Pregnant with "Cold Sores" All over Cheeks

While I was growing up, my parents and I would drink buttermilk the moment we felt a coldsore coming on. It would always ward it off. I hate buttermilk but would pinch my nose and down a glass. If the fever blisters already had started. It would get rid of it quicker than doing nothing. A glass in morning and evening.
I worked with a girl that got herpes simplex in her eye. I just remember her going to the doctor all the time and it wasn't good. You may even think about going the see an opthamologist (eye doctor).

Hi M., it sounds like you might have a staph infection!! I would definitely go to the dr and have the sores looked at!

My first thought was shingles too. It is caused by the same virus. My son just had shingles on his ear and it did look like cold sores. I would definitely go straight to the doctor. Good luck!

M.,

You need to start taking Lysine on a regular basis. This will help stop the virus from replicating. Also, when you have an outbreak there is a great cold sore remedy called Super Lysine that is a cream that you put on that will stop it in its tracks! Stay away from chocolate,nuts and stay out of direct sunlight for long periods of time which contain enzymes that increase your chances for an outbreak. Hope this helps! All these things are safe during pregnancy.

When I was a teenager I developed coldsores all over my lips,covering them where you couldn't even see my lips,in my mouth and down my throat. I remember it being VERY painful and remember losing weight because I couldn't eat. I went to the Dr. but honestly can't remember if he gave me medication to help get rid of them or not?? I know now to take Lysine when I feel the tingle of getting one. With it being a vitamin supplement I would think it would be okay to take while pregnant but would check with the Dr. first. I know it can be very embarassing to go out in public when you have cold sores. Luckily I have never gotten them,again, like I did when I was a teen. Just remember there are lots of us who get them! Have a nice day!

I ONLY get cold sores when I am pregnant, it's one of the only ways I know I am pregnant. :-)
It's because your immune system is a little depressed from the hard work of building another human being.

You can use OTC cold sore treatment on your face, or any TEA TREE OIL containing product. THE BODY SHOP store has a fanatastic line of TTO producta, including a "Blemish Stick" that I have used to get rid of pimples overnight! Their TTO Face Gel is very gentle and would help the Cold sores clear up fast. Tea Tree Oil dries out the sores and blemishes, and is majorly antibacterial. Good Luck!

Greetings M.:

One thing about cold sores, they are a form of the herpes virus. They result from Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and there is o known cure for the virus, yet. Your diet, health and external stressors play a big part in the outbreak of the virus. If you have not been diagnosed with HSV-1, the get tested to be absolutely sure. If you know you are a carrier, then first notify your doctor about the HSV-1 and make sure you are ruled out for HSV-2, which is the gential version and that can have an impact on your birth. Anyway, think on that. As for your diet, if you avoid foods high in L-Arginine, you can reduce the frequency and magnitude of your outbreaks. Foods high in L-Lysine supress the virus. Google the terms Herpes Diet and look up the exact food to eat and avoid. I know chocolate is high in L-Arginine, as well as gelatin and oatmeal. So start by minimizing those foods. Yogurt and other dairy products are high in L-Lysine. You can also get a L-Lysine supplement from your local pharmacy for a reasonable price. But talk to your doctor about your concerns and let him/herv know about the possibility of HSV-1. If you have any other questions feel tocall me ###-###-####.

Love and blessings,
N.

Try Lysine. You can take the amino acid as an oral supplement, and central market has a cream for cold sores to use topically as well. Its prob the stress on your system that is causing them. Another very safe thing u can take is astragalus root...also at central mkt. Great for the immune system. I got shingles from stress when breastfeeding and was given it. They went away in one day. You can google both. Good luck!

Could be Impetigo.... but it sounds most like Shingles.
I get shingles when I'm stressed, exhausted, overwhelmed. These are usually the triggers but not always.
Shingles is a strain of Chicken Pox. It is treated with Valtrex.
Check with you OB.
Good Luck!

M. - One of the safest and most effective things you can do for cold sores, especially during pregnancy, is to apply some unrefined, organic coconut oil to them. You can get it at Whole Foods or Sprouts or Central Market - Spectrum is the brand we use. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which is an antimicrobial, and, in our experience, has always stopped cold sores in their tracks. I have never had one around my eyes, but coconut oil has always worked for the ones I've had in/around my nose, mouth and cheeks. Hope this helps.

You must find out exactly what this is in order for you to treat it correctly. Once you have a doctor diagnose it you can use a natural safe method to treat it. If they are fever blisters, which is caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus, then yes L-Lysine is a safe natural approach-it's an amino acid-a building block of protein. Quantum makes a great ointment to apply topically, you can get at any good health food store or Whole Foods. But if it is Shingles, Staff or something else-find a safe natural cure in the Prescription for Nutritional Healing book. They have it on a stand for everyone to reference at Whole Foods.

