best way to get rid of cold sore?

[Armitage]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: toant103
i have a big cold sore on the upper right and lower left lips. Try using Abbreva but it's not helping out that much. Worst case of cold sore ever, first time having 2 cold sores.

Thanks

start using condoms

:roll:
Alright already.
There are two types of herpes. The most common type for cold sores is HSV-1. The most common type for genital herpes is HSV-2. I've been getting cold sores since I was a small child - I guarentee condom use wasn't an issue for me then.

 

[Shawn]

L-Lysine

 

[dderidex]

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
And in case some wise-a$$ wants to continue with the jokes or dumba$$ comments about herpes, here's the first link off Google for "cold sores":

Link

Not all the "usually" and "cans" in that article.

Oral sex with cold sores WILL cause genital herpes - the virus is sufficiently similar, and cold sores are VERY contagious.

Link (it is highly likely that genital herpes will develop when these herpes lesions and/or its contents come into di rect contact with the genital area), Link (when oral herpes lesions and/or its contents come into direct contact with the genital area through oral-genital sex, genital herpes most likely will develop), Link (Can you get genital herpes from someone with a cold sore giving you oral sex?" Dr. Caron's Answer: Yes.), Link (It is possible to spread cold sores to the genitals through oral sex. Oral sex and kissing should be avoided during an outbreak.), Link (Q: Can I get genital herpes from oral sex? A: Yes, you can.), I could keep going....

Originally posted by: TheLonelyPhoenix
And I dunno WTF that guy is taking about, cold sores are a form of herpes and are in the same family as the STD form (genital herpes), but they are NOT an STD. As I said in my earlier post, most people get this form of herpes as a child (their gums swell up for a few days and that's it) and then carry it around the rest of their lives with no symptoms whatsoever. Only a small percentage ever break out a cold sore from this.

Incorrect. As pointed out above, cold sores CAN be sexually transmitted, and are caused by a virus (ergo, a "disease"), as such, cold sores very definitely ARE an STD.

Originally posted by: Armitage
There are two types of herpes. The most common type for cold sores is HSV-1. The most common type for genital herpes is HSV-2. I've been getting cold sores since I was a small child - I guarentee condom use wasn't an issue for me then.

You sure they are "cold sores", though? As noted, the symptons of canker sores are very, very similar. (In fact, several articles have pointed out that without extended observation, it can be difficult even for doctors to tell the difference in some cases).

 

[Barrak]

This is what I use Lip Balm

Works very good, keeps it from spliting and bleeding, helps heal it real fast.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Cold Sores, like warts, and even genital warts are something that most of the population is exposed to at one time or another; it's just the way it is. (I was pretty shocked to find out it's something like 70% of people are exposed to genital warts between 18-25 years of age).

Most people simply end up carrying the disease in a non-contagious manner, but some are unlucky enough to have outbreaks and/or be contagious.

As I understand it, the 'genital' brand of herpes, while similar to the type normally associated with oral cold sores is much more virulent, and rarer. Cross-infection is possible, and genital herpes like mouths perfectly well; most people genitally exposed to the 'oral' strain have no long-term consequences; it apparently isn't virulent enough to really stick around.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Cold Sores, like warts, and even genital warts are something that most of the population is exposed to at one time or another; it's just the way it is. (I was pretty shocked to find out it's something like 70% of people are exposed to genital warts between 18-25 years of age).

Most people simply end up carrying the disease in a non-contagious manner, but some are unlucky enough to have outbreaks and/or be contagious.

As I understand it, the 'genital' brand of herpes, while similar to the type normally associated with oral cold sores is much more virulent, and rarer. Cross-infection is possible, and genital herpes like mouths perfectly well; most people genitally exposed to the 'oral' strain have no long-term consequences; it apparently isn't virulent enough to really stick around.

~80% of adults are seropositve for HSV-1 with only ~30% of those individuals presenting with outbreaks.
~22-23% of adults are seropostive for HSV-2 with less than half presenting with outbreaks.
Blacks are twice as resistant to HSV-1 as whites, but twice as susceptible to HSV-2.

Location of the outbreak does not determine the virus type, though 70-90% of HSV-1 infections occur above the waist and 70-90% of HSV-2 infections occur below the waist. While oralabial herpes (mouth) is usually HSV-1, there are documented case of oralabial HSV-2. This applies to genital herpes as well, with something like 30% of genital herpes being caused by HSV-1.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: SacrosanctFiend

~80% of adults are seropositve for HSV-1 with only ~30% of those individuals presenting with outbreaks.
~22-23% of adults are seropostive for HSV-2 with less than half presenting with outbreaks.
Blacks are twice as resistant to HSV-1 as whites, but twice as susceptible to HSV-2.

