescription to shorten the outbreak

2 of my daughters get cold sores all the time as well as myself. I have finally found the right thing. It is Neosporin LT. It gets rid of the cold sore in about 2 days with my experience anyway. It's inexpensive,works on chapped lips as well. You should buy a couple tubes and keep one in your purse and one at home!
C.

Shelia,
I'm M., I'm a 26y old MOM of three. 8 7 and almost 1.
My son get's them too. I have run the gamit on remidies and I have found little help. I try to stay away from patrolium jelly. It's has been processes the same way as crude oil and that fact is that it never absorbs way. Let's just say it's bad. But I did find something that works great. Cold sores come from all sorts of reasons. Herp.Virus (it's a gene) and diet. My brother in law get's them from coconut. Changing the tooth brush helps, keeping lips clean and moist helps and mouth wash often. The bacteria comes from inside the mouth. Now for the remidy: There is a company similar to Avon, but they are a swiss ownwed company who make there products without petroliums and other carcinogense. There called Arbonne... I swear I don't sell this stuff just live by the product and a few others. You can order it from any local rep or if you don't know one. I would be more than happy to hook you up with mine. I live in the Ravenna area, so if your close then I won't have to mail it. It's called "cold sore cream" and it even has a money back garenty. You can't loose. I called my rep, cause I can't remember the price, so when I talk to her later I will e-mail you all the info, if your intrested. I asure you that this stuff will be your saving grace, it was for me. My e-mail is ____@____.com Good luck!!

There is a cream medicine called Abreva that you could get a drug store, etc. You put it on as soon as they start. I would check with her doctor also.

S.,
I have suffered from cold sores since I was a kid and now how painful and uncomfortable they are. I used carmex which comes in a small jar. It helps a little bit. They have medication that cuts the the time of a coldsore in half..Zovirax is one of them. It can be taken orally or used as a gel or cream. The best treatment I have seen is Valtrex, but I don't think it is avialable for kids. You should try calling your doctor to see if there is something you could give her.

A cold sore is a virus which breeds in the safe wet environment created under chap stick. Seems counter-intuitive but if you keep the area dry-dry-dry they will pass much faster. Also L-lysine at the health food store or vitimin isle will help, although I can only guess how to dose it for a 6 year old...probably 1/2 a pill twice a day. Also stay out of sun during outbreaks and once outbreaks are gone alway use sunscreen as close to the mouth as possible (not only prevents outbreaks also helps limit any possible scarring) She also needs to know this is a virus and to be responsible...i.e. no sharing drinks with friends, no kissing, etc. while having an outbreak.

I love the over the counter ABREVA.
It works great and I have a friend that gets BAD coldsores/fever blisters and this helps her a lot as well. It is only to be used on the outside of the mouth.

Regular chapstick isn't going to do anything for her. In fact, it may even help spread it. Herpecin L is a chapstick with medicine in it that helps with cold sores. Abreva is also another OTC cold sore medicine. Just because they are over the counter, does not mean they are okay for children or that they don't have side effects. Make sure you check with either your pediatrician (preferable) or the pharmacist to make sure it is okay for kids and find out the correct dosage for the creams. Sometimes you have to get a special kids formula of certain medication so it is the correct dosage. I hope she feels better.

Dear S.,

I know exactly what your stepdaughter is going through. I have had cold sores for as long as I can remember and I used to get them all over my mouth. I can't stress to you enough of how contageous they are. If you are using the capstick directly on the sore and then putting it on the rest of the mouth, it will spread like wildfire. I usually use a cotton swap to apply any medicine to the sore and never dip it back into the tube/container because it contaminates the entire thing. As a child I took Zovirax pills on a daily basis and used the Zovirax cream when I had a breakout. It seemed to work well at the time. I now use Denavir cream and Famvir pills. Also, the sores are contageous until they completely crust over after the sore has drained so be sure she doesn't touch them with her hands or even licks them with her tongue. I also use a straws in my cups and don't share with anyone. Ibruprofin will also help with the pain and swelling. Unfortunately, she will always have them. Good luck.

I uses Campho Phoenique..I'm not sure if it's spelled correctly, but go to drug store ask them for it and they'll show you what it is..

I hope this helps

I would talk to her doctor first, but I have found that Abreeva cream to be very helpful. It is an over the counter, but pricey. It's like $15 for an ounce of cream. As far as prevention, keeping her healthy is the best thing. Cold sores are herpes and the virus crops up during times of stress or illness. I feel for her. Those things can hurt!
L.

