The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by SG (Bakersfield, CA) on 05/25/2006
It says on your website to let you know if I experienced a connection between aspartame and herpes sores. Here's my story: Sometime around 9 years ago, I started having pain around my genital area. There was never anything visible, or anything that seemed to trigger it. It was generally not painful unless I had sex. I went to doctor after doctor. Each one tested me for everything, and then told me I didn't have any STDs--that maybe it was an allergic reaction or some other skin problem. This went on for EIGHT YEARS. Last November, after moving to a different city and starting a diet, I developed incredibly painful sores, so bad that I couldn't walk. I went to the emergency room. The attendants took cultures and blood samples, and sent me home. When I got my little postcard in the mail, it said that the blood test was positive for herpes. HERPES!? It's been 9 years and this is the first diagnose-able outbreak? After that, I kept having painful outbreaks. All the time. And I couldn't figure out what the difference was between 8 years of almost completely dormant and Attack of the Evil Vicious Viruses. Tonight, I was researching into ways to ease a friend's Lupus symptoms and ran across this website, saying that there is a link between aspartame and herpes... LIGHT BULB!! THANK YOU!! The outbreaks started happening soon after I started our household on a health-conscious diet. We started with drinking only water, but eventually we started drinking "diet" energy drinks, containing... guess what? I'll keep ya posted.
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Jennifer (San Diego) on 05/25/2006
★★★★★
I haven't been able to really find any other explanations or any information regarding this on the web but I have been on a low carb diet for 2 years now. I do consume splenda and aspartame (although I try to avoid aspartame) but since starting my low carb diet I have been breakout free. Prior to going low carb I typically had 5-6 breakouts a year for the 5 prior years I had the virus. Low carb diets have an effect on how your body metabolizes splenda and aspartame which may be why these have not caused more breakouts for me. I also know that a high-protein diet is high in natural l-lysine so that may be what has helped to stop the breakouts. The amazing thing is that although I have tested positive for years, I have been tested twice in the last six months and tested negative for the virus both times, which I am told is rare, but possible. I'm not getting too excited about those results just yet - but if anyone has had a similar experience I would LOVE to know!
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Layla (Australia) on 07/16/2013
Did you have genetal or oral herpes?
Dietary Recommendations
Posted by Layla (Melbourne) on 07/16/2013
Have you had another test done recently and was it a blood test? What did your low-carb diet consist of exactly?
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Lexi (Los Angeles) on 05/25/2006
★★★★★
i wanted to post a cure for cold sores... i tried a combo of just about everything on the board and it worked! i was diligent but did add one thing, Oregano Oil directly to the tiny sore on my lip. this was my regimen: oregano oil followed by lysine drops - directly on the sore. i took supplements of vitamin C, a Multi, Olive Leaf Extract, Grapeseed Extract, Lysine, Zinc, Echinacea and Golden Seal and an Oxygen supplement (like Cell Food) to my water. sometimes i put the drops of oxygen on the sore as well. i kept it very clean with hydrogen peroxide and then would do another round of oregano oil and lysine drops on it. i would then use grapeseed oil so my lip wouldn't get over dry. also, put some oregano oil drops on your tongue. be diligent. don't drink alcohol, be as healthy as you can -- work out, do yoga whatever works for you... stay positive and i swear, you can stop it before anyone even notices what it is.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Tara (Columbia MD) on 05/24/2006
I totally agree that aspartame can trigger outbreaks. I love yogurt which I eat daily. When I went on this website, I see where it says avoid aspartame. I usually don't have outbreaks often but since I have been eating yogurt I noticed more frequent outbreaks. I didn't know why these outcoming were coming back but now I see why.
Acetone
Posted by Anonymous Birthday Girl (Newark, Nj) on 05/29/2012
Hi everyone, I got a cold sore today without tingling, just kind of burning and a bit of itching, and then all of a sudden a bunch of small bumps on my mouth. I have been taking Lysine for over a year since my last outbreak, so I have a feeling it will not be as bad as it was in the past. BUT, my birthday is in 2 days and its a milestone age, so desperate for solutions, I found this site. I just bought the acetone nail polish remover... I'm skeptical about its use but willing to try anything! Just have one question, this may sound kinda dumb, but are you supposed to wash it off a few minutes after you use it, or just let it stay on your skin? If you eat or drink throughout the day, couldn't drops of it get in your mouth if the area gets wet? Thanks!
L-Lysine
Posted by Earthclinicrocks (Melbourne, Australia) on 08/22/2013
Beware of using hemorrhoid creams. Many contain Hydrocortisone, a steroid that reduces inflammation. It does this by reducing the immune response in that area. This is exactly the opposite of what we want to achieve. Clinically tested products like an infrared device work by enhancing the immune response, not suppressing it. Using a hydrocortisone cream in any viral, fungal or bacterial infection is likely to have dire consequences.
The ingredient that may assist in healing is zinc, contained in some hemorrhoid creams. It is also available in many other forms (nappy rash creams, for example) which do not contain Hydrocortisone.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Kay (NJ) on 04/02/2006
I have been dieting for 6 weeks now. I usually use organic sugar, but switched to Splenda. My outbreaks and constant prodrome were unbelievable. I normally get about 4-6 outbreaks a year. I must have had 4 in one month. After reading about Splenda and herpes, I can only conclude this is the reason.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Lyn (Orange City, FL) on 02/10/2006
i drink a lot of unsweetened tea and add sweet and low. i also drink a lot and i mean a lot of diet products and my outbreaks are one right after another. my doctors are stunned. i'm gonna try going without to see if it works. i will let you know!
