Cold sore page 2

[namelesswonder]

Well...technically, perhaps no. It's commonly an STD that appears on the genitals, but if it's not sexually transmitted, is it an STD? Just nit-picking

Stress will do it for ya. Used to get them a lot more in college. I eat a lot of chicken now and I guess that has a lot of Lysine, which helps, somehow.

[solstice]

I think I ate half a chicken tonight...I want to medicate with food!

[Paleobird]

There are two types of the herpes virus, HSV1 & HSV2 . Type 1 is cold sores, type 2 is below the belt but either one can transmit to either end of the body (You all are old enough to figure out how)

The reason HSV1 sufferers like to say theirs is not an STD is because it is perfectly possible for a baby to get it from great aunt Agnes who had a coldsore kissing their face. HSV2 you actually have to have sex to get.

[twa2w]

"HSV2 you actually have to have sex to get. "
Not if you define sex the way Bill Clinton does :-)

[Lily Marie]

it is perfectly possible for a baby to get it from great aunt Agnes who had a coldsore kissing their face.

Aunt Aggie! You ol' hoe-bag!

[Heathen]

Well...technically, perhaps no. It's commonly an STD that appears on the genitals, but if it's not sexually transmitted, is it an STD? Just nit-picking

Stress will do it for ya. Used to get them a lot more in college. I eat a lot of chicken now and I guess that has a lot of Lysine, which helps, somehow.

Avoid the trigger foods that are high in arginine - peanuts, peanut butter, red wine, chocolate, popcorn, caffeine (all the nice things I know!) and focus on foods high in L-lysine (e.g. eggs)

[DashFire]

I've had cold sores since I was a kid. A few years ago decided that professionally they were unacceptable (just really unattractive, but also made me super self-conscious, especially when meeting with clients), so now I pop a few Acyclovir at the first sign of a tingle. Nips it in the bud. I get them about quarterly and most of the time I managed to get the meds in me in time to avert it showing or blistering. anything "natural" I've tried has failed miserably. might help it heal a bit faster, but yet to prevent them.

[twa2w]

Icing them works for some people - virus prefer to replicate at a certain tempurature. When I feel one coming on - that first tingle- I put an ice cube in a baggy (keeps the melting water from dripping alover you) and hold it against my lip - don't freeze your lip.Hold it until you can't stand it, release for a few moments and repeat. Repeat every couple of hours.-usually gone by next day.
Even a full blown one can be cut short with the icing trick.

[kenn]

Most people have some type of STD, it's ok. A couple are things you should disclose to others...

[katiepotato]

Another sufferer here, although I haven't had one for a while (crosses fingers). +1 on lysine, I've had them much less frequently since taking a good-quality multivitamin containing it. As an alternative to ice, I've also found that applying a hot compress (as hot as you can stand it) works to minimise size/get past the horrible itchy blistery stage for me.

Re: acyclovir tablets - be careful about popping them regularly as they have some nasty side-effects, particularly on the liver.