6 Quick Home Remedies For Fever Blisters

One day you look in the mirror, and you notice a sore on your lips. Is it a cancer sore, you wonder? If the blister is inside your mouth, then it’s definitely a cancer sore. But if it’s located on or around your lips, then we are talking about a fever blister. You may also know it as a cold sore.

Cold sores are quite common, and they usually are not a cause for alarm. However, the blisters are itchy, dry and painful. Besides that, no one wants to walk around with a sore around the mouth.

The question comes: How to deal with them? Well, your doctor can give you an antiviral cream. However, there are also numerous home remedies for fever blisters that you can try. First, let’s see why you have a cold sore on your lip.

What causes cold sores?

Despite the name, cold has nothing to do with cold sores. The culprit behind the fever blisters is a virus called herpes simplex. There are two types of the virus – herpes simplex 1 (HSV1) and herpes simplex 2 (HSV2).

HSV-1 is a highly contagious virus. It usually spreads through the saliva, so kissing, sharing eating utensil, towels, bathroom items like razors can get you infected. Touching a cold sore is also a bad idea.

Most often, people encounter the virus in early childhood. Someone infected with herpes kisses a child and passes the virus.

But what happens after you get the virus?

When you get infected, the virus ends in your nerves. There it lies dormant for the most part. However, certain triggers can awaken the virus. The result is a fever blister. Such triggers are:

Sometimes, HSV-1 can cause cold sores in the genital area. But usually, genital blisters are the result of an infection with the HSV-2. You get HSV-2 if you have oral sex with a person who has genital herpes. In some cases, HSV-2 could also be responsible for cold sores on the mouth.

Is there a way to get rid of the herpes simplex virus?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this virus. If you have it, you’ll carry it for the rest of your life. I know that it sounds scary, but don’t worry. Up to 80% of the population has HSV-1. Most of the people don’t know that they even have it. For some of them, it might even stay dormant for years.

What are the symptoms of fever blisters?

When we talk about the symptoms of cold sores, it’s important to distinguish between first- time occurrence and recurrence.

Most people don’t experience any symptoms when they get infected with the herpes simplex virus. That’s why they realize they have it after a cold sore appears. In some cases, primary infection with herpes virus might cause the following symptoms:

Usually, these symptoms appear in young children. In children under 5, sores might appear inside the mouth. That’s why these blisters might be confused with canker sores.

After the initial infection has occurred, in cases of recurrence look for:

How long do cold sores last? Well, it may take up to two weeks for the sores to heal. However, talk to your doctor if:

How to treat fever blisters?

In most cases, cold sores clear on their own with no need for medicine. However, your doctor might prescribe your pills or cream that you can apply to the area. But, if you don’t want to bother with a visit to the doctor’s office, there is a solution.

Here’s a list of the most efficient home remedies for fever blisters. To achieve the best possible effect, use them as soon as you feel the initial tingling sensation.

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#1 Ice relieves pain

The simplest home remedy for cold sores is to apply ice to the affected area. Ice reduces the pain, swelling, and redness associated with fever blisters. Moreover, it could prevent the sores from spreading because it creates an inhospitable environment for the virus.

Notes:

You this remedy immediately after you start to feel the initial tingling and itching. If you can stand it, also rub the ice directly to the area.

There is an ingredient in licorice called glycyrrhizin acid. It has potent anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. It stops the virus from spreading, limits the growth of the blisters, and promotes healing. Moreover, licorice will reduce the redness and the swelling.

Notes:

Licorice might raise blood pressure. Use with caution and consult with your doctor. Also, don’t consume any licorice products if pregnant. They increase the chance of miscarriage. Licorice is also not suitable for small children and nursing mothers.

I know that it sounds unbelievable. However, tea contains a powerful anti-viral agent. It’s called tannic acid, and it stops the herpes virus from spreading.

Notes:

You can use both black and green tea bags. You can also try with frozen tea bags to relieve the pain.

Whole milk contains important proteins called immunoglobulins. These proteins are antibodies that fight the herpes virus. Milk also contains l-lysine. L-lysine is an essential amino acid that our body gets from meat, dairy products, egg, and fish. It suppresses another amino acid called arginine.

Arginine has growth-promoting activity, and it might be related to cold sores outbreaks. A diet consisting of rich in l-lysine foods might lower your chance of getting another fever blister.

Moreover, there is a fat present in milk called monocaprin. It has anti-viral properties, and it promotes healing. In short, drinking a glass of milk can be beneficial for preventing cold sores.

If you already have a cold sore, try the following whole milk remedy.

You can also opt for drinking milk.

Notes:

Turmeric milk is also an excellent remedy for a sore throat. Here’s a video you can watch for more details.

Hydrogen peroxide is an essential part of every first-aid home kit. But it’s not only useful for treating wounds, but also as a fever blisters remedy. Let’s see why.

Hydrogen peroxide will kill any bacteria that might have infected the fever blisters, and that would speed up the healing. Moreover, using hydrogen peroxide keeps the affected area dry. This is important because the herpes virus prefers a moist environment.

Alternatively, you can mix the hydrogen peroxide with aspirin and make a paste.

Notes:

You may feel some tingling or pain when you apply the peroxide.

This remedy should be used during the blister phase. Once a scab has appeared, don’t use. It since it can prolong the presence of the blister. Also, hydrogen peroxide doesn’t have any effect on future blisters.

There is no denying that garlic is one extremely useful kitchen ingredient. Raw garlic has shown some remarkable effects against microbial infections. Moreover, garlic has numerous health benefits, and it has antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Using garlic for cold sores can speed your recovery and keep the bacteria out of the fever blisters.

Alternatively, you can chew on some garlic cloves. If you can’t stand garlic, you can use garlic supplements. But, consult with your doctor.

Here are more garlic home remedies for fever blisters that you can try.

Notes:

You might feel stinging or pain when you apply the garlic. Also, regular consumption of garlic might lead to gastrointestinal problems like bloating, gas and nausea.

Don’t use garlic if you take blood thinning drugs. Consult with your doctor beforehand.

How to prevent fever blisters?

The best way to prevent cold sores is to avoid ever being infected with the herpes virus. But since the virus is ever present in our society, it’s very likely that you have already contacted the disease. So, what can you do then? Here are some simple steps you can follow to lower your chance of getting another fever blister:

No one wants to experience fever blister, but alas they are part of our life. But as you see, there are certain precautions that you can take to protect yourself from recurrences.

What to you think about these home remedies for fever blisters? Have you ever tried any of them? Share how you deal with cold sores in the comments. We love to hear your opinion and experience. And don’t forget to show this article to your friends!