That means I think it is UNFAIR, people.
I'm 43 years old. I still get pimples. Zits. Acne. Call it what you want. Not only do I still get pimples, I also get these foul, painful, deep cysts on my face brought on totally by hormones. Without too much detail, they are completely hormonal and have nothing to do with cleaning your face or having acne. They are a pain in the ass to get rid of unless I can get into the dermatologist for him to inject them. They last for weeks and leave a lump and occasionally a temporary scar. (Despite that, I don't look like scar face. My picture is right up there.)
My sweet friend Lela gets these, too. Just one more reason we are friends for life.
So in my opinion, that's enough of the ugly humiliations of skin disorders.
BUT NO. Tuesday was the day my body threw me another curve ball. For the first time in my life, I got a cold sore. WHAT THE HECK?? I thought it was an infection because it was right in the corner of my mouth and it had split right there. I've had a split there in the past that wouldn't heal for months and it finally took a regimen of tea tree oil to get it healed. So I thought it was coming back. I put some tea tree oil on it, but then it started blistering. I was sure I had some funky infection, spreading minute by minute. Of course since I didn't know what it was I kept touching it and spreading it around. Until I started reading about cold sores. Oh yeah, the descriptions fit to a tee:
It was sore a day before it split.
Triggers? Let's see: stress, hormones, lowered immune function. I had all of these VERY recently. There's all kinds of stress happening right now, I'm about to start my period (hence the cyst on my forehead) and I just finished a prednisone dose pack... which can lower your immune system function. I call that a triple whammy.
Sigh. Did you know that they think approximately 70% of adults carry the dormant herpes virus that causes cold sores? Only 30% actually get the sores. Yay me! (This is the herpes simplex 1, often spread by saliva or direct contact, that causes facial cold sores, not the herpes simplex 2, that causes genital sores) Most adults actually contracted the virus as children. Isn't that a special kind of present to give a kid!
Well, I'm not thrilled. Just sayin'. I did some reading and am trying some natural home remedies. Not just one, but several. I don't care if I don't know which one works, as long as one does. Because short of that, there's Abreva, which gets pretty poor reviews. And not only does it look bad, but it hurts like a bugger, too.
8-10 days. That's the average for healing. So if any of ya'll are blessed with this little gift, and you don't mind sharing what works for you, I'm all ears.
I promise I can't pass it to you through the internet. Hey, at least I didn't post a picture.
***Ally
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11 comments:
I've had cold sores now and then on my lips, but not often. I just wait for them to go away on their own. No special treatment.
At yes, even at my age I can get a zit, but they are few and far between. In my teen years though, they were all the time. Thank goodness those days are gone.
Hang in there. Soothing music, breathe, relax, breathe, relax.
Yeah Reliv for all you just mentioned including the cysts, whi9ch I call oil bumps cause if you pick at them just oily stuff comes out.
A simple scoop 2 times a day in any cold liquid has changed my life completely. No PMS, minimal if any pre period acne.. no cold sores none of it.. and I even lost weight and have way more energy, and less illness. Just shoot me an email if you want to know more hun
Ally, adult acne sucks! I've struggled with it more in the past few years than I ever did in high school. :( Just the other week, my dad said to me, Why is your face so broken out?
Anyway, I've been cursed with cold sores most of my life, too. I've never found a real good cure. Most otc remedies work the best at the very onset (i.e. before you even realize you've got one).
Good luck with the healing!
Fever blister. Ughhh.
Keep regular Burts Bees lip balm on hand. And if ever you feel a dry spot or a slight tingle, put on the Burts Bees.
It works for me. There's spearmint or something in there and it always prevents an outbreak.
Ugh! I know about the adult acne. Seriously?! Shouldn't we at least be done by 30?
As for the cold sore, have you seen the Office episode where they tell Michael it's herpes and Dwight tells him he has to call every old girlfriend and let them know he has herpes and ask if they gave it to him? Watch and laugh. :0)
Bummer!! That is not fun at all.
My husband gets these cold sores too. He takes Abreva the second he feels it coming on and that seems to nip it in the bud. But if he waits until it blossoms the meds take much longer.
Good luck with this one. I think a day of pampering is in order once it's cleared up!!
I knock on wood have never had one ever...but I have zits and I swear by Acne Free (knock off of proactiv)
I feel like pregnancy did this to me...just like the rest of my saggy wide parts :) Yes blame it on the kids
I had gorgeous, clear skin as a teen and then when I hit 35? Acne! So unfair. I use a retina cream now and it does a pretty good job at keeping my skin clear.
I've never had a cold sore(knocks wood) but my dad gets them all the time. I think the dr. gave him a prescription cream or maybe even a pill.
I am so sorry your body is being so mean and nasty. And the cold sore: you win the booby prize. I've been getting this since childhood. I had one the size of a pumpkin on my wedding day. And you'd think with all the cold sores I've had that I could give you some advice. Nope. None. Nada. Zip. Zilch.
Haven't had a cold sore in a couple years, but when I did I just waited for it to go away. It took a couple weeks. I still get a zit now and then. I don't wait when I get those....I pop 'em. Bad, I know. I like to live on the edge.
:-)
I totally want a picture :)
Poor thing
Now I am scared
I've never had one
I hope it's gone by now...since I'm a few days late on checking my reader ha ha
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