Page 2 of comments on 8 Critical Cold Sore Stages
by Denny Bodoh
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Hi Denny.
I get a Big cold sore in upper side of my lip (In the midle of my lip) four weeks ago-. I would like to heart you opinion why after all those days I still have like litle red pimple ? I used lots of treaments and nathing work to all to take off that red thing in my lip- that hurs a litle wen i touch it- but thats no getting dry anyways! What I can do!? Is it a cold sore or soemthing else!? I pass all the stage already- but still dealing with that red on my lip :( any advice!? Thank you in advance! Best wishes.Hi Lilly
Wonderful to hear from you, Lilly - and I thank you very much for the 5 stars!!
4 weeks and you are still fighting it? Wow, that is way too long to be dealing with that. The red spot definitely sounds like a cold sore as they act like that sometimes. What it means is that it is lurking and could come back on you. You need to chase the virus away completely. We need to make the area unfriendly to the virus.
If it were me, I would put garlic oil or fresh crushed garlic juice on the sore. You might want to dilute it with olive oil or it can be harsh on sensitive skin. Also, I would avoid (for a couple days) eating any grains, tomato products, sugar or carbonated soda. Also, if you smoke, do not smoke in that spot.
I think that should solve this problem for you, Lilly. Take care and stop back with any other questions or comments.
Thanks
Denny
ummm I'm kinda of confused cause I barely know anything about cold sores anyhow right now my cold sore has a yellowish/whiteish gooshy feeling and look what should I do and what step is it on???Hey Joseph
Great to hear from you, Joseph. Thank you very much for the 5 stars too.
Sounds like you are sort of in the crusting stage - or attempting to crust, depending on the amount of weeping fluid being released.
First off, if it was me, I would get some peroxide and be cleansing the area regularly - maybe every hour or so. The extra oxygen in peroxide really assists in speeding up the healing process as well as removing tons of virus particles.
In your situation, drying it up may be the best solution. To do this, I would use witch hazel, calamine lotion, hemroid cream or a simple salt paste. All of these work well but the salt paste could sting. If you have some white toothpaste (not the gel kind), that will work quite well also.
If I were in your situation, I also would get some zinc lozenges or oral spray and use it frequently and get some of it in the sore itself. This form of zinc will knock out a head cold fast and it works equally well on cold sore virus.
These are some very useful and popular cold sore remedies. You can find a ton more on my web site for free (link at top under my name)
Thanks, Joseph, for stopping by. It is really great to hear from Germany.
Take care and have a great weekend.
Denny
Hello, I have been very depressed lately. So I have had these very almost non existent bumps on lips. they do not show there selves as a regular cold sore nor do they weap, scab or puss. They show up at random n makes my lips feel like sand paper, other people can not notice them, unless i bring it up and they get really really close. They are flesh colored and there not in clusters but spread through the lip like tiny salt granuals. I tested positive for hsv2 2 years ago after a sexual assault, since then I have not had any sexual relation.. I know TMI sorry I will get to the point. So I went to the dermatologist and she was looking frazzled herself she gave me a blood test for hsv and a cream a steriod cream also a 3 day perscription for valtrex. And two pamplets one on hsv and one for atopic dermatitis. Now even more frustrated because the derm seemed unaware, I waited for test results. She said i tested positive for hsv antibodies , but I was a new patient so she wasnt aware of my history with already having hsv2. Going on week or 4 and still no.relief lips tingle, burning sensation all the symtoms of a cold sore but no sore?? I have been taking the anti viral meds lisine and also abreva, im miserable and seeking in to quick depression. Wondering if cold sores always present them selves with atleast a sore? Do you know if there is a test to check for either hsv1 or 2? I dont understand the difference between a cold sore and herpes does everyone who has a cold sore consider it an out break? Ughh all this is confusing and very depressing.....Hi Ashley
Wonderful to hear from you Ashley. And thank you very much for the 5 stars.
You really need to talk to a local medical professional about these concerns. If the dermatologist did not help you, then find another or a GP doctor.
HSV1 (herpes simplex virus type 1) and HSV2 (herpes simplex virus type 2) are nearly identical viruses and both can cause cold sores on the face as well as genital sores. About 75% of facial sores are currently caused by HSV1 and HSV1 is responsible for about 25% of genital sores. HSV2 is the primary for genital sores and occasionally facial sores. Cold sores can be transmitted to other areas of the body quite easily where the virus can get through the skin.
The herpes virus does not travel to another part of your body internally as far as we know right now. If you get a sore, it is because the virus was introduced to that spot. It tends to cause sores in the same location each time.
