24th December 2002
There's an over the counter product called "Herpicin" which is made specifically to help heal cold sores. It also contains allantoin which keeps the skin soft. If it gets hard and cracked that's when the fissures get very deep, bleed, open up and won't heal.
You may want to take the amino acid L-Lysine on a routine basis. Cold sores are the herpes virus and you will have the virus forever. That's the way viruses work. You may never break out again, or you may break out periodically but the virus will remain in your body for life.
The way that L-Lysine works is similar to the prescription drug Valtrex. They work as anti-virals, and if taken regularly they can help to prevent breakouts. If you only take them when you break out, you need to increase the dose. Example: If you regularly take 1 500mg capsule of L-Lysine daily as preventative measures, or 1 500mg tablet of Valtrex, - then during outbreaks it's quite common to take a 500mg tablet of Valtrex twice per day, or to take two 500mg capsules of L-Lysine 2-3 times per day.
Stay away from L-Arginine containing foods, such as nuts, peanut butter, chocolate, tuna fish. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other stimulants. Stay out of the sun, and yep, avoid stress or anything that may stress the skin around your mouth. Be sure to switch tooth brushes when you're healed as well. This is contagious, even when it is not weeping, and you can transmit this virus to another person.
Any product that contains phenol, camphor or menthol does not heal the cold sore. It just helps you to "feel" better because it creates an alternate source of sensation over the sore.
The BEST and only FDA approved topical product available over the counter is called "Abreva" and it contains 10% Docosanol.
Spicy foods will irritate it and can prolong healing.
If you greatly increase your intake of L-Lysine you can generally begin the healing process within 24-48 hours, and within 72 hours you will notice the weeping stopping and the swelling should subside.
You may want to take the amino acid L-Lysine on a routine basis. Cold sores are the herpes virus and you will have the virus forever. That's the way viruses work. You may never break out again, or you may break out periodically but the virus will remain in your body for life.
The way that L-Lysine works is similar to the prescription drug Valtrex. They work as anti-virals, and if taken regularly they can help to prevent breakouts. If you only take them when you break out, you need to increase the dose. Example: If you regularly take 1 500mg capsule of L-Lysine daily as preventative measures, or 1 500mg tablet of Valtrex, - then during outbreaks it's quite common to take a 500mg tablet of Valtrex twice per day, or to take two 500mg capsules of L-Lysine 2-3 times per day.
Stay away from L-Arginine containing foods, such as nuts, peanut butter, chocolate, tuna fish. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other stimulants. Stay out of the sun, and yep, avoid stress or anything that may stress the skin around your mouth. Be sure to switch tooth brushes when you're healed as well. This is contagious, even when it is not weeping, and you can transmit this virus to another person.
Any product that contains phenol, camphor or menthol does not heal the cold sore. It just helps you to "feel" better because it creates an alternate source of sensation over the sore.
The BEST and only FDA approved topical product available over the counter is called "Abreva" and it contains 10% Docosanol.
Spicy foods will irritate it and can prolong healing.
If you greatly increase your intake of L-Lysine you can generally begin the healing process within 24-48 hours, and within 72 hours you will notice the weeping stopping and the swelling should subside.