Cold sores - AARRRGH - advice please :)

[SamiH]

Hiya ladies

I have had a cold off and on and just fiddly sinuses since being pregnant.

With all the rubbing of my poor little nose, I have developed a lovely little cluster of cold sores under one of my nostrils (just little - FOR NOW ). I have just discovered a couple of little ones on the corner of my mouth too - BoooHooBooHoo

So, automatically reached for the Zovirax ...

Is it a Yes or No in preg? I threw out the box ages ago - and what else can I use to contain the litle buggers?

It's always something isn't it!

Oh, my bestie had a bubba 2 days ago and I visited again today but didn't snuggle her cos of the stupid blisters - and she is just so cute. I hope the other day after she had just been born I didn't pass the virus on - what a curse!

Thanks in advance

[catherinemoses]

I have no idea but if I was you I would call a pharmacy. I'd be surprised if you couldn't use it but you never know huh? HTH

[aussienic]

Its a no for pregnancy and I think breastfeeding as well..

I found a fantastic little cream last month when my whole bottom lip got covered in a cold sore..

CARMEX. It is brilliant and can be used when BF so I assume pregnant as well but always double check..

I swear it is the best thing you will ever buy.. and its cheap...

and it can be used whenever not just at the very start of a cold sore.. and seriously my festy looking lip went down within 10 mins of using is (coldsore was 4 days old) and was completely gone within 48 hours (mine usually last well over a week)

[saslia]

Its a no for pregnancy and I think breastfeeding as well..

I found a fantastic little cream last month when my whole bottom lip got covered in a cold sore..

CARMEX. It is brilliant and can be used when BF so I assume pregnant as well but always double check..

I swear it is the best thing you will ever buy.. and its cheap...

and it can be used whenever not just at the very start of a cold sore.. and seriously my festy looking lip went down within 10 mins of using is (coldsore was 4 days old) and was completely gone within 48 hours (mine usually last well over a week)

I second this both for cold sores and just dry lips. DD uses it quite a bit and is much better value than other treatments.

[SamiH]

Thank you so much

I was just so busy today and didn't get a chance to get to the pharm - not thinking I shouldn't use Zovirax until I got home - so I know what is on my shopping list for tomorrow - I assume just from pharmacy??

[mummy of many]

This is an old remedy that my Nanna used,good old Vegemite! it stings abit when you put it on, night time is best for obvious reasons lol,but by the morning they will be 100% better.

[Liviam]

I second Carmex. It's fantastic and is okay to use when pg and b/f. I'm going to try vegemite now. I love trying new remedies. Anything I can do to get rid of the ugly feral things.

[SamiH]

Vegemite hey - lucky I have dark pillow cases ....

Seeing as I can't get Carmex until tomorrow I will try some tonight and report back tomorrow I hope I don't have to rush out of the house for any reason - will just look like a big pregger woman been raiding the pantry at midnight

[aussienic]

I will try the vegemite too next time.. just curious if it will work for me..

oh and yes to the pharmac for Carmex and where i get it from it is under $6

just when using it only dip once per finger kwim?? so as not to infect the cream lol

[Liviam]

I use ear cleaners to put the carmex on my cold sore that way you are infected the cream and it's not touching your hands just in case you don't clean them well enough so you don't spread your coldsores either. I'm border line OCD with coldsore cream application though.

[mum3girls]

If you've got access, Aloe Vera is brilliant.

[belfie]

that's fascinating about the Vegemite, can't wait to hear if it works Samih. And I'm just thinking...

We're happy little Vegemites
As bright as bright can be.
We all enjoy our Vegemite
For breakfast, lunch, and tea.
Our mother says we're growing
stronger every single week.
Because we love our Vegemite.
We all adore our Vegemite.
It puts a rose in every cheek!

That'll make sure you've well & truly got that 2nd trimester glow, with vegemite smeared on your face!! Tehehehehehe!

[XRMummy]

i got coldsores after coldsores when i was pregnant with DS and the only thing my chemist would give me was a pack of tablets that were full of vitamins and it did the trick they cleared up in a day or two i cant remeber the name of them but...... im now about to see my Dr as you can get an injection to prevent coldsores

[canberramomma]

On the natural remedy front, thuja, tea tree and lavender are all excellent as are aloe vera (which has already been mentioned) and callendullar (sp?).

[Liviam]

Lysinne can be used for cold sore relief but I'm not sure if they can be used during pregnancy.

[Lozza]

hi i suffer badly with cold sores and have had a lot more during my pregnancy im 33 weeks so i went to the doctors to ask about what i can use. There is no coldsore cream that is safe. It hasn't been proven that it is safe, Which gave me my answer not to use it, but what i have done is bought some alcohol swabs from the chemist which is fine to use. i think there about 25c for 5 and just kept applying them on it till it went, usually its gone within 5 days and its safe.i rang 3 different chemists about the coldsore cream and they all gave me different answers so thats why i went to the doc.she actually looked the info up. i hope this helps

[STARRYSKY]

I work in a pharmacy and as a pharmacy assistant was disgusted when zovirax became an open seller (available in supermarkets) as it is not safe for use in pregnancy and can cause birth defects.
what checkout chick is going to tell you that?

[SamiH]

Well I tried the vegemite - it dried up the little ones under my nose, but not on the corner of my mouth - DH reckons cos I drool during the night and it stays moist probably some truth in that.

carmex has done the job - thank you