Herpes is the only virus that causes a cold sore. Cold sores are also called fever blisters and oral herpes. If it is truly a cold sore, then it is caused by the herpes virus - either HSV1 or HSV2 - and both appear identical in nature.
The HSV antibodies your doctor found could be either kind.
Apparently your doctor feels that they are cold sores based on her observation.. Yes, sometimes they stall and do not break out or sometimes cause such bumps after a sore heals. In either case, the virus is lurking under the surface.
A way I have used to chase the virus back into dormancy is mixing crushed garlic or garlic oil with olive oil. Garlic goes right through the skin to the virus below - and virus does not like garlic. Another couple of excellent topical remedies are peppermint oil or coconut oil.
Now, these bumps could also be caused by something you are eating or drinking. For example, with cold sores, it is often helpful not to get tomato products on the sore area. It might be helpful to evaluate what your diet consists of or what changed about 4 weeks ago. Did you change toothpaste? Sometimes this can cause a similar reaction.
Please understand that this is not medical advice. I am merely passing along some ideas that I have gained through many years of research and working with others.
Hopefully this has helped you. Especially when depression is involved, you need to seek help locally.
Take care, Ashley. Please stay in touch and let us know how it is going.
Denny
Hello Denny, Thank you so much for the ideas. My lips have a yellow crustish look in some spots, I feel when I keep my lips dry without vaseline this crusts apears. But when I keep them moist the yellow crust is not present. I read that the yellowish crust stage is the healing stage. So when that apears should I just leave them alone and not moisterize them? How long does that stage usually last? Thanks again.Hi Ashley
Great to hear from you again, Ashley.
The crusting stage denotes the beginning of the healing phase. Primarily, it tells you that the damage has been done and now the body begins replacing the destroyed cells. The crust or scab is the first part of this process.
There are folks that feel drying it out is the best. That is fine but I prefer to keep it moist myself. Vaseline is a good protector and acts in the same way as a scab. Do whatever is most comfortable for you.
A couple days ago a friend came to me and she was just coming down with a cold sore. I gave her some Zicam zinc spray and it stopped the cold sore dead in its tracks. Zinc is a great antiviral mineral and it is also considered the healing mineral. This friend sprayed it her mouth as recommended on the bottle and then also dabbed it on the sore area. She notified me just an hour ago that it is gone. You may want to give it a try for yourself.
Healing time depends so much on your physical condition at the moment, and the cold sore remedies you use. I would say that the healing usually takes about 4 to 8 days.
Take care, Ashley and stay in touch.
Denny
I have had cold sores through my entire childhood. I'm 38 now and still get them. I found a product called curasore. It's mainly composed of ether, but seems to really work well at getting rid of sores fast. I have tried many things over the counter and home remedy and that product seems to work best for me.Hi
Good to hear from you and thank you for the 5 stars.
Yes, the curasore you use is an excellent pain and itch medication, however, that is all it does. If you are satisfied with the results, that is most important.
I understand that you are disappointed with many store-bought remedies since most of them do not give satisfactory results for stopping or healing a sore.
There is another Curasore originating from Australia that is primarily designed for healing a cold sore. One of its main ingredients is Leptospermum Scoparium, which comes from a plant related to the Tea Tree, only much stronger for this purpose. It is a strong anti-viral which is important against the cold sore virus.
The main thing is you have found a cold sore remedy that works for you, and that is most important.
Take care and have a great week.
Denny
First, thankyou for that information! It was super helpful. I believe I skipped the tingle/itch phase or I just did not notice it. I have a raging head cold (been going on for three days). I woke up t his morning with a HUGE sore on my bottom lip. I have so much to do this week where I have to be in front of a lot of people and I just want this thing GONE! I have never had one this big and right underneath it on my actual skin there are little bumps that hurt worse than the actual cold sore. What is the easiest way to get rid of this or at least decrease the size?Hi Katelyn
Wonderful to hear from you, Katelyn. Thank you so much for the kind words. I am sorry to not get back to you sooner. I usually try to get back within a day but sometimes I am overloaded.
Two days a friend asked me how to get rid of her cold sore. I gave her some Zicam zinc spray that I had on hand, for her to try. The cold sore was all but gone this morning she reported. She sprayed it under the tongue as recommended on the bottle plus she dabbed it on the sore too. This form of zinc absorbs very well.
Zinc really knocks out the cold virus and works equally well with cold sore virus. The best results are the lozenges or sprays designed for oral absorption of the zinc. Taking zinc tablets really does not give measurable results. There are other brands I am sure, but Zicam is the easiest to find around here.
The reason for the pain is that the cold sore virus creates sores right on the end of nerve fibers. It is almost like having an exposed nerve - very sensitive.
