Does anyone have any advice for dealing with frequent cold sores? I’m currently developing my THIRD cold sore in 2.5 weeks now. Right as one heals, I develop a new one. Before I got my first cold sore I had pain in my glands, which I noted as weird. I was very stressed when I got my second one, but this time I’m not sure what I’ve done. Yesterday was the first day I was totally clear and the second one resolved and I’m right as square one again. I’ve been taking valtrex during every flare up, but that’s barely been helping since I catch them too late. Trying abreva- doesn’t do anything. Honestly the best thing has been putting a pimple patch on it. I’m just not sure why I’ve been getting so many flare ups 🥲 I didn’t change my toothbrush head yet because I haven’t even been without one!! But I’ve been washing my pillow cases, using chapstick with a q tip, being very precautious but I’m getting so sick of this.

I completely understand, I just had an episode of constant flare ups between cold sores and genital HSV for about 2 months straight - just one after the other and it was EXHAUSTING to say the least. I typically take 500mg of Valtrex a day, but clearly it hasn’t been suppressing as much as it should. I went to my doctor and she recommended upping my daily suppressant dose to 1g, and I haven’t had one since! I didn’t know this, but apparently if you have frequent outbreaks you can develop meningitis (source: {L0aeywNJy}, so she decided it was optimal to try to prevent them as much as possible. Have you been on suppressant medication before?

I actually didn’t know it could cause meningitis - that’s scary. I’m not on any suppressant medications besides the valacyclovir which i was only advised to take it PRN. I take the valtrex once I feel tingling or at the first sign of a cold sore. My prescription advises me to take (4) 500mg pills 2x a day 12 hours a part so 4,000mg daily when symptoms first arise and that’s it. I didn’t know you could take it daily, maybe I’ll mention it at my next Dr appt it was actually my dentist who prescribed it to me. I noticed that it definitely shortens the time I have the cold sore as before taking this medication I could have a cold sore last upwards of 2 weeks and they are now roughly only 5-7 days to heal completely. What scares me a little is I do get swollen glands that are so painful when I’m first getting one or before one starts to form. Plus I get streaking nerve pains across my face depending where it’s at on my lips, they sometimes develop on my gums. AND I feel so insecure with them because of how unsightly they are. I think I have a weakened immune system but I can’t get into my PCP until April 🥲

Remember that your body is fighting the flare ups, so it’s completely normal to have swollen glands. I’m definitely with you on the insecurity of them, I actually prefer getting genital HSV flare ups because they aren’t visible 😭 I would contact your PCP office and ask if they can change the prescription without a visit. Valacyclovir isn’t a dangerous/controlled medication and it’s often prescribed pretty loosely. If they aren’t able to, I recommend maybe going to urgent care and explaining your situation - how your immune system is low at the moment and if they could potentially give you a 2 month supply of suppressants until you can see your PCP.

My go to remedy for cold sores is the second i feel it/see, i dab tea tree oil on it and then put hydrocortisone on. I do this like 10 times a day every day, and it never ever ever develops and just vanishes. I swear by this lol I also do it for the cracks that develop in the corner of my mouth from getting any worse and they heal in 1-2 days

Taking a suppressant can help. And if you take one for a long time you can become immune. You can also switch to acyclovir which does the same thing. Honey sometimes helps me soothe my sores. The best medicine I’ve found is something called SADBE. It’s a liquid you put on your skin and leave it for 3 hours then wash it off. It lasts around 3 months. If you want more info on it lmk. But it’s the best thing that’s worked for my frequent outbreaks. @Lemongrass_ hi if you don’t mind me asking, is it the same type of hsv you have orally and genitally? I have it genitally but have always been scared I can pass it to myself orally. Or if that’s even possible or if it would need to be the other strand.

@stinaaa I haven’t been swabbed down there during an active breakout, so TECHNICALLY speaking I don’t know for sure. However, I’ve had hsv1 since I was a baby (from my dad kissing me on the lips) and I got hsv2 from sex a few years ago. I believe I also have hsv1 down there. It is possible to have both in each location, but as far as I know it is far more likely to have hsv1 genitally than to have hsv2 orally. I recommend if you’re having an outbreak in either spots to be mindful of keeping your hands very clean, washing with antibacterial soap prior to touching the other areas.

^ Oftentimes because I get them back and forth, I believe I have HSV1 down there.

Thank you all for the advice ❤️ I just got some more valacyclovir and acyclovir from my dentist office for now. (My mother in law works the front desk so she gets the dr to write me the script as soon as I ask lol) I also made an appt with a PCP even though it’s not for a while.

@Lemongrass_ 😭 that sucks ass I’m sorry 🫶🏽 ugh I get lots of outbreaks genitally and it is hsv1 that I have. I’ve always been scared that someone will go down on me then come up and kiss me. Or even finger me then put them in my mouth. I’m even scared to taste myself anymore. I use to do that but not anymore. That’s crazy that you can have both strains.

@Mortie21 hope you feel better. Take the meds daily for a while so that there’s an even lower chance of outbreaks. Daily suppression was something I had to do to keep my outbreaks at bay.