A Welsh mum who says cold sores made her too self-conscious to kiss her husband on their wedding day claims a £10 liquorice lip balm has changed everything for her.
Georgia Ruth had suffered with recurring cold sore outbreaks for years, but says she finally found something that works after trying LipQ’s liquorice-based balm. For her, the impact has been massive, not just physically but emotionally too.
“I couldn’t even kiss my husband properly at our wedding because I had a cold sore,” she said. “It knocked my confidence completely. You feel like everyone is staring at you.”
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus and affect millions of people across the UK. Once you have the virus, it stays in your system for life, lying dormant until something triggers an outbreak. Stress, illness, sunlight and hormonal changes are among the most common triggers.
For Georgia, outbreaks were frequent and left her dreading social occasions. She tried various over-the-counter treatments over the years but felt none of them made a real difference to how often she got them or how bad they were.
That changed when she came across LipQ, a balm containing liquorice root extract. Liquorice root has been studied for its antiviral properties, with some research suggesting that a compound called glycyrrhizin, found naturally in the plant, may help suppress the herpes simplex virus.
Georgia says since using the balm regularly she has noticed far fewer outbreaks and that when one does appear, it seems less severe and clears up faster than before.
“It feels like a miracle compared to what I was dealing with before,” she said. “I actually feel like myself again. I can go to events, see friends, not spend the whole time worrying about my lip.”
The product, which costs around £10, has picked up a following online among cold sore sufferers who say they have had similar results. Reviews frequently describe it as a game changer, with users praising how quickly it seems to work when applied at the first tingle of an outbreak.
While the science around liquorice extract and cold sores is promising, health experts generally advise that no topical treatment can eliminate the virus entirely. Antiviral creams containing aciclovir remain the most widely recommended option by pharmacists and GPs for managing outbreaks, and anyone suffering frequent or severe cold sores is encouraged to speak to a doctor.
That said, many people do find that certain balms and natural remedies help them manage symptoms alongside or instead of conventional treatments, and the growing interest in liquorice-based products reflects a wider appetite for alternatives that feel gentler on the skin.
For Georgia, the proof is simply in her day-to-day life. She no longer plans her diary around the fear of an outbreak and says her confidence has come back in a way she did not expect from something as simple as a lip balm.
“I just want other people who have struggled with this to know there are options out there,” she said. “It is not something you just have to put up with.”