1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Herpes - Non Genital

My cold sore apears on my forehead, in the same place ev...

Posted , 20 users are following.

Guest
Guest

My cold sore apears on my forehead, in the same place every time. The first time I got it, it was the size of my hand, right down through my eye, and across my cheek. It was diagnosed as shingles. It appeared again,twelve months to the day. Again it was put down to shingles. On the third appearance, I was sent to a specialist, who diagnosed a cold sore. That was 16 years ago. I still get it, but now it is a lot smaller, and confined to my forehead. I find zovirax has little or no effect.

I cannot get it into my head, that given as it appears in the same place, nothing can be done either medicaly or surgically.

I dread it appearing. 'Have you bumped your head'? 'Have you burnt yourself'? Then when told it's a cold sore, the response is, 'I thought you got them on your lips'? The onlooker then never takes their eyes off the scab.

[i:12cae13c92]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:12cae13c92]

1 like, 21 replies

21 Replies

Next
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I have the same exact thing. My sore is relativly small, about the size of a quater, but is comes back every summer. That's when I sport a new hair style that includes bangs. :D

    I use an over-the-counter ointment (like abriva or such) right at the first tingle of it trying to show up, and that keeps it pretty under control, but still takes a few days to dry up. I will try the tea tree oil suggestion from a different logger and see it that does any better.

    [i:5960844d75]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:5960844d75]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I was just beginning to think the doctor was crazy!!! He told me my nine year old had a cold sore on his forehead and I thought he was just confused. The symptoms sounded right, but the only info I could find was about the mouth or genitals. This is the first place that provided any reassurance that this is possible. He's also been on Zovirax but it doesn't stop the outbreak and it doesn't shorten the duration. I'm going to try L-Lysine . It sounds promising. I hope something works soon because kids can be so cruel sad
    • april10005
      april10005 Guest

      Posted

      Hello! I'm wondering how your 9 year old has done with Lysine. I have a 9 yr old boy who has been getting severe cold sores since he was about 2. For the first time, he has one on his forehead! This seems crazy to me but I know that being out in the sun for too long was the trigger for this as he had a major break out of sores on his mouth along with it...poor buddy!! Wondering if the lysine has helped prevent breakouts for your child and if it's safe for their age along with what dosage you give? Thanks for any info...much appreciated
    • leny
      leny april10005

      Posted

      Hi april, I had a friend recommend lysine to me and it has been an absolute life changer! After trying so many different creams and ointments with no results im amazed at how well this actually works. I take it when i feel the tingle of a coldsore beginning and it stops the breakout. I havent had a coldsore for almost 2 years! They say you can take it as a daily supplement however im terrible at remembering to take medication and it still seems to effective taking it when needed. The recommended dose to stop breakouts is between 3000mg and 10000mg per day (3-10 tablets) i dont think its something you can overdose on, however because of your sons age i would maybe stick to the lower dose.

      I definitely thinks its worth a try. Its has seriously changed my life and i hope it does the same for your son smile best of luck

    • april10005
      april10005 leny

      Posted

      Hey leny!  Thanks for the info...much appreciated!  I am going to do a bit more research on lysine to make sure its ok for him to take it, but Im guessing because its a supplement, itll be just fine.  So glad to hear its helping you!  Hoping the same for my son.  Thanks again!
  • Jester_2050
    Jester_2050

    Posted

    For the past 5 years or so I have been getting a sore spot appear on top of my head. I do not have any hair in this area and it nearly always seems to be triggered after being in the sun. For example, I was in the sun on Wednesday and Friday evening the area starts to feel itchy, I do not itch it as I know from the past that this has caused an infection. The area then starts to swell and therefore my forehead and sometimes eyes get very tight. The area always breaks the skin and scabs. Along with this I get a painful enlarged node behind my right ear. I can never stop the skin breaking and have tried anti-inflammatory spray and antibiotic creams. I have seen the doctor about this a few times and he now thinks it may a cold sore!! On top of my head?? I would like to know how to contain this when it starts to itch and stop the skin from swelling and breaking.
  • leny
    leny