Carmex and Abreva are the best products out there for cold sores. Check with your doctor about Abreva--I'm not sure what the age usage is. Carmex actually prevents cold sores and is used the same way Chapstick is. Chapstick does absolutely nothing for cold sores though.

there's a prescription your doctor can give you for a cream to put on them that works best. also, my friend gets cold sores this bad, and she gets them any time she has any citric acid (juice, some candy, etc.) that could be the cause of your daughter's sores as well. there's also pills your doctor can give you to shorten the time, or there's lots of over the counter cream, like abreva.

Hi S. I run a Health and Wellness company and we carry a product that is alot like what all of the other mothers are talking about but it will work. It is pure, safe and benificial. It does contain the Lysine that the first mother spoke of which is great but in combination with lemon balm and vitamin C your step daughter will not only help to prevent and heal sores but she will eliminate any possible scaring that may occur from scratching or peeling. I know that this product works I am 25 and still get them on rarity but this has helped better then any OTC that I have ever tried. Let me know if you are interested in it I can get you more info. Email me ____@____.com -T.

I have suffered from cold sores for as long as I can remember and I am 25 years old my parents also suffer from them. I have tried everything from home remedies to prescriptions the only thing I have found that works is the carmex. When she starts to feel the itch she needs to right away start to apply the carmex make sure after each application she washes her hands if she don't and then uses it again she is contaminating the carmex. So what I do is carry a tube of it everywhere I go because everytime I feel it getting dry I apply more. When I get a cold sore I go through one of those tubes but I have it down to 2 or 3 days that its there. Regular chapstick does nothing for it. My parents do the samething and theres last about the same amount of time as mine. If she feels one coming on have her apply it right away it keeps it from hurting, she needs to apply as often as possible through the day as she can. I haven't had them hurt in a long time but I am so aware of when I am getting one that I treat it early. I end up with no pain. You need to make sure that she doesn't kiss her sister cause it is VERY contagious. Don't let anyone eat or drink after her and don't let anyone use her bed stuff. I wash mine after I get over it. I wouldn't treat her different when she has one cause it is very hurtful when you get treated that way trust me I went though it just take extra precaution when she has an out break. And if you do go to the doctor which I believe is a waste of time because they look at it and prescibe a medicine that don't get rid of it any quicker, so I would try the carmex first and see if that don't help.

Hi S.. I get cold sores/fever blisters very frequently in the fall/winter months. I really empathize with your daughter because they are very painful. I tend to get them on the center of my lips or on the skin between my nose and mouth. I remember being sent home from school as a child with them because the teacher thought it was empantigo but had to have a note from the doctor advising it was a cold sore. With all that said, what has worked best for me as over the counter meds is a med called Herpacin L. It is in a tube like chapstick - ask any drugstore if they have it if you can't find it. It accelerates the healing. Abreva is much more expensive and doesn't work as well for me. I highly recommend mentioning it to your pediatrician - there are medicines that can be perscribed as well. I saw my dermatologist for mine and was put on a herpes suppressive medicine called Famvir and it really cut down the number of cold sores that I got (cold sores are caused by a different strand of the herpes virus). Also ask the pediatrician about Lycine - an OTC supplement that is supposed to help. Chapstick really wont help - with the Herpacin L I think it takes about 5-6 days for the sore to dry up. Let me know if I can help with anymore information.

you should take her to the doctor, my son gets this and the doctor prescribes a creme in within a day big differce.with in about three days its completely gone.

hELLO, ABBREVA IS A TUBE OF MEDICATION THAT CAN HELP SHORTEN THE HEALING TIME. IT IS OVER THE COUNTER BUT IT IS ABOUT $16.00 FOR THE TUBE, BUT IT DOES HELP. GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE YOUR DAUGHTER FEELS BETTER FAST. GOD BLESS

In reguards to the cold sore treatment you were looking for, there is an ointment available called abreva, it is an antiviral medication for cold sores. You can ask your Dr, for his/her recommendation about this product. I believe it is sold over the counter. Also lots of good hand washing to prevent the spread of the sores. Good luck.

I agree with the other moms who suggested Abbreva. As they suggested please check with your daughter's pediatrician first since she is only 6, but, hopefully she can use it. Herpecin-L can also work well and is cheaper than Abbreva, but Abbreva is generally the quickest and most effective option. Good luck and I hope your little girl can kick these!

