REVIEW: Compeed Cold Sore Patch...

This post is about a product that has literally changed my life - Compeed Cold Sore patches.

For as long as I can remember, I've experienced the discomfort (and embarrassment) of cold sores on or around my mouth and nose, up to four times per year. The outbreaks would last a minimum of 10 days, and the scarring/redness would hang around for at least another two weeks after that...

The good news is that if you've never had a cold sore, you probably never will. It's caused by a virus (related to smallpox) that you're either susceptible to or not. Triggers range from stress to injury to over exposure to the sun. When I did my Higher School Certificate (year 12), I fell asleep in the sun while studying, and that combined with the exam stress brought on such a vicious attack that my mouth was completely encircled by these ghastly (and highly infectious) blisters. My lips were so swollen I looked like one of those natives that inserts plates in their lips. Even my doctor was stunned when he saw me, and once everything had subsided, I was treated with a smallpox vaccination every month for 12 months, which worked a treat - I had no cold sores at all for several years, and when they eventually started occurring again, the most I ever had was two in one year...

I think the worst thing about these wretched blistery blights is that they are so hard to disguise - people used to look at me like I had the plague because eventually they would form a scab, and that took a while to heal. Treatment was via various creams and gels from the chemist - they helped a bit with the burning sensation, but the big breakthrough for us sufferers was the development of the Compeed Cold Sore Patch. I was super sceptical at first because they promised containment, protection, fast healing and a massive reduction in the duration of the attack. Well let me tell you folks, it's ALL true :-) I was staggered the first time I tried them - my cold store was done and dusted in 4 days, with barely any blisters and therefore no scab formation! Originally they came in a Day and Night variety, but now there seems to be one convenient kind to cover the whole 24 hours in a day :-)

So here's what they look like, and once stuck on, they are virtually invisible - they cover the cold sore entirely so there's no risk of contamination, and you can apply makeup or lipstick over the top...

Here are some pics from my last attack. The damn thing started coming up on a Wednesday while I was at work, so I applied the patch as soon as I arrived home. The next morning, I put on a fresh patch, and applied my lip liner, lipstick and gloss over the top. Of course you can see the swelling, but nobody at work even noticed. In the past when I've had a cold sore and gone to a meeting, I'd observe people's eyes straying to look at my lip when they were talking to me - I could tell some of them were feeling somewhat uncomfortable (read that as "grossed out" lol) with what they were seeing, but that doesn't happen any more now that I have my Compeed patches :-)

These photos were taken on the following morning, and it's obvious that the swelling has gone down considerably. I tell you these patches are so brilliant, you can barely tell they're there - I marked the outline with X's so you'd know where it is...

And here it is again with my lipstick over the top...

By Saturday morning, the cold sore was all but gone, and I didn't have to apply any more patches - woo hoo! It still amazes me how effective these are. The packs are $16.95 and contain 15 patches, all hygienically sealed in individual wrappers, and there's even a mirror inside the lid if you need to apply one and your miles away from a bathroom. You peel away the arrowed tabs, position the clear film directly over the cold sore, and lightly press it on. I find they don't usually survive through a meal, but they sure stay stuck on overnight, and the bonus is there's no messy (and contaminated) creams left on your pillow. There's also an enclosed leaflet with refreshingly clear instructions on how to apply the patches, and some facts about cold sores. I now keep a couple in my make up bag so I can start the treatment as soon as I feel that first warning tingle...

Honestly, whoever invented these things deserves a gold medal, and has my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude - thank you Compeed! You've changed my life ♥

Do you suffer from cold sores? Have you tried Compeed patches yet?

Take care of you,

kats xxx