    Posted

    i have been getting a cold sore on my forehead for 16 years and if anything is getting worse. i have been hospitalized twice because of extreme swelling of my face especially around my eyes. mine is usually brought on by the sun, however is not limited so a specific time of year. it is incredibly painful and aggressive. i use zovirax, which according to family, speeds up the healing, however i am not convinced. i do not want to believe that there is nothing that can be done.
  • am11
    am11

    Posted

    OK- I have been getting these "infections on my forehead for about 15 years- my family doctor cut it twice and each time she did, it moved down further the next time-- Last year I went to a dermatologist and he took a look and said "it's an infection and we need to do surgery to cut it out"

    so today I went to a plastic surgeon - he is telling me it's a COLD SORE?? When it starts my right side of face burns and the limp nodes in front of my ear swell along with down the right side of my neck!!!

    I thought he was crazy today telling me it's a cold sore-- I am still waiting on the results from the swab but he was pretty sure that's what it is--- Said I will have to keep a certain medicine on hand and to take it as soon as I feel it coming on---ugh- I have never had a cold sore on my lip! He said it's possible someone had one and kissed me on my forehead--- just seems odd, but reading all the above comments I'll bet he's right

  • am11
    am11

    Posted

    lymph nodes --sorry
  • leah1969
    leah1969 Guest

    Posted

    I have get an out break of a cluster of blisters on the back of my left thigh. the first time was 2 years ago after I had Knee Replacement surgery. it's only about 2 inches long an 1 inch wide, painfull as can be....Dr thought is was shingles, but then a yr later it came back, then he decided it was a Herpes Virus ( like the cold sore ) and NOT Genital Herpes. well I got it again this yr. after having a Hystrectomy, so I'm guessing maybe their stress related ? does anyone else get them on their legs ?

    • max13176
      max13176 leah1969

      Posted

      Hi Leah. I'm not a doctor, but I have struggled with cold sores (herpes simplex) all my life. The best thing I have found that works great for me, and my family is Lycine, it's an amino acid that comes in a pill form. You can get it over the counter in the vitamin section of your pharmacy. Whenever I feel a cold sore coming on I take a couple of pills, and it stops it in its tracks. If you catch it too late and start taking it, it really lessens the time you have it. Hope this helps.

    • tresa43118
      tresa43118 leah1969

      Posted

      leah1969 I just registered with this site and was reading along and I agree and I have had Doctors also tell me that Herpes Zoster that I get on my forehead above my right eyebrow is STRESS and NERVES related because thats the only time I get a breakout and I have a large cluster now that broke out yesterday morning.  It has included my lymph node just below my ear this time to where I am having pain turning my head, and of course a stinking headache comes with it, the only other time I had it this large it was real bad I was going thru divorce and having to move back in with my parents no job and so on but i went to the E R that time it was swelled all the way down my face but on the left side I had never had it on the left side before, It is always on the rt side same exact spot ... MINE ARE ALWAYS DUE TO STRESS AND MY NERVES......SUX TOO.   I use tea tree oil most if the time it seams to dry it up quickly.
    • JamieB26
      JamieB26 leah1969

      Posted

      Hey Leah,

      I agree With Tresa's comment. I get it in the same exact place as her and I take Valacyclovir hcl when I have an outbreak. My dermatologist explained it to me and said that my outbreaks could be due to overexposure to sun, excessive amounts of stress, menstrual cycle, and other unknown factors. For me, it is stress and sun but I know it's different for everyone.

  • max13176
    max13176 Guest

    Posted

    Buy some lysine at the drug store in the vitamin section. It's an amino acid that stops cold sores in their tracks. Whenever I feel one coming on, I take a couple pills, and it goes away. It works great!

  • tlockmcfly
    tlockmcfly Guest

    Posted

    I have exactly the same thing and this is the first time I have found anything on the Internet about it affecting others in the same way.

    After being sun burnt last year and getting my annual forehead cold sore I applied some hydrocortisone (cortizone 10) to it. The healing time was dramatically reduced. I highly recommend it. It doesn't stop it completely but will stop the breakout getting much worse.

    I now always have a tube of it in my cupboard ready for when i get a normal cold sore or the forehead kind.

    If you try this and you find it helps please pass it on to other cold sore sufferers.

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.