Fever blisters are no joke. Anyone that’s been in the unfortunate situation of having that tingling sensation on their lips and, later on, the appearance of small bumps, can attest to the sheer terror it gives someone.
What Are Fever Blisters?
A fever blister is another term for cold sores. These are painful, fluid-filled blisters and bumps on the lips, around the chin, and under the nose. The initial infection can also cause painful lesions inside the mouth and on your gum tissues, cheeks, and tongue.
It’s called fever blisters because it often appears when you have a fever. However, fever blisters are caused by the same virus as cold sores, which is known as the type 1 herpes simplex virus or HSV-1.
In general, a fever blister often goes away on its own within two weeks. However, if you have an important event in the next few days, then you’re probably wondering how to get rid of the unsightly, oozing sores fast.
How To Treat Fever Blisters Fast
Buy OTC Topical Treatments
In general, most people rely on over-the-counter (OTC) topical treatments for their fever blisters. Topical creams and ointments with antiviral ingredients can help promote faster healing and ease the pain.
You can also find fever blister treatments in the form of gels or patches that can speed up the healing process and can even prevent scabs or blisters from forming, too. Some gels can also provide a cooling sensation that helps relieve pain and itchiness.
Look for topical treatments that contain penciclovir, acyclovir, or docosanol. OTC treatments work best when applied at the first signs of a fever blister outbreak.
You can read more here about OTC topical treatments for getting rid of fever blisters.
If you’re prone to getting fever blisters, the most important thing you can do is see your doctor. They can prescribe you an antiviral medication to help heal your fever blisters more quickly.
While an antiviral medication won’t eliminate the virus from your body, it can significantly reduce the duration of a fever blister outbreak.
In general, your doctor will prescribe you oral medications. Common oral medications for fever blisters include Famvir (famciclovir), Zovirax (acyclovir), and Valtrex (valacyclovir).
Depending on your situation, your doctor may instruct you to take these medications regularly if you have frequent outbreaks or experience complications. Like OTC treatments, these medications are most effective when taken before a blister appears. They can heal your fever blister faster or even stop blisters from appearing at all.
Try Natural Home Remedies
If you wake up to a fever blister but don’t have any antiviral medication or OTC creams to fight it off, you can try these at-home fever blister remedies until you can visit a pharmacy or go to your doctor:
Cold Compress
Ice helps reduce blood flow to the area, thereby easing inflammation. It also reduces pain by numbing the area. Applying ice can make your blisters less crusty and red, and help them heal more quickly than if you leave them alone.
If you feel it coming but hasn’t appeared yet, you can also use ice to keep a full-blown fever blister from developing.
Moisturize
Keep your mouth and lip area hydrated using a moisturizer or lip balm. This prevents the sore from drying out and peeling as well as reduces itchiness. Having balanced skin health is vital, too, in preventing the spread and infection to other parts of your body.
Essential Oils
Essential oils are a good remedy for many ailments, even fever blisters. You can choose from oregano oil, tea tree oil, lemon balm oil, ginger oil, peppermint oil, and chamomile oil.
Apply diluted essential oil to a cotton ball and dab it directly to the affected area. You can repeat this several times throughout the day until your blisters heal completely.
Aloe Vera
The cooling gel found inside the leaves of an aloe plant can bring relief against fever blister pain and itchiness. You can apply the gel to your fever blister at least three times daily.
Petroleum Jelly
Petroleum jelly can ease discomfort and help in healing a fever blister. It moisturizes the affected area and prevents cracking. It also provides a protective barrier against external irritants that can further infect or worsen your blisters.
Takeaway
Fever blisters are not only painful but may also be annoying, inconvenient, and embarrassing. In the unfortunate event that you had a fever blister outbreak days before an important event, follow the tips presented here to treat these blisters to restore your confident smile.
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