cold sore?

[Lovernotkiller]

Question, i have this thing on my lip thats like a zit but i cant tell, it's usually white(except when it comes off , OUCH ) . Just wanna make sure i didnt contract anything. So i was wondering, how many different kinds of things could be on your lip thats white?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[Cathleen]

No idea. Does it hurt? Has it been there long? Have you used any ointment on it? Does it sometimes 'crack'? Could be a cold sore but they're not usually white I don't think. A canka sore? Have you had any virus' this winter?

I know, I'm so full of questions.

 

[SweetErika]

You really need to see a doctor for a good diagnosis, Joe, and if there's a chance you might have contracted something, having a full STD screening (ask them to test for herpes specifically as well) is essential.

I can tell you cold sores/herpes sores sometimes start out looking like a whitehead pimple (or a little cluster of tiny ones), then progress to looking more like a blister or sore. [See photos below, though they're just typical examples] They also take about 8-14 days to heal, which is much longer than most pimples. They generally hurt, burn, tingle, itch, or sting, unlike pimples which just hurt. It's important not to touch anything that might be herpes and wash your hands frequently because they can spread easily to other parts of the face, eyes, and genitals. Herpes can be passed before, during, and after any symptoms are visible, and 50-80% of the population has oral herpes, so it's not hard to get.

http://www.visualsunlimited.com/images/watermarked/993/99308.jpg
http://andoverdmd.com/images/cold-sore.jpg

 

[sailboatracer]

My wife who has "cold sores" sometimes, heard from her M.D. to try putting "ALUM", yeah the stuff you use in making pickles and makes your mouth pucker-up. We got a small bottle, today, in the "spice" aisle of the supermarket. She put some on the cold sore and it started to "dry-up" in about an hour and it hurt less! I will report again in a few days with a follow up.

 

[Lovernotkiller]

Hmm, the other day as i was eating something it seemed to pop and now i think it is a lil scarred over and healing now, it might have just been a random outbreak or something i ate or put near my mouth(i havent had sex for 6 months). The only thing i could think of that would be the cause of this mark on my lip besides a zit would be if someone had taken a drink from my bottle without me knowing that had a disease themselves, or if my dog got into something and when she gave me a kiss - got on my lips. But as i said, it's scarring over now, and (knock on wood lol ) there hasn't been any others.

Thanks, i'm gonna see how this turns out and if it doesn't go away, or there are more, im going to repost this and try finding out what it is/ go see my doctor.

Thanks again(especially for the pics(myn doesn't really look like that, its barely noticable unless if i open my mouth)),
Joe

 

[SweetErika]

Hmm, the other day as i was eating something it seemed to pop and now i think it is a lil scarred over and healing now, it might have just been a random outbreak or something i ate or put near my mouth(i havent had sex for 6 months). The only thing i could think of that would be the cause of this mark on my lip besides a zit would be if someone had taken a drink from my bottle without me knowing that had a disease themselves, or if my dog got into something and when she gave me a kiss - got on my lips. But as i said, it's scarring over now, and (knock on wood lol ) there hasn't been any others.

Thanks, i'm gonna see how this turns out and if it doesn't go away, or there are more, im going to repost this and try finding out what it is/ go see my doctor.

Thanks again(especially for the pics(myn doesn't really look like that, its barely noticable unless if i open my mouth)),
Joe

It doesn't matter how long it's been since you had sex since you can get HSV from kissing (or being kissed, like by a parent who has it), sharing a drink/food, or just about any kind of contact with someone who's infectious. Outbreaks usually get less frequent and severe over time, and some people carry it but only have one or no outbreaks. I have HSV 1 (and have since I was little...my mom probably gave it with a kiss as a toddler), and while I get cold sores very infrequently now and am always extremely careful to watch for them, my hubby has never had one; after 7+ years and swapping lots of kisses and fluids, he probably carries it but just has never become symptomatic.

If you do have it, there's not much you can do apart from treating the sores with OTC or prescription meds, being aware, completely honest with your partners, being careful, and not having unprotected sex (including oral, as it can spread to genitals). I only suggest a doctor because it's good to know you have it so you can take those precautions, and a couple of the prescription antivirals really help prevent and speed healing if you start taking them at the first sign.

 

[TBKahuna123]

I'm the same way, I've gotten cold sores since I was a kid. In fact I just had one a couple weeks ago for the first time in many years. It really sucked because I couldn't kiss my wife, absolute hell!

I use Carmex, though I'm sure there are some better ones out there. It defintiely took the pain away but I'm not sure it sped up the healing any.

 

[Kelstev]

Abreava works well for cold sores...speeds up the healing time.

 

[gingersfinger]

cold sores

A book called life extensions wrote by 2 drs,claim that if you take a capsule of BHT, which is a preservitive,when you 1st start to feel like your getting one will help,1 every day,Lysine helps too, you can find these things at a gnc or most drug stores. Alum can also be you'd in the vagina to make it tighter, don't have a recipe, Google it. Stress is the main cause of cold sores, Good Luck.

 

[SweetErika]

I'm the same way, I've gotten cold sores since I was a kid. In fact I just had one a couple weeks ago for the first time in many years. It really sucked because I couldn't kiss my wife, absolute hell!

I use Carmex, though I'm sure there are some better ones out there. It defintiely took the pain away but I'm not sure it sped up the healing any.

I think Carmex and the like are supposed to just temporarily numb the pain and keep them from drying out so much. According to my doctors, apart from supplements like Lysine and antiseptics such as Tea Tree Oil, the only OTC that will really help minimize the infection and speed healing is Abreva. The little tubes are expensive (a little less so at Costco and Walmart, I think), but last a long time and are worth it if you can only go the OTC route.

Next time you're at the doctor or dentist, ask for a prescription for Denavir and Zovirax or Valtrex. I keep both around all the time, and can usually greatly minimize/abort a full-blown sore by using them immediately. Gets me back to kissing faster!

 

[kalika]

*raises hand* I got mine from my dear old mum too

Using carmex on a cold sore the moment you feel it coming will speed up the healing time, for me at least. If I use it the sore is completely gone within 4 days, less if I catch it before it actually bubbles out. I use it at that deep itchy point when you know something is not quite right with your lips. If I put some on right then and there the closest it gets to being noticable is a tiny bump that only I can see in the mirror. It does make the pain of one a little less intense but it doesn't really do much on that front for me. I don't get them that often( only one in the last 7 years) but I don't think I could make it through it with out my carmex. I'm a total baby when it comes to any kind of pain, and those suckers can hurt!!

Kali

 

[Valcorie]

Blistex

Blistex the medicated chap stick works really well for me.

Definatly mention it to your doctor next time you happen to be there, they can do type specific HSV testing or just take a Q tip in the office and do a swab test to see if it is HSV (cold sores) It is pretty easy to get.

 

[TBKahuna123]

Gets me back to kissing faster!

That is the ultimate goal, yes. If anyone ever wants to reacquaint themelves with how sensual kissing can be, go without kissing your SO for about 5 days.

 

[sailboatracer]

A little late with the "follow-up" on putting alum on the open sore. One application dried it up by the next morning, it still tingled a bit but being "dried up" made it less sensitive to irritation, so she says.

It sounds like it helped some and had no ill effects.

YMMV!