Hi S.
There are a couple things you may want to try. First is Carmex. It is medicated and comes in a little tub with a yellow cap, and in a squeeze tube I believe as well. This is what we used when I was a child and this is what I still use for my children.
Another option would be Abreva. It is over the counter and is FDA approved to shorten healing time and symptoms. It is recommended for 12 and over, but if you call your childs doctor they can tell you if it is truely safe to use on a six year old. I am not sure with this medication, but a lot of medications that are for 12 and up the doctors will give you a smaller dose of the same medication.
It is worth a try.
If the Doctor says no to the Abreva then definetly try Carmex it now comes in several "flavors" instead of just the one. It is great for both chapped lips and cold sores. It is very inexpensive. I know that they sell it at both CVS and Target. Give it a try.

I have a co-worker who was plagued by cold sores. She used rubbing alcohol on them to dry them up. It worked.

Although you will need to do some research as to a safe dosage for a child so young, L-Lysine is a fabulous cold sore preventative if taken on a daily basis. It even helps after one begins developing a cold sore to help the healing process happen more quickly and many of the OTC topical creams now contain it.

I don't know of any over the counter remedies, however, have you talked to her doctor or dentist about it? I had cold sores on my mouth that spread to my chin from a virus back in February, and they gave me a prescription for Denavir. It is a cream that is made to treat cold sores, and you just apply it to the affected area. It helped to clear them up. I would ask her doctor or her dentist if it is safe on children- I don't know if you have to be a certain age to use it. Hope that helps!

I get the cold sores too. I'm a new mom to the site. I use carmex. You can get it at Dollar General for a buck plus tax. It's the only thing I've found that seems to work. Put it on the minute she shows signs of getting it. Put it on several times a day. It should help keeping them from getting so severe. You'll just have to try different things til you figure out what works best for her. I get more then one at a time or I get a few one right after the other. I feel for her. Hope I helped in some way.

I second the carmex and Abreva. You might also want to consider asking your pharmacist if she can take a Lysine supplement. (They might suggest she only take half a supplement.) Lysine works excellent to prevent coldsores.

Keep her from licking her lips- saliva actually will aggrevate coldsores.

My 3 yr old son is allegric to peanut. His reaction to other nuts products very mild but he gets cold sore everything he has eaten any kind of nuts. You might try to look into her diet because food allegry could develop anytime in life.

Hi S.,

I can sympathize with you and your "bonus daughter". I get cold sores, not as bad as hers, and my 11 y/o daughter most of her life. We have tried Camphophanique (sp??) just dab it on there as soon as she starts to feel the tingling or itching sensation around her mouth. Also, I just read on Cetaphil.com that you should wash your hands often, change your toothbrush because it can harbour the herpes virus for days. And yes, cold sores are from the herpes simplex virus. Avoid spicy or acidic foods. Apply ice to sooth, and a petroleum jelly to decrease cracking and soften the scales. Make sure you use a cotton swab when applying any medication, and make sure you do not double dip!! I hope this helps. Also, you can talk to your pediatrician about this, they may have some cream that may help.

Try Burt's Bees herbal Defense Ointment to keep the area clean and prevent drying and the Res-Q Ointment before bed. This stuff is amazing. I use it for everything.

I would try the abreeva but I also take L-Lysine. Its a dietary supplement and in the vitamin isle at the grocery store. I only take one 2-3 time a week to keep them away, as mine are brought on by stress. Ask your doctor first and do your own research on it. If I had found this when I was her age I would have so many horrible pics and I would have not been so unsure of my self in high school. Not that I would recomend this but I used to put rubbing alcohol on mine. It dries them up but it burns very badly!!
Good luck
S.

S.,
Poor little thing! My son has been fighting these since grade school. Abreva works well, you can get it at any pharmacy over the counter. Comes in a very small tube. Also, Lysine supplements three times a day during the outbreak will help reduce the duration. Try the vitamin display or GNC. If she is in alot of pain, talk to her doctor about the use of a prescription strength topical anesthetic like viscous xylocaine or lidocaine. True cold sores are caused by a herpes virus (different from the venereal herpes), not by a bacteria. Once infected, the virus remains in the person's body. There is no CURE, but lots of methods for relief. She will probably always have to deal with the sores off and on for the rest of her life. There are also prescription anti-viral medicines. Good luck!
C.