Hopefully you are on the mend by now.
Take Care Katelyn
Denny
Hi Denny,
Wish I had seen this a long time ago. I have been getting cold sores for 15 years now. I had not gotten one in over two years until 3 weeks ago. It was one of the biggest ones I have ever gotten. The left side of my lip was swollen to twice it's size. It followed the usual stages. The scab fell off about a week and a half ago. My doctor gave me zovirax to use. I couldn't imagine that it would work since it's in such a late stage. And it didn't. I have stopped using it. I have the pinkish tender looking spot on my skin above my lip where the blisters were. But my lip is still slightly swollen and a little sore. I started taking the lysine pills 4 days ago, staying away from bread, grains, and sweets. I feel like it's stuck at this stage. Doesn't seem to be getting any better. I was dabbing it with peroxide a few times a day but the doctor said to stop because the peroxide could damage my skin and take longer to heal. He said to just wash with mild soap and dab with bacatracin. So many different opinins on what to do. It's so frustrating because it still looks so obvious. I feel like it will never look better and stay like this. From time to time I feel a slight burn or pulling feeling. At first I thought it was another one coming through. But thankfully no. Now I wonder if it's because it's still healing. Any advice would great.Hi Cheryl
Wonderful to hear from you Cheryl. Thank you so much for stopping by.
I can't give medical advice, Cheryl, but I can relate to you from the experience of others I have worked with.
If the doctor says for you not to use peroxide, then you should follow that course. I do disagree with the bacitracin because it is strictly an antibiotic - it is designed to attack bacteria, not viruses. Cold sores are caused by a virus. The only thing that may help is if it has zinc in it. Perhaps he is concerned about a secondary bacterial infection, which does happen and really can complicate healing.
Zovirax is an antiviral product that is quickly becoming useless, as the virus mutates and becomes resistant to it. It is like what happened to penicillin. It was great at first, but bacteria quickly became resistant and the drug companies have to continually create new antibiotics to replace the past ones. It is a never ending story.
You are very wise to be doing the lysine and reducing the grains. For many people, that is their main cold sore treatment and has proven very successful. To me, it is basic support for any other treatment or topical remedy. It basically starves out the virus - like putting water on a fire starves it of oxygen.
Yes, it is still healing. Hopefully by this time it is pretty much gone. Some topical remedies that have been very successful with the people I talk to are as follows:
Crushed garlic or garlic oil mixed with olive oil (only use extra virgin and organic if possible). Garlic is very strong against viruses - there really is nothing like it, prescription or otherwise. Garlic has the ability to pass right thru the skin or scab and get to the virus below. Olive oil buffers garlic so it doesn't burn sensitive skin. And, olive oil is also an antiviral and helpful to the skin healing process. Other great topical cold sore remedies that you can use with this recipe or separately are peppermint oil, coconut oil or tea tree oil.
I know there are tons of different opinions on how to deal with cold sores - mainly because they are so misunderstood, even by my doctor friends. That is what I discovered over 10 years ago and that is why I concentrate so much on this one subject in my research. And, to be honest and fair - I am learning something new nearly every week.
If I could be of further assistance or answer additional questions, I would be happy to hear from you again.
Take care, Cheryl
Denny
My last cold sore was approximately 164 days ago, looking at my last comment. The tingling sensation came 10:00 and by 4:00 it had turned into a small bump. I went to the local drugstore and dropped $21 for Abreva, seeing as it had such stellar reviews. I put it on every 3-4 hours. The bump enlarged in the night and split at about 11 today. I cleaned it up lightly with water, put on more Abreva, and resumed my schedule. Right now, it looks like all the liquid has drained out, with some slight discoloration and tiny cut. Will there be any scabbing? I dread the scabbing the most, since it is so noticeable.
And to answer your question, I am not the princess, sadly. Although I'd love to be friends with talking animals. Not so fond of the ogre part though. :DHey Fiona
Wow - wonderful to hear from you again, Fiona!!! Yes, I certainly remember you.
Abreva is primarily designed to be used in the early stages as you have. It sounds like you will be avoiding the scab, from what you said. The body builds a scab as a protective measure to cover all the destruction that this virus causes. It sounds like you nipped it in the bud.
The secret to treating any cold sore is acting quickly. Even a simple thing as ice can stop a cold sore before it actually breaks through the skin - as does fast application of things like garlic, peppermint oil, tea tree oil etc.
You acted quickly and that is great.
I'll bet there is princess in your heritage. You can imagine it. I live so far up in the Wisconsin north woods that some of my best friends are imaginary. And the animals are great company. They don't talk much but mama bear stopped by 3 nights ago and destroyed all my bird feeders again. They have to eat too.
