My ten YO gets horrible cold sores

[Anonymous]

My poor daughter started a new elementary school this week - fifth grade - and of course the stress (I guess) caused her to get a terrible break out of cold sores. She's ashamed to speak to anyone at school - not the best recipe for making new friends.

We are seeing the doctor today. I have heard about the potential help of lysine and acyclovir. We use Abreva. Does anyone else have any advice as to what to do to prevent and minimize these outbreaks?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Prescription for valtrex.

[Anonymous]

Poor thing. The sun can trigger an outbreak, too.

In addition to the lysine and acyclovir, the best thing you can do is make sure she gets enough sleep, doesn't get run down, etc. It's very frustrating for sure.

DS started getting terrible cold sores when he was about three or four. Now that he's eight, he hardly ever gets one and when he does, it's much less severe. I think the virus does kind of burn out of your system to some extent, although never completely gone.

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid, I used to get the worst canker sores. They'd take over my whole mouth and were so painful. My Dr. said they were a result of stress, anxiety, and a weakened immune system (probably as a result of pushing myself too hard and not sleeping much). Anyway, the lysine was the only thing that really worked. Since my teen years, I've been fairly free of them so I do think it can be alleviated.

[Anonymous]

She needs lots of sleep and zero sugar. Sugar fuels outbreaks.

[Anonymous]

I get them really bad. This might sound silly, but I have to apply chapstick ALL THE TIME or I get them like crazy. It normally coincides with my period as well. Enough sleep is crucial. Valtrex didn't do much for me.

[Anonymous]

Make sure she doesn't pick at them. That spreads them.

Have her wear sunscreen, hat with a brim, and a scarf in cold weather.

[Anonymous]

Abriva doesn't work as well as what the dentist/doctor can give you. I also get pills to take at first tingle. I also swear by carmax during the drying out phase. See what you can do about the stress, which is a trigger (although 5th grade is stressful)

[Anonymous]

I started getting them at around that age and I remember how hard that was. Valtrex or some generic equivalent may help, but you have to start taking them as soon as you feel that first tingle, so it may take your daughter a while to identify that feeling. The drugs, along with Abreva and Tylenol, help me most. Figuring out what triggers them will also be useful. I think mine are hormonal. If she gets more than 6-8 outbreaks over a year, you might want to discuss a suppressive dose for a while. I did that for years and it helped a lot.

[Anonymous]

Abreva doesn't really work well.

I have Herpes type 1 genitally, not on my mouth. Lysine really nips outbreaks in the bud quickly.

Also, changing her diet can greatly reduce outbreaks. Try to eliminate foods that are high in Arginine. (like nuts, etc.)

Arginine triggers outbreaks.

[Anonymous]

I take Valtrex, but haven't got them since I started taking folic acid and/or prenatal vitamins.Seems like vitamins really helped.

[Anonymous]

Abreva is a gimmick pretty much. I think it is alcohol in a tube and has very low efficacy.
Try Denavir cream. If she puts it on immediately when she feels a tingle - preferably before the sore really appears, it can really help it to not come out. Keep putting it on continuously for about 24 hours. It is much more successful the earlier she catches it.

[Anonymous]

Poor thing! I started getting them as a child and it was so embarrassing. Still is, but at least they now have good Rx remedies. Valtrex works wonders if taken at the first signs. Basically, nothing develops if you catch it early enough. Denavir, I was told, is more to keep it moisturized. I also recommend wearing a Chapstick wih SPF. The sun was/is always a big trigger.

Lastly, encourage her to touch it as little as possible. It can be awfully itchy/tingly in the beginning, but responding to that makes it worse/bigger.

[Anonymous]

Lysine and cutting out nuts works for me. Would definitely talk to the doc about acyclovir or valtrex too. Good luck. Hard at that age...

[Anonymous]

For the valtrex you can take it when you have an outbreak OR you can take a suppression dose daily.