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Chanel (Des Plaines IL) on 02/07/2006
I am glad I came upon this website because I just started drinking the new diet cherry vanilla dr pepper and that morning felt my lip itching and it has been years since I have had a cold sore. I did not realize it was from this drink.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Walley (Spring Valley) on 01/22/2006
I recently started chewing sugarless gum because of a low carb diet. I experienced one of my worst herpes outbreaks in years around that same period, it may be related to
aspartame.
Artificial Sweetener Link to Herpes
Posted by Mary (Chicago, IL) on 01/07/2006
Ok, yesterday I had lunch with a friend. I asked her to bring me a diet something. It was COKE or Pepsi. Later that evening around 8pm. I felt the sensation of an outbreak. This was not oral. I cannot believe what I have just read. Thank you for the information. I will never drink or eat anything containing a sugar substitute.
L-Lysine
Posted by Maria (New Jersey)
★★★★★
I used to have back to back cold sores. Neither over-the-counter nor prescribed medications worked for me. I discovered L-Lysine. It is excellent. I try to take one daily on an empty stomach. If I get lazy and the tingle of a cold sore starts, I take several for a day or so. The sore does not breaks out, but can still be painful .Though not a cure, L-Lysine is the very best possible preventative. All my family with the same malady have had equally great results.
L-Lysine
Posted by Liz (Louisville, KY)
★★★★★
I had frequent outbreaks of cold sores and my dentist recommended I take Lysine. Since I started taking 1000 mg Lysine daily, I have not had a single cold sore in years.
L-Lysine
Posted by Tina (Weiser, ID)
★★★★★
When I was a child I used to always get cold sores on the corner of my mouth, when I was 12 I had this really bad one and I had used Blistex (for cold sores) well, instead it caused it to spread even larger and I ended up with a large outbreak all over my lips, horrible for a 12 year old girl. So my mom heard about Lysine, I took the tablets, and in about 2-3 days they were all gone and believe it or not I have never had a cold sore since (now I am 26) So yes, I believe in the Lysine treatment 100%.
L-Lysine
Posted by Rein (Gatineau Quebec Canada, [email protected]) on 09/01/2010
Hi Tina, If your herpes never really came back again without continous preventive treatment, then this Blistex must have something to do with it, synergy ? Or it made your body react so accute or it may have overwhelmed the virus so strongly together with Lysine so it didn't survive, what chemical it might have been? There are so many varieties of Blistex now? Reinhold from Germany in Canada
Lavender Oil
Posted by D (NJ)
★★★★★
I control hsv2 outbreaks with healthy diet and exercise. Exercise helps me to relieve stress, thus keeping outbreaks at bay since stress is a major factor in having outbreaks (for me). When I feel an outbreak coming on I apply lavender oil to the area that tingles and within hours the feeling is gone and no outbreak occurs. I've had the same success using tea tree oil. Believe it or not, on an established sore, neither oil hurts, but rather relieves the itch and pain and speeds up the healing process. I've also used lysine supplements as well as an echinacea and goldenseal combo while pregnant.
Garlic
Posted by Bobby (Houston, TX)
★★★★★
crushed garlic (it burns) on an outbreak works! You won't believe the results and how fast the ulcer heals.
Hydrogen Peroxide and DMSO
Posted by Thea (US) on 06/14/2022
What exactly is the protocol? Do I apply HP then DMSO topically or are they to be taken internally? Thanks
Hydrogen Peroxide and DMSO
Posted by Rob (SRB, FL) on 02/19/2009
I have had a terrible time with Cold Sores on my lower lip. I noticed a couple of posts about the cure listed above. Is there anyway to contact these individuals about their results? Thanks in advance!
EC: People generally don't send in their email addresses on herpes feedback. Best to leave your questions here in case they return!
Acetone
Posted by Mysti (USA)
★★★★★
This was for oral herpes - I simply put acetone polish remover on it at night. When I wake up it's usually gone. It burns incredibly bad but hey, the sore is gone.
Acetone
Posted by Frosty (Atlanta, GA) on 06/15/2008
★★★★★
I fully agree. This actually works. Thanks everyone for their remedies.. im surprised they work but very thankful!
Acetone
Posted by Nina (Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada) on 10/10/2008
★★★★★
Just had an GH outbreak after going 9 years without one! It was a small cluster on the outside labia (not on the mucous membrane) I was devastated and didnt want to have to go through weeks of pain. I was willing to try anything, and i did! I tried the acetone remover trick and IT WORKED. I pressed a q tip to the small cluster of sores that had not broken open yet, about 10 times yesterday and kept the area VERY DRY with cornstarch all day and night. Today, they are healing over and almost gone! they didnt break open, they didnt scab over, they didnt get any bigger...they are healing and almost gone. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Acetone
Posted by David (New York City, Ny) on 05/03/2010
★★★★★
Acetone Nail Polish Remover is now my best friend. It works wonders! As soon as you start getting that tingly feeling, put some on with a q-tip or some cotton swab. It burns a bit. But you can really feel it work. I kept doing this for about 5 minutes every couple of hours and what used to be a cold sore from hell that lasted at least two weeks is now a tiny mark that lasted only a couple of days. This really works! Thank you SO much!
