Question:
hi,

this is my first time on this forum but not my first time getting cold sores!

i'm quite worried/panicked because I'm 26 and have got cold sores fairly frequently all my life since i was little (2 or 3 times a year when i get colds/stressed).

about 3 weeks ago I got a REALLY big cold sore, not on my lip but near it, on my right side of my bottom lip. I put a liquid ointment on and it scabbed up fine, and i ran out of the liquid ointment and got a cream to put on it. I hardly picked it at all (as i usually pick at my cold sores somewhat but try not to!) i accidentally picked away the largest scab (and i can tell there is going to be a bit of a scar).

BUT anyways, it has been about 2 weeks or so since the scabbing has gone away and it has left an unsightly red/pink blotch on my face that hasn't gone away yet! i'm VERY self concious of it and i'm just wondering if it will be like that forever now? or will it fade eventually? i don't mind if i am left with a bit of scarring because that isn't as noticeable as a big red blotch!

At the moment I think i am still run down and have some kind of virus as my tongue looks very blotchy as well (like it has chunks out of it!) so i'm wondering if that is why the redness hasn't faded? Is this common?!?!

As i've said i've had cold sores all my life and as far as i can remember, they have all gone away fine even with picking(if for a bit of scarring that i can barely notice).

To begin with I was putting various skin healing ointments, and blistex and witch hazel (to help with the redness) with no avail! then I heard from someone that Vitamin E cream could help so i got that a few days ago. if there is any advice as to what could help i would be greatly appreciate it.

Can anyone please help and give me some advice and tell me i won't have the redness forever?!

Really Worried,

Arrawyn

Answer:
I'd see a doc about the tounge problem.

For the red/pink thing I may be able to help.I have rosacea so my face gets red alot.I use a cream called Diroseal from Avene.You can probably ask for a sample of this any shop that sells it.It's a green cream that takes away the redness.you can probably also cover it with make-up.

Good luck!!

Answer:
I have fair skin and therefore scar very easily. This used to bother me a lot when I was younger so I tried many things to get rid of scars. Vitamin E did not do much for me, but everyone is differnt. I have heard coco butter helps, but again, it didn't do much for me personally. The best thing I've tried is something called Mederma (don't know if spelled right)-my dermotologist gave it to me so I think you might need a perscription for it-its a gel that comes in a tube and you put it on twice a day and it helps fade the scarring. Also, if you are really selfconcious- for the time being you may try this make up called derma-blend its REALLY thick/heavy and I used to use it to cover some of mine, don't know where you can get it anymore though. Hope this helps you!