It sounds sooo yucky when you use the technical term. People in high school were mad vicious too. They would tell everyone "she has herpes!" So I stayed home; mean high schoolers. Just to clarify, Herpes I simplex is above the waistline, and Herpes II simplex is below the waistline. :D I'm glad you've never had to encounter one. They are ugly, painful, and all day the public will stare at it. ): ): ):

Thanks, I was wondering about the Preparation H. I use it under my eyes to shrink the puffiness, so I was wondering if it would shrink a cold sore. Going to apply now. :D

:shocked7q I am afraid to ask Steve.

Does the Preparation H work good on undereye puffiness?
Hope your cold sore goes away soon. They are the pits. When I have a bad one (If I didn't apply the Abreeva first) I feel like all people see is the cold sore.
Like it enters the room two minutes before I do!!
Feel better!

And I would be afraid to answer. A few that come to mind are every possible childhood disease, Jungle Rot (there are other terms that would offend the squeemish), Oozing sores that only the sun would cure, various infections, Encephalitis, but never a simple cold sore. The worst (Outside of the encephalitis) was after spending days at a time without taking off your wet boots, you finally do, and it seems that 1/2 if your skin is left on your sock! Take a long time to heal.

Now, I am good to go, well, as good to go as an old guy with 1/2 a brain can be!

Lysine works wonders from the inside, and Campho-Phanique(sp?) on the cold sore itself will dry it up in no time!

:2omg: Oh Lordy Steve. Bless your little Hunter's Heart.

Yes, I swear by the Preparation H under my eyes. It works wonders. I only get 4 hours sleep some nights when I have a lot to do behind my laptop. And my cold sore is gone. Yayy!

I haven't read all of the replies so I hope I'm not repeating someone else but there are 2 things I have found help A LOT with mine. I have always suffered from them but over the last 2 years, it has gotten REALLY bad. I get them way too often!
but you will have to leave the house to get these things....but keep them on hand and you won't have to in the future ;)

Ok...the first is Colloidal Silver. I get the 500ppm and just use a drop or 2 on the blister a few times a day. Colloidal Silver can be used for a million different things but it does work wonders for fever blisters and other face blemishes. Look it up ;) it's even great for ear infections, cuts and burns...or anything you would use an antibiotic for.

The second thing is Lysine. You can take the supplement daily to help prevent them but there is also a cream (found in the same section of wal-mart or other pharmacies as the Abreva). It is clear when you put it on, doesn't hurt, and kills the blister quickly. It has been the best thing for me to carry around in my purse in case I feel one coming on. Nothing else has ever worked as fast as the silver or the Lysine. (silver is my 1st choice but I do carry the Lysine with me all the time)

good luck...these things are HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!

thanks pepe mint
 

pepe mint- When you mentioned colloidal silver for ear infections were you referring to human and canine? I assume so. I would love to hear how you use CS for ear infections in Yorkies, and how it compares to herbal treatments if you have used them. Thanks.

See if you can get your doctor to write you a prescription for Acyclovir. Its the cheapest way to go prescription-wise. You can take the acyclovir daily to suppress them and increase the dose when you feel one coming on. Also, simple hydrocortisone cream (Cortisone) will help with the redness and swelling some. I'm not a fan of Abreva, as I think Herpasin L or Campo-Phenique dry them up faster.

I've had several of patients try the lysine daily, but no one has had much luck with it. Good luck!

the best thing i've found for fever blisters is Valtrex. I know it's for genital herpes, but it does work for the oral type 1 variety too. take two pills every 12 hours for ONE day as soon as you feel it coming on and it never blisters and simply just fades from a bump into nothing. it's amazing. doctors will prescribe it to cold sore sufferers.

This is going to sound crazy, but I know people that use ear wax on their cold sores and they swear it works. I googled it and sure enough...lots of results on it.

I am pregnant now, and my OBGYN did call in a prescription for Valtrex when an unruly cold sore popped up a few months ago. It does work great. This cold sore was unmanageable. Abreva did nothing for this one. My doctor's office said it could be the change in hormones, but I have suffered from cold sores since I was in kindergarten.

I get a prescription from my doctor. The minute you feel them coming on you put it on. They never pop out then. It is very expensive but if you have insurance it will cover. I would not be without it. I would call your doctor.