Sali Hughes did a super video on the Guardian website on the Boots Cold Sore machine that uses a particular band of light to activate the immune system around the site of a cold sore. However, I’m pretty sure that Boots probably didn’t mention that Lipzor (or Virulite – same thing under in different name) which uses exactly the same technology, and which I have used for years, is approved for NHS prescription. I think you’d have to check with individual GPs whether they are prepared to prescribe it, but in theory they should.
Lipzor has been an absolute saviour – I started getting cold sores around ten years ago, and unless you get them, you won’t understand the utter misery of them. Not only do they look hellish, but they can make you feel like you have flu, with headaches and feverishness. Mine appear in that bit between the nose and lip that I am sure there is a name for, but I have no clue what it is! A cold sore takes at least two weeks from start to finish and there is nothing pretty about that fortnight. Since using Lipzor, not only have I reduced the outbreaks, but have somehow managed to send any cold sores to a different site, inside my nose. I know, it’s not the best subject, is it? However, they are tiny in comparison to the old ones and best of all, nobody knows they are there but me. I’m especially unlucky in that I don’t get any ‘tingle’ warning so have no advance alarm system so I always have to use Lipzor on something already active – it genuinely cuts cold sore time from the full two weeks (or longer, sometimes) to about five days, and on occasion, they’ve literally disappeared overnight if I’ve been really quick.
If you get cold sores and find the £35 price tag of the Boots machines a bit steep, then do check with your GP about Lipzor (or Virulite) because they may very well prescribe it for you. To be honest, looking at the pictures available, Lipzor and the Boots Avert machine look like exactly the same machine, which they very probably are – only one is £35 and the other is free.
Similar to this
Transparency Disclosure
All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
6 comments
That bit between your nose and lip? Your philtrum!
Interesting. I have the Boots one but I can’t find it. I don’t get them a lot but over summer I just got one after the other for about 8 weeks. Awful. So I’ll ask my docs about this as I really do think it helps. Thanks for this post.
I must have a look for this online (I’m not in the UK) as it sounds like just the thind. i get a coldsore about twice a year, it used to be a small one on my lip, now it’s a monster that goes from my lip right up to and on my nose! They are so painful, always breaking and bleeding and of course look disgusting. I’ve seen reviews on the Boots website mentioning how expensive it is, last time I buoght a tube of Zovirax it was $10 or more so the price seems reasonable, espeically if it works!
I don’t usually have trouble with cold sores, but I started getting one a fortnight ago, and remembered reading advice to use an amino acid supplement called lysine. I looked up the suggested dosage and did 4- 1000mg tabs spaced over the day, and the cold sore was dead and healing after 6 tabs (a day and a half). I saw an online article where someone suggested why it works, but I can’t remember! But I will use it again for sure.
L-Lysine does help,, but it definitely is not enough to stop the cold-sore in its tracks (as another person in these comments has suggested).
The whole idea is to stop the cold sore from becoming a full-on blister.. because once it pops and expells liquid, you have to wait at least a further 4 to 10 days for the ruptured blister to dry out and then scab and then eventually fall off.
I’ve only discovered oral Aciclovir pills to really prevent the blister from coming (as long as you take the first pill soon after noticing its about to come). You will see the blister recede back.
Of course you can also do the LED light or heat stick and also use one of the topical creams or a gel cover. But all the topical stuff doesnt really do the trick.
You need the pills to make it go away before it has a chance to come out.
I would personally always carry one pill with you wherever you go,, (in case you get that tingley feeling)
Summary: Get pills, and extra bonus if you also get an LED or heat stick and topical stuff for double bonus.
But Pills are the essential core of fixing it.
good advice, thank you.