swollen cold sores?

[ohemgee]

when i first feel the tingling of the beginning of the outbreak, i put abreva on it a few times a day and took medicine for it. Well, it hardly ever works, usually it just makes my cold sore swell up like a big balloon. it gets inflated and has liquid in it or something. so then i have this weird bubble on my face, it hasnt even opened up. does this usually happen? and why? and how can i make it stop?

[Caliope]

That sounds painful. maybe the Abreva just doesn't work for you. I've seen people use other stuff for cold sores. How about Ice when the tingling starts. Have you seen your dr maybe they'd have some better suggestions for you?

[swivelingchairguy]

couple tips

Here's what you want to do:

1. Begin taking an anti-inflamatory like advil or tylenol etc. RIGHT AWAY.

2. Buy a new toothbrush.

3. Clean your pillowcase.

1. The anti-inflamatory drug chemically reduces the growth of the OB.

2. and 3. Reduces exposure to the virus

[katb]

Have you tried zovirax (acyclovir) cream or denavir cream? These medication are more potent than Abreva and may be more effective. Abreva works by preventing virus entry into cells, it doesn't act directly on the virus.

As for non-drug options, ointments with zinc or propolis appear to relieve symptoms and prevent recurrences. Here is a list of more non-medical remedies for herpes