Fever blisters are the gift that keep giving. A painful crop of blisters that magically appear on or around the lip at the worst possible time. These nasty little sores cause the skin around the mouth to appear inflamed and swollen; even worse, it is painful.
These blisters may split open and ooze a clear liquid, leaving an unsightly scab for days. I know what I’ve described sounds horrific, fortunately, there are natural ways you can get those burdensome little cold sores to heal naturally or prevent them from occurring in the first place.
What are Fever Blisters?
Essentially, fever blisters are cold sores. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus, either from herpes simplex virus 1 or herpes simplex virus 2. Its unsettlingly easy to develop a fever blister, as three million cases are reported across America a year. This virus usually sneaks into the body via a break in the skin inside or around the mouth.
This virus is easy to spread and easy to catch. It spreads when a person has direct contact with a cold sore or touches the infected fluid from a cold sore. This can happen from kissing, coming into contact with infected saliva, sharing utensils, sharing razors, etc. Cold sores don’t just infect the oral region as they can infect and crop up on other parts of the body.
Symptoms of Fever Blisters
If you suspect that you have fever blisters, you may experience the following symptoms:
• Pain on your lips or around your mouth
• Swollen glands in your neck
• Swollen glands on other parts of your body
• A fever
• A sore throat
• Sores on and around your mouth
• After the sore appears, it will typically split open and ooze a clear liquid
• Once the fever blister breaks open, it will scab over for a few days
• Typically lasts from several days to a couple weeks
Currently, there is no cure for fever blisters; however, they will usually go away on their own. Often, this is not good enough as they are painful and sometimes embarrassing. If you want to get rid of your fever blisters quick, there are several home remedies you can try to help speed up the healing process.
Ice—the most simple way to alleviate pain and reduce the redness, swelling, and inflammation associated with fever blisters. Icing that bad boy will also help prevent in from swelling, so put it on ice and go about your day.
Use ice to treat your fever blister the minute you start to feel the initial signs of the fever blister forming. These signs are typically sensitivity and tingling on the lip, which occurs a few hours or a couple days before the blister itself appears.
- To use this remedy, wrap a couple ice cubes in a washcloth.
- Place the icy washcloth over the affected area for about 15 minutes.
- Once the 15 minutes are up, apply a layer of lemon balm ointment over the affected area.
- Repeat these steps every three to four hours.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is loaded with antiviral properties that can stop many infections in their tracks—this includes the virus responsible for fever blisters.
Applying tea tree oil to your fever blisters will quickly treat your fever blisters lickety-split.
- To use this remedy, mix one part tea tree oil with three parts water.
- Dip a cotton ball into this solution and dab onto the affected area.
Do this treatment three times a day until you start to notice results. Within a couple days your fever blister should start to vanish.
The natural healing properties of aloe vera will eliminate any pain and speed up the healing time while the antibacterial properties helps prevent infection. To treat your fever blister fast, slice up an aloe vera leaf and squeeze out the gel.
- Apply the gel directly onto the affected area and allow to dry.
- Once dry, rinse off with warm water and gently dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this treatment several times a day for three or so days.
If your fever blister has become infected, this natural disinfectant will kill the bacteria responsible for infection. Sometimes, it is hard to heal your fever blister, as the herpes virus lives well in a warm, moist environment, a.k.a. your mouth.
Fortunately, hydrogen peroxide dries up the blister and keeps the moisture out.
- To help dry up your blisters and protect them from infection, dab a cotton ball in 3% hydrogen peroxide and apply it directly to the affected area.
- Leave the hydrogen peroxide on for a couple minutes and then rinse it off using a cool washcloth.
- Gently pat the area dry with a clean towel. Use this home remedy three times a day for four days.
Toothpaste is vital to your oral health, and as it turns out, it can help heal your fever blisters as well. Toothpastes contains all sorts of ingredients that will help dry that blister right out: menthol, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda.
If you’re concerned about the size of your fever blister, the lauryl sulfate will help shrink the blister down within a day or two. To use this treatment, use only white toothpaste. Nothing fancy, no gels or whitening toothpastes, just the simple white stuff.
- Apply a bit of toothpaste directly onto the fever blister and leave it on overnight.
- Once you wake up, wipe it off using a damp washcloth.
- Apply a dab of petroleum jelly.
- Use this treatment daily until your fever blister heals.
Garlic is a natural antiviral and antibacterial, preventing and fighting a wide range of viruses and infections. If you want to get rid of your fever blister, and fast, leave it to garlic.
This home remedy will not only efficiently get rid of your fever blister; it will disinfect the whole area, preventing the spread of infection.
- To use garlic as treatment, crush two or three cloves until it forms a paste.
- Apply this paste onto the affected area and leave on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.
Use this home remedy three or four times a day until your fever blister heals. It should be noted that some people may feel a bit of stinging when they first apply this remedy.
If you want to speed up the healing process of your fever blisters, consider using whole milk. Whole milk contains calcium and immunoglobulin, which help eliminate the virus responsible for fever blisters.
- Dip a cotton ball in some whole milk and apply directly to the affected area.
- Leave the milk on for ten minutes and then rinse off.
- The milk will help alleviate any pain associated with the fever blister while helping to dry it up.
- Use this remedy several times a day for three or four days.
Licorice has naturally occurring antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties that helps to reduce swelling, eliminate redness, and speed up the healing time.
- To use licorice as a remedy for your fever blister, mix one tablespoon of licorice root powder with ½ teaspoon of water until a thick paste forms.
- With a cotton swab, dab the mixture directly onto the affected area and leave on for a couple hours.
- Reapply this mixture several times a day, daily, until your fever blister completely heals.
Tea bags work as a natural astringent that will help heal and shrink up your fever blister in no time flat. This natural home remedy is also helpful if you want immediate pain relief from any discomfort associated with your fever blister.
Loaded with tannic acid, antioxidants, and vitamins, this soothing remedy is the answer to eliminating your fever blister.
- To use this remedy, put a green or black tea bag into a cup of boiling water and let steep for a minute.
- Remove the tea bag and let sit until it cools.
- Once cool, apply the tea bag directly to the affected area for a couple minutes.
- Apply this treatment several times a day for three or four days.