Before taking any medications ask your doctor and parent if you are younger so you know the correct dosages for age, weight, etc. and to make sure it goes with any other meds you may be taking for something else.
I have had cold sores since I was a child. Age 19 they were really bad and I decided to do research. I have learned a lot over the years by experience, internet medical pages and internet forums where others share experiences they have. I now have learned what to do to keep them minimal and when I do get them they are smaller and heal fast. I will share that with you now.
The most important thing is to keep your lips healthy. Avoid using chapstick, blistex, carmex, lipstick etc. They tend to dry the lips out. I find that using 100% clear aloe vera gel on the lips every day a thin layer and then put a thin 100% pure vaseline on top of that. When applying anything to lips use a Q-tip. Never touch the Q-tip to your lip and then back into the container. Never share with anyone. You can buy the Q-Tips and Vaseline at the dollar store. They sell small tubs in the lip balm section of your store too.
The second very, very almost as important thing is to keep the Lysine level in your body high. How do you do this? First thing is to take Lysine tablets. These are bought in the vitamin isle in your local grocery, pharmacy, walmart, vitamin stores, or online. Since I take this every day I buy it at Puritan Pride online. They always have buy 2 get 3 free sales, super cheap. Also they have a rapid release one which is even better for quick healing of a cold sore. Also its pure, some companies use additives so I like to know its pure and rapid release. I am an adult. I take 1000 mg a daily every day of my life. Now the 1000 mg tablets are huge and hard for me to swallow so I buy the 500 mg tablets and take 2 every night. When I get a tingle of possible cold sore I will take an addition pill right away. If I actually get a cold sore I will take 3000 mg a day, not all at once but spread out. Always before taking medications discuss with your doctor and or parent. Another way to keep your Lysine level high is to eat foods high in Lysine. You can find these lists online. Keeping your Lysine levels high in your body will cause less cold sores and when you get them smaller quicker healing ones. In order for your Lysine level to help you you must at all costs avoid high arginine foods. These cause cold sores. Again you can find lists of these foods online. Nuts, grains are a one major one. Do not eat nuts.
Another thing that helps cold sores heal quick is Zinc. I am not sure if its good to take zinc tablets every day. You can discuss that with your doctor. If I feel a tingle or get a cold sore I take a zinc tablet daily with my Lysine treatment just when I have a sore.
Another thing to note is the less you mess with a cold sore when its is first developing the best. What I do besides taking the Lysine and Zinc is apply Lysine ointment or Super Lysine, both bought at Puritan Pride. Apply a bit of that and then put Neosporin Plus Pain on it. The Plus Pain part of that takes away that itch crawly feeling and the Neosporin part of it makes it start drying up as its trying to grow so it stops spreading.
Also there are several things called triggers that can make a cold sore come out. Different people have different triggers but here are some common ones:
1. The sun. If I am just out in the sun for 20 minutes I will get a cold sore. Lip SPF was tried and did not work. Also no tanning beds.
2. High arginine foods as I described above. Avoid these at all costs.
3. A lot of caffeine. I do okay with coffee and pop but avoid those high calorie drinks they sell.
4. Super spicy things like flaming hot cheetos.
5. Sour candy like warheads etc and sweetarts.
6. Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges and any drinks made with them like orange juice. Also avoid white and yellow soda brands like 7 up and mountain dew.
7. Alcohol. Beer causes cold sores and some people with hard liquor. I do fine with wine. Beer is not good for me.
8. Stress. Hard to avoid but if you are going through a stressful time take a bit of extra Lysine.
9. Menstruation. Cannot avoid this however keep a calendar and on it right down your periods and any cold sores you get. If you seem to get cold sores around the time of your period, then you can take extra lysine the week before your period to avoid this.
10. Chapped lips. Treatment as above plus a room size humidifier in the bedroom to run while you sleep is great. It puts moisture in the air. Very important to do this in winter months when the heat is on. Before going outside especially in windy weather put on some vaseline. Also avoid being like in a hot car where the heat is blowing. Changes in temperature like weather and even a hot car can trigger them.
11. Season changes, weather changes.
12. Illness. Having an illness. This puts stress on the body, lowers your immune system. If you get a bad cold or illness take an extra Lysine.
If you get a cold sore, try to think what you could have done to get it, what have your been eating, what have you been doing and see if you can figure out what might have caused it so you cand avoid it.
Lastly there are medications your doctor can prescribe you for cold sores. Some can be taking daily, some when you get a cold sore. I tried one (Valtrex) years ago and tried to take it every day but it made my throat hurt so I stopped it. There may be newer ones out there so you can look into that if you want. I dont like to do that myself.
Also to learn more about cold sores I always go to Mayo Clinic website. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/basics/definition/con-20021310