All I can say is LYSINE. I take it in large doses at the first sign of a cold sore. Abreva and lysine. My sores never last more than four days with that.

My family gets these a lot.. my mom and sisters, thank god i dont too often.. unless i drink orange juice.

WISE TALE- eat lima beans every day lol.

My sister's dr. gave her a tube of creme that is used by aids patients for sores on their mouth. I had one small one coming on my lip a few weeks ago and she said here put this on, i did and i swear it was gone the next morning.

My husband has gotten cold sores since he was a kid too and he always uses Lysine but it is a pretty big pill. He also uses a lip balm called campho phinque (spelling?) or herpicine L. the L stands for Lysine. If you go with either lip balm make sure you use a clean q-tip or clean fingers to apply. If not the cold sore gook will still be on there next time you apply. Good Luck!

HI, S. I AM RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTION. THE BEST THING I HAVE FOUND TO CLEAR THAT UP IS CALLED ABREVA. IT IS A REALLY SMALL BLUE TUBE. IT COSTS ABOUT $12.00 AND IS ALL WORTH IT. IT WILL CLEAR THOSE UP IN MATTER OF DAYS. IN THE FUTURE IF SHE STARTS TO FEEL ONE POPPING UP OR YOU SEE IT, PUT ABREVA ON IT AS SOON AS YOU SEE IT AND IT WILL STOP THE BIG BREAK OUT IN ITS TRACKS. AND CLEAR IT UP.

Yes Abreva is very expensive but it does work. It runs about $7 a tube. And the tube is small. Also another OTC ointment that may work for her is camphophanique.(not sure if i spelled it right), but that works really well.

i get cold sores every once in a while i use abreva its expensive $15 for a tiny tube but when i use it my cold sores only last about 5-7 days but i believe ive heard of something called herpacin its less expensive and supposedly works just as well when you use chapstick your just spreding the virus i wouldnt use the chapstick anymore when she gets coldsores no one should eat or drink after her sorry but no kisses either good luck

Hi S.,

Abreva is good, so is a Lysine supplement, Carmex never worked for me when I had cold sores, but Viractin did - dried it out pretty quickly. Also, 4-6 oz per day of the purest grape juice you can afford will help prevent... they recently did some study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on that one, it's not quackery! :) (I had cold sores as bad as that when I was little, too.)
E.

S.,

Cord sores are the herpes virus. There is no cure. This type I herpes virus stays dormant at the base of the neck when it's not active. Nothing over the counter or topical ointments do much good. The medicine acylovir and its variations is pretty safe and has been around for a long time. Please take your daughter to the doctor. She doesn't have to suffer like that. If she spreads it to her eyes, she can become blind. Better to take the meds and lessen the number and severity of outbreaks. There are many herpes viruses, including chicken pox and shingles. Millions and millions of people get herpes, II is normally genital herpes and stays below the belt, dormant at the base of the spine. Because of oral sex, I and II are not exclusive to their usual region.

In a word...CARMEX. The kind in the tube doesn't seem to work as well. Get the kind in the tiny jar because it is thicker and seems to work much better. Good luck!

I am 29 years old and I have been getting cold sores that bad since I was 10. (my lips would swell to the point of being measured at 1/2in away from my face)I first starting getting mine after I had the chicken pox. Since cold sores are caused by the Herpes virus you might want to figure out where the exposure came from...it is a little unusual for a six year old to get them.
I have tried all the OTC products and nothing really seems to work. Abreva is expensive and herpacin-l can be painful when applying. Your stepdaughter really needs to see a doctor about getting the right meds and you might want to keep a journal of when she gets them and what might be the causes of them...so you can avoid it in the future. For example with me I know that sun exposure, stress, illness and too much acid in food (such as oranges and orange juice)will cause them to occur. I know that going to the Doctor can be expense especially if you don't have insurance therefore I would recommend trying the Herpacin-L, applying it with a q-tip to avoid contamination and pain from the pressure. Also I have used neosporin when I first feel the tingle in my lips...but you need to be sure she won't lick it of since it's dangerous to the body if ingested. But getting medication from a doctor is the best thing to do!!

I can fully simpathize with her though they are painful...very painful. I'f you've never suffered from them it's like cutting your lip open pouring acid into the sore then trapping your lip in a vice-grip and pulling your lips away from your face. (sorry if that's graphic but it's the best way I can explain)