Cold and Canker Sores

Cold Sores / Fever Blisters

• avoid contact

• Rx Denavir cream
• Rx Valtrex tablets
• Lysine

• aloe vera

• medicated vitamin E

• Abreva

Fever blisters, also called cold sores (caused by the herpes simplex virus) occur usually on the lower lip, but can also occur on the upper lip.  These always occur in the same place on the lip.  These often appear during stress, sick times with cold - flu - other, pregnancy,  but also with prolonged exposure to sun or cold  These are contagious and if the blister breaks, direct contact with other people should be avoided to prevent transmitting the virus that causes the sore until it is healed.  Keeping the sore area covered with a cream or ointment until healing is completed will make things more comfortable.

For regular cold sore sufferers there is an excellent prescription cream that works very well: Denavir.  Another significant option for regular cold sore sufferers is to preventively take Valtrex tablets (Rx required) before those situations that usually bring out the cold sore.

L-Lysine (an amino acid) 300-600 mg daily is often effective in helping prevent cold sores.

Ointments that some people find helpful include aloe vera or medicated vitamin E.

Abreva is an over-the-counter cream for the treatment of cold sores; however, note that it only prevented from proceeding to blister stage 34% of the time, and reduced healing time by only one day - so it's not that helpful or effective.

Canker Sores

• Orabase Soothe-N-Seal

• Rx Aphthasol

• Kanka

• Rx Kenalog in Orabase

• Carrington Patch

• Lysine

• Biotene toothpaste

Canker sores (aphthous ulcers) occur inside the mouth usually not right next to teeth, but under the tongue or between the gums and cheek.  These often occur during times of stress, and often acidic foods bring them on (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, tomatoes, etc.).  Once the canker sore appears, it will take about a week to heal.

The most effective over the counter treatment is Orabase Sooth-N-Seal - available in the drugstore.

Also available is Kanka, similar to the Soothe-N-Seal.  Applied directly on the sore, it makes it more tolerable until healing is completed.

For regular canker sore sufferers there also is a prescription cream:  Aphthasol.

A traditional and helpful prescription ointment is Kenalog in Orabase.

The Carrington Patch (acemannan hydrogel patch contains a form of aloe vera) has been reported to provide relief.

Some people find help by taking Lysine.

Additionally, some people are sensitive to a common ingredient in most toothpaste called sodium lauryl sulfate that can cause canker sores.  An excellent toothpaste (without SLS) to use for people sensitive to SLS is Biotene.

The key is to find the solution that works for you.