Cold sore coming back

Bianca Blackstone said:

Hi,

I hope this is the appropriate group to post this in. I tried my best to look for an appropriate
topic and this is the closest I could come up with.

Around this time last year, the area around my mouth --- specifically, between underneath my lower
lip and above my chin --- got really red. My skin felt hot, itchy, and generally just irritable.
This went on for about a week before I finally went to the student health center on

Quoted message said:

words, a cold sore. The guy gave me some kind of skin cream, although I don't think that helped
much because the cold sore/rash/whatever it was sorta just went away on it's own after a while.

Well, as if on schedule, I think the sore is coming back. I'm not sure if this is necessarily a
yearly thing though, but it was this time last year that this happened. (The guy at the health
center also said that it could be stress-related.) Also, I've started a new regiment with my
face. Before, I just used to haphazardly clean it with soap every now and then. (Must be a guy
thing...LOL.) But now, I've started using St. Ives exfoliating cleansing cloths, astringent, and
a moisturizing lotion. And I can't help but think that this might have led to the return of my
cold sore?

My question is, is the sore curable, or will it just keep popping up like this? Also, what kind of
medication (if any) should I get for it? I have since graduated college, so I can't go to the
health center anymore. I'm hoping there's something I can get over-the-counter at Walgreens or
Safeway, at least.

Thanks in advance.

The herpes virus tends to reside in nerves. Under stress it will flare up and cause
eruptions. There is no way to cure the infections, but keeping yourself in good health will
keep the flareups to a minimum. There are prescription medications that will decrease the
severity and duration of flareups. BTW, most think that the distinction between type A and B
herpes is not important; certainly not in terms of determining how one was infected.

Take care not to touch the blisters or sores--you may innoculate yourself or others.

Steve

(Bianca Blackstone) said:

Around this time last year, the area around my mouth --- specifically, between underneath my lower
lip and above my chin --- got really red. My skin felt hot, itchy, and generally just irritable.
This went on for about a week before I finally went to the student health center on

Quoted message said:

words, a cold sore. The guy gave me some kind of skin cream, although I don't think that helped
much because the cold sore/rash/whatever it was sorta just went away on it's own after a while.

The best topical agent for HSV is Denavir, but you have to start using it as soon as you feel the
tingling sensation. Cold sore outbreaks can occur any time your immunity is "off the job", e.g.,
during an acute illness, under stress, if you're not generally taking good care of yourself and let
yourself get "run down", etc. They're common, they're incurable, they're contagious (although not
highly), and they're more annoying than dangerous. You don't *have* to treat them at all, as they
will resolve spontaneously in time. However, if topical agents don't work, see your doctor about an
oral medication for episodic treatment.