Location of the outbreak does not determine the virus type, though 70-90% of HSV-1 infections occur above the waist and 70-90% of HSV-2 infections occur below the waist. While oralabial herpes (mouth) is usually HSV-1, there are documented case of oralabial HSV-2. This applies to genital herpes as well, with something like 30% of genital herpes being caused by HSV-1.

That's what the 'marks' were for - one strain is predominantly found in one place, one in the other.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: dderidex
Keep in mind the difference between Cold Sores (herpes) and Canker Sores (a type of ulcer). As kids, we always called them "cold sores", since that's all we ever hear them referred to as. That and "canker sore" just sounds nasty while "cold sore" doesn't....to a kid, anyway. In point of fact, it's exactly the opposite.

First time I complained about a "cold sore" to my wife (not knowing any better), you should have seen the horrified look on her face. LOL. Oops.

Similar symptoms, but one (canker sores) you get from having otherwise having a normal cold or temporary immune system weakness, stress, food allergies - things like that. Cold sores are....well, from kissing whores. LOL. It is a type of herpes. A virus, same family as the famous STD, that once you have, you have for life.

Thankyou, that explains everything for me! Never really knew the difference, can you get cankersores on your upper lip though?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
Thankyou, that explains everything for me! Never really knew the difference, can you get cankersores on your upper lip though?

What I've always called canker sores are not on your lip; they're the nasty-looking grey ulcers you get inside your mouth. I've never had a cold sore, but I've had cankers, so I tried to find out about them (funny, I'd got them once a year or so my whole life, finally looked at one when I was 15 and said 'yuck!'). I couldn't find too much on what causes them other than that it definitely isn't the same thing as cold sores.

 

[Philippine Mango]

If you get sores on your gums, it means your getting early stages of gingivitis. I know this because I looked it up when I started to get them! It was very painful, so after about 2 weeks of using mouth wash and brushed twice a day it went away.. (Wasn't brushing enough!)

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
If you get sores on your gums, it means your getting early stages of gingivitis. I know this because I looked it up when I started to get them! It was very painful, so after about 2 weeks of using mouth wash and brushed twice a day it went away.. (Wasn't brushing enough!)

good to know... fortunately I haven't had those either.

 

[vexingv]

i think someone mentioned it before but abreva is most effective when you feel one coming.
ive tried some home remedies. one that i found that really worked in drying it up was to use regular table salt. wet your lips where the cold sore is located with water. then take a table spoon or so of salt and apply it to the cold sore. applying some pressure helps. leave it on for as long as you can/want or you can also do it multiple times. this usually causes my sores to burst, expelling the fluid. so you;re gonna have the dead skin and a scab will form. just remember to keep this area clean so that you dont get any infections which will only prolong the healing.

 

[vexingv]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
Thankyou, that explains everything for me! Never really knew the difference, can you get cankersores on your upper lip though?

What I've always called canker sores are not on your lip; they're the nasty-looking grey ulcers you get inside your mouth. I've never had a cold sore, but I've had cankers, so I tried to find out about them (funny, I'd got them once a year or so my whole life, finally looked at one when I was 15 and said 'yuck!'). I couldn't find too much on what causes them other than that it definitely isn't the same thing as cold sores.

not cleaning your mouth probably is the biggest culprit.

but i also tend to get them if i eat a lot of really spicy foods. or so my mom has suggested.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: vexingv

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: Philippine Mango
Thankyou, that explains everything for me! Never really knew the difference, can you get cankersores on your upper lip though?

What I've always called canker sores are not on your lip; they're the nasty-looking grey ulcers you get inside your mouth. I've never had a cold sore, but I've had cankers, so I tried to find out about them (funny, I'd got them once a year or so my whole life, finally looked at one when I was 15 and said 'yuck!'). I couldn't find too much on what causes them other than that it definitely isn't the same thing as cold sores.

not cleaning your mouth probably is the biggest culprit.

but i also tend to get them if i eat a lot of really spicy foods. or so my mom has suggested.

as near as I can figure, i get them from stabbing myself in the mouth with a toothbrush

haven't had one in a couple of years though, so it gets hard to remember.

 

[RossMAN]

Go to your local GNC and buy some L-Lysene in chapstick form, I swear by the stuff.

Works great and quick results.