Anyone else dread winter because of cold sores, or have you found a way to enjoy it?

This is exactly the kind of thing the community is for. Small consistent habits beat any single fix, in my experience.

The mental side is real, glad someone said it.

Honestly I used to hate the first cold snap every year, but keeping my lips covered on windy days and actually sleeping properly has made winter way less scary for me. Still get the occasional one, but I've stopped letting the fear ruin the season.

Honestly I used to dread the first cold snap every year, but somewhere along the way I just made peace with it and started treating my lips like a winter routine, same as scarf and gloves. Still get the odd one, but it stopped feeling like the season was out to get me.

Thank you for sharing this, going to try it.

Honestly yes, I used to count down the days until spring, but keeping my lips covered on windy walks and actually resting when I feel that first tingle has made winter feel less like the enemy. Still get caught out sometimes, but I finally went sledding with my niece last year without spending the whole week after hiding my face.

Honestly the dread got a lot smaller once I stopped treating every ski trip like a gamble and just started being a bit boring about it, like reapplying lip stuff every time I stopped for a break and covering my face on windy lifts. I still get the odd one but I'm not skipping winter anymore, and that feels like a win.

Honestly I used to count down the ski days I would lose to a flare up, but keeping my lips covered and slathered before I even leave the car has made winter something I actually look forward to again.

I used to dread the first cold snap every year, but honestly what changed it for me was just accepting that my lips need as much protection as my face on the slopes, and being stubborn about reapplying even when my friends tease me. Still get caught out sometimes, but winter feels like mine again.