Cold Sore Prevention

October 22, 2005 10:44 PM

When the weather starts to get cold, I get cold sores on my lips. Have since I was little. Obviously, I don't like this much. I have some ointment/gel that gets rid of them fairly quickly (much quicker than if I let them run their course normally, I mean), but I was wondering if there is anything I can do that might prevent them in the future.
posted by synecdoche to health & fitness (19 comments total)

Keeping them from getting chapped will help, but a prescription for Valtrex will knock 'em out quickly. Take one when you feel the little tingle, and you probably won't even get an outbreak.
posted by LordSludge at 11:54 PM on October 22, 2005

There is a cream-based antiviral(?) called zovirax that works really well -- as LordSludge says, keep a prescription on hand and use it as soon as you get, or suspect you are getting, that little tingle. That stuff rocks.

I've taken the pills (maybe Valtrex?) as well and they work too, one pharmacist said take them both and that also worked. For me, it is worth the $$ to avoid two weeks of feeling a little leprous. Good luck.
posted by Rumple at 12:34 AM on October 23, 2005

Not eating any refined sugar helps me. Somewhat. Unless I'm really stressed- then I'm doomed.
posted by small_ruminant at 12:38 AM on October 23, 2005

zovirax cream! otc in sensible countries. prescription in usa.
posted by anadem at 1:30 AM on October 23, 2005

My understanding of cold sores is that they are mostly caused by a strain of the herpes simplex virus, of which most of the population is infected with or repeatedly exposed to. Cold sores tend to break out when our immune system becomes weakened and the virus is allowed to multiple. They are a tell-tale that you are susceptible to other viruses and infections.

I suspect that when the weather gets colder, you spend more time indoors in dryer air, get less exercise, and probably eat less fresh fruit than you do in the summer, none of which have a positive effect on your immune system. Natural sources of Vitamin C are good. General vitamin supplements may not help directly, but anything that will boost your immune system is good. Maybe get a humidifier if the air in your home/work is dry. SLEEP. Relax.
posted by Yorrick at 1:40 AM on October 23, 2005

For me, the stress of weather change is what causes the cold sores (twice a year). However, with that being said, I no longer have outbreaks...I, nor my body, get stressed any longer from the weather, or perhaps I grew out of them...how old are you?
My old biology teacher would often recommend applying ear wax; I find alcohol wipes work as well.
Good luck, I hate those little buggers....
posted by strangelove at 8:23 AM on October 23, 2005

They are indeed caused by Herpes Simplex 1 which is carried by about ~40 of the population. The virus remains dormant in nerve cells and is reactivated -- causing it to move to skin cells and form cold sores -- by pretty much any type of stress, which in this case I would bet are your lips drying out. Really, the only way to prevent reactivation of the virus is to avoid any type of systemic or localized stress so make sure you get enough sleep, eat right, exercise, and for god's sake, don't touch your eyes after touching your lips -- you can spread the virus to your eyes which will eventually necessitate a corneal transplant.
posted by The Bishop of Turkey at 8:44 AM on October 23, 2005

Take the amino acid supplement L-Lysine regularly as a preventative measure; information available here. I take one pill as soon as I feel that "tingle," and the damn things disappear without flaring up.
posted by junkbox at 9:07 AM on October 23, 2005

Second the l-lysine suggestion. I actually take it prophylactically daily and haven't had a cold sore since I started, about 4 years ago.
posted by wolftrouble at 9:19 AM on October 23, 2005

When I feel one coming, I take TONS of L-Lysine in capsule format. Like, 6 a day. It's overkill, I know, but I do this three or four days in a row and the thing never appears.
posted by dobbs at 9:21 AM on October 23, 2005

I fourth lycine. Drugstore.com carries Herpanicine which I also buy at Whole Foods. It's got lycine, Echinacea, Vitamin E, and other good stuff. When I take it faithfully, I don't get cold sores.
posted by jdl at 11:27 AM on October 23, 2005

a dentist once told me l-lysine.
posted by brandz at 1:48 PM on October 23, 2005

In addition to lysine supplementation, avoiding foods high in arginine (such as onions and garlic or nuts and seeds) or eating large quantities of foods with high lysine really helps me. Red meat, fowl, dairy are high lysine; for vegetarians/vegans, certain vegetables, fruits and legumes are high lysine, but spelt seems to be the only grain that's higher in lysine. (Chart of different foods' lysine-arginine ratios
here. The chart's not comprehensive but it's a good start. The info about spelt vs other grains is something I found on the web some time ago & can't find now, sorry.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 2:29 PM on October 23, 2005

I think by now I have to "fifth" the lysine suggestion. Keep in mind, it's water soluble, so it's basically impossible to OD on the stuff in any way. Lysine will change your life, my friend. Like dobbs, if I feel an outbreak coming (and you know what I mean, the weird tingly-itchy-hot feeling) I take about four or five a day. I suppose it would be brighter to take them prophalactically.
posted by Medieval Maven at 3:04 PM on October 23, 2005

Thanks, all. I picked up a l-lysine supplement today. The recommended dosage on the bottle is 6 a day (2 x 3 times a day) but it is probably a smaller dosage than some of the other brands out there.

They're funny things, cold sores. I think much of it comes from the dry winters where I live. For four years I lived on the coast and while I got them occasionally, it was maybe once a year. Now that I'm up in the dry northern interior, I get them a bit more (I guess three times a year) and when I do get them, the outbreak is worse. I hope this lysine stuff does the trick!
posted by synecdoche at 4:23 PM on October 23, 2005

My mom gets coldsores, although her problem is made worse by exposure to the sun. She swears by an over-the-counter cream call Carmex. I also use it for chapped lips and it is the best I have ever found.
posted by bluesky43 at 5:16 AM on October 24, 2005

Curse you and thank you all. Two days after reading this I get a cold sore flareup. Well, at least I know what to get now. Sigh.
posted by furtive at 6:15 AM on October 24, 2005

Me too -- maybe it's an internet virus??
posted by LordSludge at 7:47 AM on October 24, 2005

If you're looking for folk wisdom, I'd always heard that eating foods rich in iron helps to prevent cold sores. When we'd get cold sores as kids, my dad would suggest cutting a raisin in half and applying it to the sore. We also ate a lot of spinach. I'm not sure if it really works, but it didn't hurt...
posted by hamster at 7:55 AM on October 24, 2005