Take care Fiona. Really great to hear from you again. ;))
Denny
Hello,
I have my first cold sore and not sure which stage I'm in. Yesterday i had multiple small red bumps that did not open but when I woke up this morning most of them have a scab over them. My lip is also very swollen on the side the sore is on.
Does it sound like the sores have opened? I guess its possible it happened while I was sleeping. And is it normal to have swelling?
I have been icing it and putting aloe vera from a live plant on it as well as abreva but I will be trying your recommendations today.
This is a very helpful article!
Thank you!
Hi Rachel
Wonderful to hear from you, Rachel. I am very happy that the article was helpful to you. Thank you for your kind words.
Sorry to hear about your cold sore. Yes, swelling is quite common. Usually your lymphatic gland under the jaw on that side of your face will swell and could be painful. It is a sign your body is fighting the virus and getting rid of the waste from that fight.
Once the sores scab, it usually indicates that the damage is done and you are on the mend. There is still lingering virus particles in the area that can cause the sore to reoccur, so be diligent. And, remember, you are very contagious during the entire cold sore event.
Ice is great for dealing with the swelling and providing quite a bit of comfort. However, it does slow healing during this healing phase as it drives blood away from the area. Perhaps you might find that warm, wet tea bags will add comfort and speed the healing process. The faster you heal, the quicker the swelling disappears.
Aloe vera is a great cold sore remedy during the healing phase. Great that you have a plant on hand - everybody should have this first-aid plant in the house. I have put aloe vera on a cut and it was gone the next day. It doesn't work quite that fast on cold sores unfortunately.
Thank you so much for stopping by Rachel. And thank you for the 5 stars.
Take care, Rachel, and have a great week.
Denny
Hi Denny,
Thanks for such an informative site. I have learned more in 20 min than in the last ten years!!
Like everyone else I have been the victim of the dreaded herpes since a child (now 40).
Until my separation last year (read underlying stress) I've coped with the odd few a year but now have had constant attacks for 15+ months. (I've been CS free for maybe a week here or there!) They have appear all over my upper lip area and in both nostrils and occasionally on my lips, sometimes just one, sometimes lots. Have tried the prescription Famvir but it seems useless. Aclovoir cream does help (i think). I have now started icing and used the tea bag. (good results) I will use the garlic next. Do I just crush a bulb and mix with olive oil straight on?. Also have now stopped oats and limiting wheat.
My main question though is your thoughts on popping the sores. mine will tingle (only sometimes) and be up in a white head almost immediately. I have always popped and cleaned with antiseptic and then aclovoir, the theory being I want them to dry out and start healing, now I pop and ice ( I have no scarring from hundreds of sores over the years) They then scab straight away. (Tiny maybe 1/16inch scabs) and heal relatively quickly. Problem is another comes up somewhere else!! Is st Johns wort still considered worth using as an immunity booster?
Thanks heaps for your help so far.
cheers!
Hi Gavin
Great to hear from you, Gavin. Thank you very much for the kind words. I am happy to have been a help to you.
Acyclovir may work for you for a while. In a little while, however, your virus will likely become immune to it. That is the usual case scenario.
You can crush the garlic, add olive oil and stir up together. The olive oil will pick up and combine with the garlic oils. The solids are left behind. You can save the oil mixture for some time in the fridge. Some folks get a pistil and mortar for this and other similar purposes. Also, there is a garlic crusher for kitchen use that I have used for this also. It squeezes the oils out and leaves the pulp behind.
Garlic and olive oil is one of the best cold sore remedies for topical use.
Yes, Gavin, herbs religiously put to use to treat cold sores include St. John's wort, olive leaf extract, licorice, garlic, and mustard. Used as supplements, they all help boost the immune system and do well to defend against viral infection. The only ones that I feel would be safe for extended periods of use are garlic, licorice and mustard. St Johns wort or olive leaf extract should not be used more than 3 months or so without taking a month break.
One of the best internal cold sore treatments is lysine. It directly targets the herpes replication process. It is cheap, safe and so easy to use with any other treatment you may wish to use.
As far as drying out the blister by popping and icing it - that is fine since it works for you. Over the years I have not seen much for scarring using any method really. The one that always concerns me is where some people use acetone (finger polish remover). That stuff is nasty - like using gasoline in my opinion.
Many of the folks I work with like drying out the sore as you do, Gavin. Some other ways of doing this would be to apply products like witch hazel, calamine lotion, hemorrhoid cream, white toothpaste or a simple salt and water paste.
