Cold sores woes. Sorry!

notanan2 thank you for that. It's not well known in the public sphere. The HSV-1 virus can be shed prior to the appearance of the active cold sore, too.

Please be safe rather than sorry around newborns.

Fennel I use tea tree oil at the first sign of that tingling feeling that tells me a cold sore is brewing, the little beggar never develops after that.

I never have the tingling announcing an approaching cold sore, although DH does. I just grin and bear them. They usually come with mouth ulcers and are a sign that I am run down, and oddly enough I usually get them after a stressful phase has ended.

My mother told me at the first tingle, put on either perfume or witch hazel or cider vinegar. That was when I was a teenager, however I was ill recently and a huge one developed on my top lip stretching up to my nose. I can only sympathise with those that get them regularly. I realised that in 3 weeks I had not put lipstick on or moisturised my lips, I am being extra careful from now on.