Is topical lysine better than oral lysine for cold sore prevention?

Everyone is different, so I would track your triggers for a while and see what changes. For me, sleep, stress management, and an spf balm made a bigger difference than any supplement.

I use a lysine lip balm with spf every day and honestly the daily habit matters more than which form you pick. Keeping my lips protected from sun and dryness has helped me feel more in control.

I keep abreva on hand for when I feel a tingle, but for everyday prevention I like a topical lysine balm because it also keeps my lips from getting chapped. Talk to a pharmacist about oral lysine if you have any health conditions.

I've tried both, and honestly the oral kind worked better for me since it seemed to help keep outbreaks away, whereas the cream only felt like it soothed things once a sore was already there. Curious what others have found though, because I know it's pretty different for everyone.

I've tried both over the years and honestly the oral kind has done more for me, especially when I stay consistent with it through ski season instead of only starting once I feel that tingle. The topical stuff never seemed to do much on its own for me, though I know a few people who swear by it, so it might just come down to trying both and seeing what your body responds to.

Honestly I never noticed much difference with the topical stuff, but taking it daily seemed to space my outbreaks out a bit more, so I just stuck with oral and figured whatever works for you is the right answer.

Stress is my number one trigger too, nothing else comes close.

I've had better luck with the oral kind honestly, taking it daily seemed to cut down how often I got them, while the creams never did much for me once I felt that tingle. Everyone's different though, so it might be worth trying both and seeing what your body responds to.

I've had better luck with the oral kind honestly, taking it daily seemed to cut down how often I got them, while the creams only ever helped a little once one had already started.

I tried both for about a year and honestly I felt like the oral one made more of a difference for prevention, the cream only really seemed to help once a sore was already there. Could totally be placebo though, everyone's body seems to react so differently to this stuff.