Sorry to hear of your separation last year, Gavin. That can cause a lot of stress, both on the surface and underlying. What concerns me is the frequency of your attacks. Boosting your immunity is helpful of course, but the real culprit is your pH balance - I would lay money on it.
I recently posted an article to my web site called "Repeated Cold Sores" because so many people are having trouble with it these past couple of years with all the social and economy problems. This article site does not allow me to give you a link to it but you can use the link at the top of this article under my name. It is one of the top articles listed there.
I really think you should go there, Gavin, and read it. It touches on lysine too but mainly for you the pH connection. Stress can be very destructive to our health as you will see. You can't always avoid it but we can reduce the effects of it.
Hopefully I have been of further help, Gavin. Thank you very much for stopping by (and the 5 stars too). Stay in touch with any other questions.
Take care
Denny
Great article. I have learned very much from this article alone than I have from any other source. I am currently experiencing my first cold sore experience, and it has been an interesting one. I never really noticed any tingling or burning sensation before I noticed the swollen white bump on my lower lip. Originally, I even thought that I had bitten my lip, and that was why it was swollen with a white mark. But I know believe it is a cold sore, due to the crusting, and the very sore throat and swollen glands accompanying the sore. I believe it is currently yellow crusting over. Should I still put Abreva on the crusting cold sore? Also, what does the sore look like if the crusting falls off? I'm assuming that it is necessary to keep the crusting/scabbing on as long as possible in order to quicken the healing process? When the sore is crusting/scabbing, is it still contagious to pass along to others? Thank you so much for all your information.Hi Mary
Wonderful to hear from you, Mary. Thank you so much for the kind words - I am happy that you enjoyed and benefited from this article. And thanks for the 5 stars too.
Abreva has been known to cause the scab to come off at the crusting stage. People report that they can't keep a scab on. Also, Abreva's main function is to prevent the virus from spreading to adjacent cells during the early stages. By the time the scab forms, this is usually not a concern any longer, as the damage has been done. Basically, Abreva is not much value now and will not aid in the healing process. It is expensive so save what is left for next time.
When the scab falls off, it usually reveals pinkish new skin. People seem to do best by letting the scab stay on as long as possible. People that pick the scab off, usually report longer healing time and other complications.
Sometimes, if it comes of prematurely, it may have a wet look to it. If this occurs, be sure to be using a good topical cold sore remedy to help protect the area and speed healing results. Some people use petroleum jelly which acts as a protective scab. Lip balm (bees wax kind) is actually preferred as that will have some value in helping the healing process.
In either case, Mary, apply your cold sore treatment first, then put the protectant on. Some very effective topical healing treatments include garlic oil (mixed with olive oil), oregano oil, tea tree oil, grapefruit seed extract or peppermint oil.
And yes, your sore is contagious from the very first tingle until the final redness is gone. It is extremely contagious during the crusting stage because the fluid that weeps from the sore is teeming with virus particles. Mary, you must use every precaution to not spread it to some other part of your face or body. For example, if you get it on your fingers you can infect a new spot where the virus finds a way through the skin.
One that scares me and does occasionally happen is where a person gets it in the eye. Corneal cold sores are not good and can cause eye damage. Best to always treat the sore with throw-away tissues or cotton tips.
I have seen cold sores on the finger tips where the virus got through a crack. Very painful.
I am so happy you stopped by, Mary. I hope I answered your questions. If I can help you further, please leave a message here.
Take care, Mary, and have a great week.
Denny
Hello Denny,
Now I didnt read your book/article so my answer to question may be in there. My question is,is it possible for a person to be completly immune to the herpes/cold sore virus? Reason being,Ive been getting cold soores for about 15yrs,apprx 1-3 outbreaks a year,if that.Ten of those years Ive been with my husband and hes been around when Ive had outbreaks. Im not going to lie,but I am constantly toyching it or pucking at it,yes,I know,thats very bad,but I cant resist,I hate anything that has a scab. Ayways .I havent been the most cleaniest when it comes to touchinh my sore,then imnediately touching a part of my body or kissing my husband during the most contagious stages or drinking from his cup,etc Ive tried home remedies,some otc but theyre too expensive,no scripts. Plus the abreva is like 20 bucks and its as big as my pinkie toe. So pretty much now when I get one, I put rubbing alcohol on the bumps for a few days then once the clusters are gone I just vigorously apply Burts Bee Lip Balm. Anyways,I have some questions and concerns. 1. Is it possible my husband is immune to the virus,because in 10 yrs he has NEVER had a cold sore, not one sign.And I know Ive been careless,but why hasnt he caught anything? 2. Another question,is it possible/true to get a cold sore when you kiss someone that doesnt either not
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