Cold sores are fairly common & usually nothing to worry about. Here’s everything you need to know, from causes to treatment options Eat soft, cool foods such as cold soups, jelly and yoghurt. Avoid acidic or salty food as they'll make your sores sting Take a painkiller like paracetamol to help control pain from cold sores – ask your pharmacist for advice as not all painkillers are suitable for everyone

Creams can be greasy and leave noticeable residue but aside from a temporary red mark HERPOtherm has no other trace. Plus, it can be kept in your bag for when you need it without fear of it leaking! HERPOtherm’s thermotherapy can stop the cold sore blister developing at all if you apply it early enough or, if you apply it later, once the blister has formed, it may reduce the severity of the symptoms, or they may fade sooner. ( Here’s a study about it.)

Summary

Some other things people try and recommend are honey, green tea, normal tea but I found these never really had much effect. Cold sores can happen at any time, so keeping the device with you wherever you go means you can use it at the first sign of a sore, or throughout the cycle of a blister. Plus, it only takes a few seconds to work each time, so it’s even faster than most over-the-counter creams that need time to penetrate the skin fully. Herpotherm has been tested under using a cohort of 103 patients against topical acyclovir, the ingredient commonly used in cold sore treatment creams. The results showed that localized heat transfer from Herpotherm was more effective in reducing the symptoms of cold sores than acyclovir cream and accelerated the healing time of symptoms by 50%. Study: Wohlrab J, et al., Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology 2013, 6:263-271). How does Herpotherm Device work? Early blister symptoms are tingling, itching or burning sensations on or around the lip/s several hours or days before the blisters begin to appear. Once you’ve had cold sores multiple times, you will become used to the symptoms and know when’s best to break out your HERPOtherm medical device. Once you’ve experienced these initial symptoms, small, hard, painful spot appear and blisters begin to erupt. Is there proof that a HERPOtherm works?! Very often, you'll be able to manage symptoms on your own. However, make an appointment with your GP if you:

Herpotherm is a discreet and long-lasting alternative to conspicuous cold sore creams, ointments or patches. First thing, be prepared. When you feel a cold sore is coming on and the tingling starts you need everything required to treat it immediately. You don’t want to be waiting 8 hours until you finish work to get to the pharmacy. So ensure you have Zovirax on-hand pretty much anywhere you go, keep a tube at home and at work/in your car so there is always one within reach. Looking for a cold sore treatment that doesn’t involve any ingredients? Look no further than the long-lasting alternative to creams and patches, Herpotherm Cold Sore Treatment And Prevention Device. This patented medical device is designed to provide localized relief from the symptoms that commonly accompany cold sores, such as itching, burning, tingling, or tightness. Use it to treat active cold sores or to help prevent them from forming in the first place!If you’ve experienced cold sores before, you know your own warning signs better than anyone. The minute you start to feel those symptoms, start using the applicator. In some cases, you may be able actually to prevent an outbreak from happening. The sooner you start using it, the less likely it is that the cold sore will end up being severe. Even if you already have a blister, you can still use the device during any point of the cold sore’s lifespan. HERPOtherm works by concentrating heat on the affected area killing the virus beneath the skin before it emerges into a blister. HERPOtherm acts throught local thermotherapy. The heat of around 51 degrees centigrade has shown in tests it can influence the secretion of histamine and support the degradation of enzymes thereby reducing the inflammatory reaction.

It’s easy to get a bit skeptical about electronic products that are meant to take away skin imperfections, sores, or other health-related problems on the face. However, this device is completely safe for even sensitive skin. As with any product, though, there are some safety concerns to keep in mind as you use it regularly. Herpotherm (formerly called ‘Hot Kiss’is a one-of-a-kind at-home medical device that allows you to get rid of cold sores fast through a concentrated heat source. There are no additional ‘ingredients’ involved – everything you need is included in the device itself. Proven to reduce symptoms by up to 50% and treatment time by two days sooner in comparison with Aciclovir. Please leave a treatment interval of at least 2 mins between each application, and do not exceed a max number of 5 applications per hour on the same area of skin. Up to 100 uses before you need to replace the battery. Features of Herpotherm Cold Sore Treatment And Prevention Device:Antiviral tablets are also available but they're not often used to treat cold sores. You'll need a prescription from your GP to get these. Visit your GP if you're concerned about your cold sores, they will be able to advise on the most suitable treatment for you. The present local therapy approach indicates that Herpotherm ® can also be used for genital herpes and that it is well tolerated. In relation to other therapies using topical treatment for genital herpes, an extremely rapid reduction of pain on day 1 after the start of treatment as opposed to day 3–4 14 , 15 can be highlighted. Ramchandani M, Kong M, Tronstein E, et al. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Shedding in Tears, and Nasal and Oral Mucosa of Healthy Adults. Sexually transmitted diseases. 2016;43(12):756-760. doi:10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000522. Avoid passing on cold sores to others by avoiding kissing or sharing objects which touch the mouth. This is especially important with babies and other vulnerable people

I love reading about the science behind things like this and HERPOtherm works by killing the virus underneath the skin before the cold sore blister appears. You simply put the HERPOtherm pen against the affected area of skin, press a button and the tip heats to 51°C for 3 seconds before automatically switching off. It couldn’t be easier. The application of concentrated heat (local hyperthermia) is a physical mode of action based on a brief, concentrated application of heat to a small, limited area of the skin. Even a localised pulse of heat may be sufficient to relieve symptoms such as itching, burning, tingling or tightness. This means once the pen heats up to the right temperature, and is used on the spot where you start to feel a tingle, it uses that heat helping you to banish the nasty bits that cause the cold sore. If you’re plagued with cold sores, I totally feel your pain. They’re an absolute pest, especially at this time of year and there are so many over the counter treatments, but they’re not always effective. That’s particularly the case with active cold sores. Once you’ve got a cold sore that’s cropped up, there’s not a lot you can do unfortunately and with cold sores, it’s very much a prevention is better than cure which is where the HERPOtherm Cold Sore Treatment comes in. Okay, that’s a bit of and exaggeration, but it was definitely the worst cold sore that I’ve ever had. I don’t get them that often, and didn’t get any at all until I was in my 30s, but when they strike they go all out, guns blazing. Herpotherm has been tested under using a cohort of 103 patients against topical acyclovir, the ingredient commonly used in cold sore treatment creams. The results showed that localized heat transfer from Herpotherm was more effective in reducing the symptoms of cold sores than acyclovir cream and accelerated the healing time of symptoms by 50%. Study: Wohlrab J, et al., Clinical, Cosmetic, and Investigational Dermatology 2013, 6:263-271).It's important to be especially careful around people who have compromised immunity when you have cold sores. This includes people receiving chemotherapy. Otherwise known as the Herpes Simplex virus type 1, 90% of the European population carry it, but only 30% of carriers present with blisters. The typical cold sore can hang around for approximately 10 days, and can cause pain, swelling and even issues with eating. They are also highly contagious, and can be very dangerous to young babies, especially those under 4 weeks of age.