Product Description Quantum's group of Super Lysine Plus Cream products are the standard by which other natural herpes simplex and/or cold sore management formulas are measured. Millions of satisfied users have made Super Lysine Plus Cream, America's # 1 choice at natural product stores nationwide for the prevention, treatment and ultra-quick relief of painful herpes simplex and/or cold sores. Cold sores / herpes simplex are caused by a virus that lives in your body and manifests itself from time to time as a small cluster of outbreaks. These are contagious. While the breakouts are unpredictable, certain factors can trigger their onset / occurrence. These include stress, minor infections, sun exposure, and foods like chocolate or nuts. What can you do? A strong immune system is vital to preventing outbreaks. Specific ingredients are known to bolster immune factors which suppress the outbreaks. Numerous studies in publications such as Dermatologica and the Journal of Medical Virology have shown the effectiveness of the amino acid lysine(Super Lysine Plus Cream). Our formulas go one step further with the addition of 15 key immune building herbs and nutrients. Super Lysine Plus Cream: A unique combination of herbs, amino acids and vitamins in a beeswax and olive oil base heals outbreaks ultra-fast while providing soothing relief. Combine taking the cream with the use of Super Lysine Plus Tablets for the most powerful effect - especially when dealing with cold sores. Users report that they take the tablets daily and increase dosage whenever symptoms are about to appear in order to prevent outbreaks. This popular system strength formula combines L-Lysine, Vitamins A & C and Garlic with herbal boosters including Echinacea, Propolis, Licorice and Golden Seal. Guaranteed Free of: Yeast, Wheat, Corn, Milk, Rye, Soy, Oats, Barley, Sugar, Starch, Preservatives, Artificial Color and Flavor. Where do cold sores usually from? Cold sores are usually found either: On or at the edge of a person's lip. On the facial skin near a person's mouth. With each new breakout cold sores typically form in essentially the same location as they have before. What do cold sores look like? Cold sores usually run their course in 8 to 12 days and take the following forms during the five stages outlined below: Day 1-2 : The Tingle stage. [The Prodrome Stage.] Usually a person's first indication that a cold sore is developing is that they notice a sense of soreness, tautness, or swelling in the location where their cold sore will ultimately form. Sometimes this same area will become slightly reddened. Day 2-3 : The Blister stage. The first readily visible sign of cold sore formation is an outbreak of fluid filled blisters. Usually these blisters are very small in size (smaller in diameter than the thickness of a dime) and they usually form in a cluster that is no larger than about the size of a nickel. Sometimes individual blisters coalesce with others so to form a single larger blister. Day 4 : The Weeping stage. [The Ulcer Stage.] Cold sore blisters usually rupture shortly after they have formed, leaving a shallow reddish ulceration whose surface becomes gray. This phase of cold sore's formation can be its most painful stage. This is also the stage at which a cold sore is most contagious. Days 5 - 8 : The Crusting stage. In those areas where the cold sore lesion is not kept wet by moisture from the mouth the ulcer will become dry and scab over with a brownish crust. The formation of this scabbing is often accompanied by an itching or burning sensation. Often the scab will crack or break, which in turn produces bleeding. Days 9 - 12 : The Final Healing stage. As time progresses so will the cold sore's healing. Usually a series of scabs will form on the lesion, each subsequently flaking off. Each new scab will be smaller than the previous one until the cold sore resolves itself fully, usually without scarring. Are cold sores painful? Yes, cold sores typically are painful although the degree of discomfort they cause can vary greatly from person to person. Additionally, each individual stage of a cold sore's development will have associated with it its own degree of discomfort. Usually the Weeping stage is the most painful. Are cold sores contagious? Yes. Since cold sores contain the herpes simplex virus, if these virus particles are transferred to others they too can become infected. One of the most common routes by which the herpes virus is transmitted to others is by way of direct skin-to-skin contact. Either kissing someone or brushing up against their lesion each fall into this category. Virus particles can also be transmitted to others by way of an intermediary object such as an eating utensil, cup, lipstick or lip balm applicator, toothbrush, or even a face towel. Besides transmitting virus particles to other people it is also important to realize that you can transfer the virus to other parts of your own body. The herpes simplex virus can cause herpetic whitlow, a painful infection of the fingers. A herpes virus infection of the eye can result in corneal blindness. [This is why your should always wash your hands after handling or applying medicine to cold sores.] The most contagious phase of cold sore formation is when their blisters rupture (the Weeping stage). This is because the liquid held in these blisters contains literally millions of herpes simplex virus particles. As a cold sore continues to run its course the level of virus particles that are present diminishes. Usually by the time a scab has formed over the cold sore (the Crusting stage) the number of virus particles has lessened dramatically. From a practical standpoint however, all phases of a cold sore do have at least some virus present and each phase, from the Tingle stage on to the completion of healing, should be considered to be contagious. Over-the-counter medications for cold sores. Many over-the-counter (OTC) cold sore medications are primarily palliative in nature, meaning that their intended purpose is to relieve the symptoms of cold sores (pain, itching, burning). Other OTC products help to provide an environment that is thought to inhibit the continued development of cold sores and/or help to promote cold sore healing. A third category of OTC medications possesses properties that directly interfere with the herpes virus' ability to form cold sore lesions. Products that limit cold sore formation or promote their healing. The compounds zinc, lysine(Super Lysine Plus Cream), phenol, and tannic acid have each been suggested as having antiviral properties, and thus are thought to have an inhibitory affect on the herpes virus particles' ability to form cold sore lesions. Antibacterial agents will not affect herpes virus particles but medications that contain these types of compounds can help to provide an environment that will promote the prompt healing of cold sores by way of preventing a secondary bacterial infection. Medications that moisturize and soften cold sores. Lip balms(Super Lysine Plus Cream ) can be use to moisturize and soften cold sores so they are less likely to crack and bleed. Common ingredients found in this type of product are petrolatum and allantoin. Preventing cold sores. There are a few common sense things you can do to help minimize the number of cold sores you get. Since it is suspected that excessive exposure to sunlight can trigger cold sores, when outside shield your face from the sun with a hat. Additionally, use a lip balm that contains a sunscreen with a SPF value of 15 or greater. Injury to the lips can trigger cold sores. To reduce lip cracking due to chapping, apply a moisturizing lip balm. Ingredients Supplement Facts Ingredient L-lysine, Homeopathic Lithium Carbonate 3X, Propolis Extract, Calendula Flower Extract, Echinacea Flower Extract, Zinc Oxide, Goldenseal Extract, Vitamin A, D, E, Cajeput Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Gum Benzoin Tincture, Prepared in a Beeswax and Olive Base for maximum absorption Suggested Use Apply liberally as needed. Apply the cream at the first sign of tingling to the affected areas on an as-needed basis. Customers give this formula their highest rating for both preventing and making them go away fast! Our effective formula contains L-Lysine and sixteen additional herbal ingredients. Manufacturer's Warning External use only. These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent disease. Always consult your healthcare provider.