Comment from: Mags, 45-54 FemalePublished: August 11
I was in my mid twenties when I first felt an itchy spot in the middle of my chin. I had no idea it would turn into a big ugly sore. Since then, I have been getting these things on and off for 25 years. They're always on my bottom lip or chin or both. There are two main causes. One is the sun, which is just fabulous when you are on vacation. The other one is stress, which is just what you need when you are starting a new job. I notice that I feel a bit run down at the time they occur. If I can zap it with Zovirax as soon as I feel that first little itch, then I can normally contain the severity of the attack.
Comment from: thistooshallpass, 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: August 13
I have had cold sores since I was about 12 years old. It would always be on my upper lip. But this year, I had the worst ever when my husband was down with chickenpox. Also, the frequency of the cold sores has increased to three times already this year. The worst part is that it's not just my lip but on my left breast too. I feel so cheated; it's as if the lips weren't bad enough!
I would suffer from cold sores for years, always one week before my period, every month. I would also break out if I was under more stress than usual. I would get all the usual symptoms of burning, itching, and throbbing pain. Also, I would feel like I was coming down with the flu - very tired & achy joints. Sometimes my lymph nodes in my arm pits & under my chin would hurt as well. My doctor put me on Valtrex which worked perfectly for me, stopping the progression of the cold sores in their track, saving me from the blistering & unsightly scabbing. Since I entered menopause, I don't suffer from cold sores or the accompanying symptoms anymore!
About five days ago, I noticed that my lips were a little swollen and very dry. Since I am in my fifties and never have had herpes, I didn't have any idea what was coming. First the large cold sore on the upper lip, which caused even more swelling. Then the bottom lip. And now I have them all over my face--my left cheek and forehead are completely covered and now they are showing up on my chest and arm--because I probably spread it before I realized what was happening. I look hideous and it burns. I just went on Acyclovir yesterday, so I'm hoping it's not too late to help me.
I got a single cold sore on my chin almost a year ago. It just wouldn't go away. I finally went to a doc. who diagnosed it as HSV-1. She gave me Acyclovir which worked wonders! Now I usually apply an acyclovir cream whenever I get a cold sore, which helps it go away. The worst episode I experienced was after a picnic and too much of sun. So advice to all the people out there who have HSV-1. Stay Away From The Sun.
Published: July 01
Three weeks after having the flu, sores on the inside of my mouth, gums and cheeks appeared. I usually only get one at a time, several times a year. They are quite painful now, after coming up about five days ago. Sometimes I find that if I take an amino acid (like L-Lysine) for a few days, it makes them go away faster.
Published: July 01
Two days ago I woke up to small blisters all over my upper lip. I have a couple small ones in the left corner, one on the right corner, and then a large blister-looking sore right in the middle of my upper lip. There is fairly severe burning with all of them.
My bottom lip is really chapped and also uncomfortable, but not painful like the upper lip. I used to get impetigo following my cold sores, so I will probably go in today to make sure it hasn't gotten to that stage. Because the sores are not localized in one spot, I'm a bit concerned that something else might be going on. I have never found anything over the counter to help- probably because I tend to wait too long to start treatment.
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Suggested Reading on Herpes Simplex Infections (Cold Sores, Non-Genital) by Our Doctors
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I was in my mid twenties when I first felt an itchy spot in the middle of my chin. I had no idea it would turn into a big ugly sore. Since then, I have been getting these things on and off for 25 years. They're always on my bottom lip or chin or both. There are two main causes. One is the sun, which is just fabulous when you are on vacation. The other one is stress, which is just what you need when you are starting a new job. I notice that I feel a bit run down at the time they occur. If I can zap it with Zovirax as soon as I feel that first little itch, then I can normally contain the severity of the attack.
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