I'm a little concerned that it is on your face and possibly your eye. Just want to make sure it isn't shingles. If there isn't any itching or severe pain, it is probably the cold sores. I know it sounds like a weird solution, but my mom bought a tube of preparation H and she uses that on her cold sores and they totally go away within a few days. She uses it several times a day when she gets one. Hope this helps. Congrats on little girl.

If your OB doc won't see you or doesn't think that he needs to see you call your primary care physician. Skin irritants are not something to just brush off. I had a spot on my face that kept getting bigger and bigger and jus thought that it was dry skin and it turned out to be some bacteria and the more lotion that I put on it the worse it got.

I would get in to see your OB asap ... I get "infentigo" periodically. Basically infentigo (possibly spelled wrong) is a cold sore/fever blister that crusts over and itches/burns/hurts like the dickens. The very first time I got one (2nd grade), it was right by the corner of my eye -- my mom took me to a dermatologist and he said that if it had actually gotten into my eye, I could have gone blind!! Now I get them between my eye rarely but mainly in my nose. I take Valtrex (1 gram daily) to supress it. 'Cause any kind of cold sore is herpes simplex! Go to the doctor today, please!

To heck with the nurse, get into your doctor immediately. Cold sores around your eyes are dangerous and can effect vision. Not saying that is what you are dealing with, but I would get in immediately and not with a dermatologist.

VickiS

M.,

I know this is an older request, but I felt compelled to share.

As strange as it sounds you could be breaking out with the shingles. I think someone else mentioned it.
I am 32 and have had this occur a few times. Normally, it is an older persons condition, but when your body is under stress this can occur. I just thought it was my allergies the first time it happened because my eye was really itchy, but when I went to my eye doctor he said no it's the shingles. It really shocked me, but now I can tell what it happening if it does it again and I get treatment sooner. Pregnancy can trigger this and so can other stressors.
The doctor can give you valtrex, my ob gyn said it is ok even while pregnant, because the risks to you are far worse if you let shingles go. If treated quickly you can lessen the symptoms, but left untreated it can lead to blindness, etc.

It is hard for mom's to slow down and rest, but sometimes that is what we need to do.
Good Luck M.!
Wish you well!

S.

I would definitely have your doctor check you for shingles. They will clear up by themselves, but since it is an outbreak of the chicken pox virus, and is a type of the herpes virus, it's best to have them check it out. My stepson just got shingles, and an antiviral worked fine. Happens when you are run down.

Sounds to me like it might be some form of Staff. I would tell the nurse that you really want the doctor to look at you. They may need to take a culture to determine WHAT it is and HOW to treat it.

Forget the nurse! go straight to your doctor. I had a cold sore, never had one in my life. They are HIGHLY contageous so don't kiss any of your family members until it is gone. I went to my scheduled OB and he said :let's see what you got here". I told him i got it out of the blue, but i had borrowed my best friends cell phone, she had it the week before, and then i got it. He said he could take a little off and send it to the lab. That simple. So ask your dr. of OB and they should do it for you.

Is it on the outside of the cheeks? If so, it kind of sounds like when my hubby had shingles. A strain of the chicken pox virus. It actually even caused blisters inside of his eye ball. I'd go get it checked out, whatever it is it sounds like its spreading.

I use L-Lysine for cold sores.It is an amino acid that body needs. Google for more info. Good luck

Call your dentist. I was taught in assisting school that a cold sore near your eye/eyes was dangerous.
I sure there has to be some kind of medication that is safe during pregnancy.
Good luck!!

Hi M.,

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to tell you about my experience. It is very important that if you have cold sores when you deliver that you let your pediatrician know about it. My baby was exposed to a cold sore and my doctor swabbed her and sent it to the lab. She told me that cold sores are a form of herpes and that it can be very serious in newborns. She said that if it had come back positive she would have hospitalized my daughter and given her anti viral medications. I was so scared, but thankfully her test came back negative. I hope that helps!

This never occurred with me; however, I have never had cold sores prior to being pregnant anyway. The virus may just be acting out b/c your are pregnant. Stress and hormones can cause the cold sores to pop up. And of course, you are pregnant with lots of hormones!! My mom gets cold sores periodically. That is probably what it is. I would make an appointment with the dermo; however, they probably won't give you anything b/c you are pregnant.

Do those "cold sores" hurt? If so then you need to be seen - if not w/your OB then at least with your primary care or family doctor. You should make sure that they are not shingles or anything serious.