Okay so I know this has nothing to do programming or computers like the other posts do – But it does have something to do with Technology – Read on if your intrigued.

A bit of background: I enjoy skiing every year and every year I come back from the slopes with a face full (not one or two) of cold sores – Damn that herpes simplex virus.

I can deal with the one or two which I without fail get throughout the year, but the ones I get whilst skiing are a pain in the arse & hurt & makes me a miserable sod – Ask my wife.

Okay so if your like me then hopefully the information contained within will help you out.

If you live in the United Kingdom and complain to your doctor about them, then he might if your lucky give you one of these on an NHS prescription : Virulite – I asked and got one!
"Virulite is a electronic device which beams a UV light onto the affected area, reducing the healing time of the cold sore by half."

If not then buy yourself one, as they are the best thing that exists to get rid off cold sores once they start to appear and sometimes it can also preempt them appearing in the first place from tingle onwards, it depends how fast you get your device to the tingle. Boots in the UK sell there own branded one for cheaper than Virulite @ £35.99 : Unfortunately these are no longer sold by Boots.

Other things that I cannot live with whilst skiing and help (slightly, see below) :

• Sunsense Lip Protection SPF 50 : Available on Amazon.co.uk
• Seirus Combo Scarf : Available on Amazon.co.uk

If like me it seems if you ski hard and push yourself then you’ll get them no matter what you try or use. This year is the first time that I’ll be trying to use all 3 (Electronic Zapper, Sunsense & Combo Scarf) in the same visit. I’ll update this post if it works as I’ll be ecstatic.

Slight update : At the same time of getting my GP to give me a Virulite on NHS prescription they also gave me a course of tablets, 400mg of Acyclovir, 1 taken twice a day as a preventative measure.

So I’m armed to the teeth this year – Keep posted to see if it works!

After ski holiday update : It worked!! Zero cold sores! for my first time ever – My holiday included skiing most of the Espace Killy mountain range, also with a nice icy fall on the le Face Olympique Black run in Val d’Isere, so plenty of stress and pushing myself to the limit was involved. Still no cold sores – I put these results down to the use of the Acyclovir tablets and the Sunsense SPF 50 lip balm, as they are the two things that I’ve never used before, whether is was one rather than the other, I’ll never be testing that as I’m just happy that I’ve finally got a solution to not getting cold sores & will be doing the same for each and every future ski trip.

Hopefully some of the above will work for you.