Cheaper Generic ZOVIRAX for coldsores

Toothsmith

Just to be sure you understand things, could you please explain exactly how Zovirax works?

Tea tree oil does not work in 'exactly the same way'

swizzle_2

I had a tingling of a cold sore this week, I put on neat tea tree oil, and it did not develop into anything.

cosjo

found one in 'bodycare' shop today quite by accident same ingredients 5%acyclovir in 2g tube cost less than £2. was well pleased as usually get at least two outbreaks a year

loopy_lass

i use tea tree also, and it certainly takes some of the sting away... some people say put some wrapped ice on it, others say hold something warm against it... swings n roundabouts...

flamin irritating little things, mine just appears a one little tiny red spot then goes away again.

Ted_Hutchinson

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Honey Relieves Herpes Better than Acyclovir[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Topical honey either as a salve or diluted with water is useful in treating a wide variety of skin conditions[/font]

shopndrop

Notice Savvy Sue talks about combination of eczema and the cold sore virus can be life threatening - would love to know where I can find out more about this as I suffer from quite bad eczema and get my fair share of cold sores. Never knew there could be a problem.

Toothsmith

If herpes simplex (The cold sore virus) gets into breaks in the skin, it can form a herpetic whitlow. If it gets into the eye it can cause herpetic ulceration and scarring of the cornea. Herpetic scarring is the most common reason for needing corneal transplants.
Any herpetic infection can go on to cause a viral meningitis, which can be fatal.

Fatalities are more common in people who are immune surpressed.

This is why it's important that people with cold sores avoid contact with people with AIDS (Just HIV infection is probably OK, but full blown AIDS doesn't mix well - ironic really, as the person with the cold sore is probably the person who would feel unsafe if they knew they were in a room with someone with AIDS. In truth, the AIDS sufferer could be killed by contact with the cold sore sufferer).

Same with people immunosupressed following transplants, and also, probably more common, people shortly after chemotherapy.

Cold sores can seriously harm some members of society (You shouldn't kiss babies if you have one either really, although it would be very unlucky if that caused a fatal infection. The primary herpetic infection in babies is not pleasant though.)

People with cold sores should be aware of that, and act accordingly. Pencyclovir (The drug I mentioned in an earlier post) is clinically proven to be effective and drastically cuts down the time a person is infective for.

I don't think there is any such data for tea tree oil, or honey. I'm sure Ted will correct me if I'm wrong though. :snow_grin

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Tea tree oil - no there won't be any significant studies into its effectiveness because it's a complementary therapy and for some strange reason the world of complementary medecine doesn't go in for sound science. I wonder why.

Savvy_Sue

shopndrop wrote:

Notice Savvy Sue talks about combination of eczema and the cold sore virus can be life threatening - would love to know where I can find out more about this as I suffer from quite bad eczema and get my fair share of cold sores. Never knew there could be a problem.

Naturally not about to disagree with Toothsmith ... who knows far more than I do.

But for specific info on the dangers of the cold sore virus to eczema sufferers, there is no better place to go than to the National Eczema Society, which I would thoroughly recommend to any eczema sufferers out there. I can't quickly see a search button but if you email their helpline I'm sure they'll point you to some useful info.

And just to reassure you, DH also has eczema and regularly gets cold sores and it hasn't killed him yet - fortunately the GP has always taken it seriously when his skin goes completely ghastly and gets him onto antivirals and antibiotics pdq!

mike55_2

this is embarrassing, but i think i've got a cold sore on my nose

i know i haven't got 'man flu' or anything, but i've had a heavy cold for about a week. new years eve was a washout :rolleyes:

but can i put anything on my nose? its obviously a bit red, but its awful to look at,and live with.

are the sprays like dettol antiseptic any good? or vaseline? or just zovirax? it hurts if that helps.and it bleeds it just won't clear up. i had to cancel a dentists appointment cause of it as well but only cause i said it was a cold sore.

thanks

mike