Cold sore

[SanG55]

Morning all and a Happy New Year to each and every one of you. I have a cold sore erupted on the side of my mouth, never had one before, just wondered if any of you lovely people have info that could explain this or help with eradication! I was diagnosed with PMR in April 2020 and am at present on 15mgs of Pred. Many, many thanks in advance. Have a lovely Sunday.

[SnazzyD]

Acyclovir cream as soon as possible after it appears or better still when you feel that tell tale sensation. As you are on Pred over 10mg do keep an eye. You may well be ok but if it seems to be spreading away from your lips seek medical help. Once you have the Herpes Simplex virus in your body, even from way back, it can lie dormant in the nerve endings and erupt when conditions allow like being tired, below parr or stressed. Left alone or not treated quickly enough, they run their own course over 7-14 days.

Are you sure it is a cold sore and not cracking like in cheilitis?

webmd.com/oral-health/angul...

Watch for secondary infection but you’ll soon know because it’ll spread more easily and become progressively more sore and red instead of subsiding in a few days. Keep an eye out for possible Staphylococcus infection which can mimic cold sores in their crust phase which is often the most uncomfortable bit. Again it’ll keep developing instead of easing off after a few days.

webmd.com/skin-problems-and...

[SanG55 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you so much

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Both the deranged immune system and the immuosuppression with pred could be what has caused the virus that causes cold sores to wake up. Virtually everyone carries the virus - all those kisses as a baby to blame - but it is mostly when your immune system is under attack that it can make its presence felt.

If you can get some coldsore cream it will help - acylovir is the most usual substance name and is really cheap as the generic version rather than paying for a brand name. I used to get very sore lips that heralded their arrival by tingling - I kept a tube of ceam in my handbag and if I used it immediately and repeating it several times for a few hours it stopped the soreness in its tracks.

[jinasc in reply to PMRpro]

Every year since I had flue (proper flu off work 6 weeks in my teens) I get a cold sore about Nov/Dec. I could not tell you the last time I had a cold. I just dab perfume on the first tingle and keep it up frequently. Don't know why but it works another old wives tale probably but it works for me. Had one end of October this year...........climate change?

Never knew until I read yours and Snazzy posts that they could cause so many problems. I live and learn.

[SanG55 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much

[SanG55 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much

[SanG55 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much

[herdysheep in reply to PMRpro]

obviously some advantages to being a little kissed baby!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to herdysheep]

Very true!