Cornflake Girl (Zovirax)

Member Name: star500

Product:	Zovirax
Date:	18/12/02 (2237 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can stop a cold sore coming out, Simple to use

Disadvantages: Expensive but worth every penny

I suppose Cornflake Girl is a strange title for a review about Zovirax, but believe me, it is a very apt name for me when I have a cold sore because basically it looks like I've got a cornflake stuck on my upper lip.

Cold sores - the bane of my life. Some people find that sunlight triggers them, some find that cold weather triggers them . For me, arranging a good night out with my mates triggers them. Come rain or shine, if I'm going somewhere special, have just met a potential boyfriend or have a presentation to do at work then my ever so trusty cold sore appears.

With that, I become "Cornflake Girl" and have the superhero powers to scare people away (ooh, yuck, what?s that?); stop men from spending time with me (you're not coming near me with that thing on your lip) and am treated like a leper (the green towel is yours - don't use mine and don't even think of drinking out of my good Winnie the Pooh cup!).

Before I go on to discuss Zovirax, I suppose I'd better tell you a bit about Cold Sores first as it will make my review about Zovirax a bit easier to understand.


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~~ So what exactly is a cold sore anyway? ~~

A cold sore is actually an infection cause by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It usually appears on or around the lips although people can sometimes get them around or just inside their nose. They can also be found in the eyes but this is uncommon and should be referred immediately to a doctor.

You can catch a cold sore by being in contact with an infected person. It is commonly caught by kissing (as most cold sores affect the lips) although it can also be caught by using the same cutlery, cups or towel as somebody else.

Unfortunately, once you have caught your first cold sore, you pretty much have them for life as the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells and flares up every now and t
hen. I, along with many people, find that my cold sore appears in pretty much the same place all the time as it stays localised in one part of the nerve. However, they are very easily spread to other areas especially if they weep or bleed.

They can sometimes be triggered by UV light (bright sunlight), cold weather or stress. Some people get them when they have a cold or flu or are feeling run down and a few women may get them at certain "times of the month". You may be unfortunate enough to get one every couple of months - you may not get them for years or you might be one of the lucky people that have only ever had it once and never had one again.


~~ So what do they look like? ~~

Like a cornflake on your lip!!

No, seriously, they usually start off as a tingling or itching feeling eg. on the lip. After a while, the area becomes red, almost as if a spot is starting. The red area becomes raised and feels uncomfortable. If you look closely (eg in a magnifying mirror) you will see that it is made up of tiny "water blisters" (usually about 8 or so) all clustered together. After a while, the cold sore takes on its characteristic honey coloured crust which does, really, look a bit like a piece of cornflake.

It is also very painful to touch and feels quite hot and uncomfortable at times. If the crust comes off, it can bleed and weep and generally doesn't look very nice.


~~ OK, I've got one, what do I do? ~~

Whatever you do, don't pick the scab off as not only will it be very sore but it will increase the chance of spreading the infection.

Although cold sores should disappear themselves in around ten days, certain creams on the market are available to help them clear up quicker (eg Zovirax which I will talk about later). There are also other creams such as Cymex and Blistex (formerly Blisteze) which help soothe the cold sore and stop it from drying
out.

You should be very careful when washing and drying your face as you may inadvertently pull the scab off. Always remember to thoroughly wash your hands after touching the sore to minimise the spread of infection.

It is also worth avoiding sharing towels, cups, cutlery, etc with other people to avoid passing it on and remember that kissing (be it lips or other parts of the body!) can spread the virus very easily.

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Now to Zovirax - officially my best friend in the world (well, when it comes to cold sores anyway!)

As I am a regular sufferer, I always make sure that I carry a tube of Zovirax around with me in my bag as I never know when I will get that characteristic "tingle" on my top lip. I am one of the lucky ones that does get this tingle warning (some people don't or don't realise what it is) and as soon as I feel it, I put Zovirax on straight away.

If you catch a cold sore early enough, Zovirax is strong enough to prevent it from coming out completely. You can use it five times a day for five days and this should be enough to stop it. To be honest, I find that only using it for a couple of days is enough to prevent it but the manufacturers do recommend five days.

Sometimes you may be unfortunate enough to miss the tingle stage and the cold sore starts to come out. It still isn't too late to put on Zovirax as it can cut down the healing time by a few days. However Zovirax is quite expensive and if the cold sore has already come out, many people opt for the cheaper Cymex or Blistex to soothe and moisturise it.

Zovirax works on cold sores because it contains the active ingredient Aciclovir in a 5% w/w concentration. Aciclovir is an anti-viral agent and stops the Herpes Simplex Virus from replicating and forming the cold sore. This is why it is best to use it as soon as you feel the sore coming out.


Aciclovir itself is very potent but is safe to use as it only affects cells which are have HSV - it has no effect on healthy cells and thus you shouldn't suffer any side effects. Sometimes, I have found that it tingles a bit when you put it on and can make the skin a bit dry but this is a normal reaction and shows that it is doing its job.

However, there will always be a few people who experience side effects from any medication so, courtesy of the information leaflet supplied with my tube of Zovirax, the makers, GlaxoSmithKLine state:

"A very few people may be allergic/sensitive to Zovirax. There have been rare reports of allergic reactions including swelling, especially of the lips, face and/or eyelids; skin rashes or weals. If you experience any of these symptoms check with your doctor immediately and do not use the cream any more unless your doctor or pharmacist tells you to do so."

I, and other members of my family and friends, have been using Zovirax for years and have never suffered any ill effects but that is not to say that you won't.

Zovirax has a "Pharmacy Only" licence which means that you have to ask for it in chemists behind the counter. You will probably be asked several questions before it will be sold and it can only be used on the face. Herpes infections in the eyes or the genitals should always be referred to your doctor and your pharmacist will not sell it for that purpose.

Similarly you can not buy it for young children or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Those who have a compromised immune system (eg because of disease or other medication such as steroids) will also be referred to their doctor as viral infections in these people can become serious if not treated properly.

If you have a cold sore which has lasted for longer than ten days without showing any signs of healing or the infection becomes very severe (eg several cold sores at on
ce that are persisting) it is also recommended that you see your doctor as you may need some anti-viral tablets to help clear them up.

And now the bit you have all been waiting for - the price!!

Yes, Zovirax is very expensive: £5.89 for a 2g tube or £5.95 for a 2g pump (exactly the same in terms of content but the pump is less messy that the tiny tube).

However, a tube will last a while as you only need a tiny amount to dab on each cold sore. There are other brands of cold sore creams on the market which also contain 5% aciclovir and which are cheaper than Zovirax. One of these is Soothelip which has exactly the same ingredients and product license as Zovirax but works out at about £1 cheaper (not all chemists stock this brand as Zovirax is so popular). I believe that Boots also have their own brand version called "Avert".

Zovirax was the first company on the market to get an over-the-counter license and has a loyal following. It also spends £millions on advertising and increasing consumer awareness and thus the price tag is quite hefty.

But I hate being Cornflake Girl and I am quite happy to pay the money for anything that will rid me of my cold sores!!



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The information in this review is based on my own experience and knowledge and should not be taken as definitive medical advice. What I have found to be suitable for me may not always be suitable for you. Remember, you should always check with your pharmacist before using any over-the-counter products especially if you are taking other medication, have underlying disease, are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Thank you for reading.

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