worst cold sore of my life, is it me or does stress make them so much worse?

Stress plus chapped lips is the combo that always seems to set mine off too, so I keep a bland balm on my nightstand and reapply it any time my lips feel tight. Gentle and boring beats anything harsh when things are already sore.

For the first day or two I stop touching it completely, swap my toothbrush and lip balm afterwards, and use a clean cool compress for a few minutes when the throbbing gets loud. Rest and water do more for me than anything fancy.

Two things I stay consistent with are an SPF lip balm every single day and steady sleep, because sun and burnout are my two biggest personal triggers. Some people here also mention lysine as part of their routine, but the SPF habit is what made the biggest difference for me.

Founder here. What worked for me was consistency over intensity: same simple protection every single morning, not only when the sun is out. Wind, cold, and short sleep stack up quietly, so getting ahead of them beats chasing an outbreak once it starts. Rooting for you.

Welcome, and do not feel low, it is so common and manageable.