Review and Giveaway: Lip Clear Lysine Plus CLOSED

I've been fortunate enough to only get a cold sore once in my life. It was way back in high school so it's a distant memory but I do recall the tingling, the pain and the discomfort associated with the dreaded blister. Not familiar with the abominations that are cold sores? Let me break it down for you:

Cold sores are painful, unsightly blisters that form on the lips or just outside the mouth as a result of the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1). While many people may carry this virus (it lies dormant in some), upwards of 60 million people get cold sores annually as a result. Cold sores can last for up to two weeks, in some cases, and are very contagious. The virus can be spread through kissing, touching, sharing cups and utensils, towels, etc. Cold sores can be triggered by sunlight, arginine rich foods, fever, illness, stress, food allergies and hormonal changes. In addition to being embarrassing for sufferers, cold sores are often very painful, causing itching, burning and other discomfort. There is no cure for HSV1 and the resulting cold sores, although there are treatments available to reduce the time and severity of pain.

There are five stages of the cold sore life cycle. The first stage, or prodrome stage, occurs before a blister appears and is when one feels a tingle, itch or burning sensation beneath the skin around the mouth. This is the best time to begin treatment. The second stage is the blister stage, during which a blister first appears. The third stage is the weeping stage, when the blister opens up to reveal a reddish area on the skin. This stage is the most contagious and often causes the most pain. The third stage is the crusting stage, in which the blister(s) dry up and crust over. The fourth stage is the healing stage, as a series of scabs form over the blister(s) until the sore is completely healed.

Sadly, my husband suffers from these oral nasties quite often. And the whole not kissing thing for days - sometimes weeks? NOT kosher. He's tried just about every OTC product under the sun to no avail. So, when I got the opportunity to test out a new cold sore treatment called Lip Clear Lysine Plus, I kept it in our arsenal to have on hand for his next battle.

Lip Clear Lysine Plus is a top-selling, natural cold sore remedy that speeds healing, stops itching and burning, and stops prickling, soreness, tenderness and blistering. What makes it different from the competition?

• Utilizes zinc oxide, lysine (an essential amino acid) and 14 other natural ingredients.
• Provides immediate soothing relief with no burning sensation on application
  
• Moisturizes and goes on clear
• Non-chemical flavor
• Can be applied as needed
  
• Less expensive than other leading OTC and prescription brands
  

According to a Southern California University of Health Sciences study, Lip Clear Lysine was clinically shown to cut healing time in half. The median time to complete cold sore healing was four days, and a remarkable 40% of participants experienced a full cure or drastic reduction in symptoms by end of third day. Most participants completely skipped the blister, weeping, and crusting stages. In the cases of outbreaks, no scarring occurred and the affected area looked exactly as it did before the outbreak.

Sure enough, the stress of the holidays and buying our first home got to the hubby and a few days after we received the product, he started with the tell-tale tingling. I immediately pulled out the tube of Lip Clear Lysine Plus so he could combat the virus with the ointment as quickly as possible.

He said there was no burning or discomfort when he applied it, and the taste was not unpleasant. He also liked that it went on clear, unlike the white paste of other brands. It could be that he began using it at the first sign of an outbreak, but we were amazed with the results. He did get a small red blister but after just 3-4 days, it was completely gone. No huge, fluid-filled clusters of sores or yucky yellow crust. Considering that he normally suffers for at least a week when using Abreva, this product was a godsend.

Bottom line: I would highly recommend Lip Clear Lysine Plus for anyone who suffers from chronic cold sores. I love that there's an affordable, natural alternative to traditional medication, which can cost upwards of $15. It may not have prevented my husband's outbreak completely but it was a definite improvement from other methods we've tried. And well, that's a big PLUS!

BUY IT: Lip Clear Lysine Plus ointment is available at drug stores, supermarkets and health food stores, as well as online at www.LipClear.com (ARV $6.99 / 7 gram tube). You can also purchase a SPF-21 Coldstick to protect lips from the sun (which can trigger a cold sore) and/or tablets to take as a daily supplement for immune support.

DELECTABLE DEAL: You can find a mail-in coupon on the website - get $1.25 off of your purchase!

WIN IT: One lucky reader is going to win their own tube of Lip Clear Lysine Plus!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit the Lip Clear website and tell me one of the tips to prevent cold sore outbreaks. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile or if you are not a blogger!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count!

1.) Follow my blog or subscribe via reader or email. Comment telling me which method you chose. If you already follow or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. Just leave me a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry)

3.) Add my blog button and/or my holiday button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry for each)

4.) Enter any of my other current giveaways and leave a comment telling me which one(s) you entered. (1 entry each)

Giveaway will end on December 13, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received a tube of Lip Clear Lysine Plus from Laurie at Robin Leedy Associates to facilitate my candid review. I was not compensated in any other way for this post. The opinions expressed in this review and purely my own. Your experience with and results from use of this product may vary.