Fever blisters (cold sores) are small sores occur on the mouth, lips, cheeks, chin, fingers, nostrils, or even genitals; causing pain, itching or burning before bursting and crusting over. If you are on the lookout for how to treat a fever blister, simply read on.
The cold sores appear in clusters and are white. The common symptoms of fever blisters are:
- Pain
- Swelling and inflammation
- Burning sensation
What Causes Fever Blisters?
- Weak immune system
- Change in hormones
- Skin trauma
- Excess exposure to sunlight
- Stress and anxiety
Fever Blisters – Treatment Overview
The herpes simplex type 1 virus is a virus that causes cold sores, and is readily present in the human body. Since the virus is present on the human body, outbreaks of cold sores are pretty common and can occur in the presence of certain trigger factors. The sad part is, it is pretty irritating and cause major discomforts.
The good news is that most cold sores will go away on their own. If the symptoms persist for too many days, then seek the advice of a doctor. Medicines may reduce the duration of cold sores and sometimes put a stop to a future outbreak.
Wondering if Fever Blister is Contagious?
Cold sores or oral herpes are highly contagious and very common. They are caused by viruses in the herpes family. This virus is passed from person to person by saliva (either during physical intimacy, or by drinking from the same glass or cup), sharing items such towel, toothbrush etc or by skin contact. Hence, make it a habit to practice good personal hygiene as this can help you from spreading the virus to other people.
Top 10 Home Remedies to Get Rid of Fever Blisters
There are a number of medicines available for treating this but these are laden with chemicals and can have several side effects. If you do not fancy chemical treatments, switch over anytime to home remedies mentioned below to cure them naturally.
1. Tea tree oil:
Tea tree oil has antiviral properties and therefore it can be very effective against cold sores
- Take a teaspoon of tea tree oil.
- Add three tablespoons of water.
- Mix well and apply the mixture to the affected area thrice daily till you get relief.
You can also combine tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil and olive oil and apply the mixture to the affected area thrice daily for a few days.
Also read : How to Get Rid of Canker Sores Fast?
2. Whole milk:
The antiviral properties of whole milk due to the presence of monocaprin help in the treatment of these blisters. It also has calcium and immunoglobulin which speed up the treatment of the blisters.
- Take a little cold whole milk and dip a clean cotton ball in it
- Apply the milk to the affected area.
- Try the remedy thrice daily.
The healing properties of milk will give relief from pain and also ease out the inflammation and tingling sensation. At the same time, you may also drink a glass of warm milk with turmeric powder once daily to get relief from the pain.
Must read : How to Heal Mouth Ulcers?
3. Cold compress:
Ice can be very effective in providing relief from pain. It is equally helpful in soothing down the tingling sensation and inflammation associated with fever blisters.
- Wrapping ice in a clean cloth.
- Apply it to the affected area.
- You can follow the remedy three to four times in a day.
Also read : Home Remedies for Treating Geographic Tongue
4. Garlic:
Garlic has antiviral and antibacterial properties. The antiviral properties are due to the presence of certain enzymes which do the trick in curing fever blisters. The antibacterial properties of garlic are useful in healing and keeping the affected portion disinfected.
- Take two to three garlic cloves and crush them.
- Apply this paste to the affected area.
- Leave it for about 20 minutes.
- Wash with water.
- Follow the remedy thrice daily.
This remedy may cause a little irritation or stinging sensation. Discontinue if the irritation persists even after washing out.
Must read : Home Remedies for Abscessed Tooth
5. Licorice:
Licorice has a compound called glycyrrhizin which has antiviral properties which in turn provides relief from fever blisters. It also speeds up the healing process and aid in controlling the inflammation, burning sensation and redness caused by fever blisters.
- Take licorice root powder.
- Add a little water to it to make a thick paste.
- Apply the mixture to the affected area.
- Wash with water.
- Follow the remedy thrice daily till the blisters clear up.
Alternatively, you may also drink a cup of licorice root tea on a daily basis. To prepare the tea, take edible licorice root powder in a cup and add some boiling water. Let the mixture steep for a few minutes. Strain and have the tea. One word of caution: Licorice root remedy is not recommended for high blood pressure patients.
Also read : Home Remedies for Toothache
6. Tea:
Tea has tannic acid which contains antiviral properties and hence can be used in the treatment of cold sore. The antioxidants in tea contribute in boosting the healing process.
- Take a cup of boiling water and into it, dip a tea bag for few minutes.
- Remove the tea bag and let it cool.
- Dab this tea bag on the affected area for few minutes.
- Follow the remedy thrice daily.
You can make use of either black tea or green tea.
Must read : How To Get Rid Of Bad Breath?
7. White toothpaste:
White toothpaste has soothing ingredients such as menthol, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, alcohol etc which helps in the treatment of fever blisters and relieving its burning sensation.
- Apply the toothpaste to the affected area and leave it overnight.
Alternatively, you can also mix salt and white toothpaste, and apply the mixture to the affected area. This remedy also helps in controlling the size of the blisters.
Also read : How To Whiten Teeth Naturally?
8. Aloe vera:
Aloe vera has healing and cooling properties. It is also an antibacterial agent which helps in keeping the affected area disinfected. The moisturising properties of aloe vera on the other hand help in keeping the skin soft as well as reducing the inflammation, pain and redness.
- Apply fresh aloe vera gel directly to the affected area and let it dry.
- Wash with water.
- Follow the remedy at least thrice daily.
Must read : 12 Simple Toothbrush Hacks Necessary for Oral Health
9. Yogurt:
The lysine found in yogurt is what that effectively treats fever blisters. The trick is done by keeping the virus passive. The cooling properties of yogurt help in controlling the inflammation and redness to a certain extent.
- Mix one cup of yogurt with one egg and one tablespoon of honey.
- Mix the ingredients well to form a paste.
- Apply this mask to the affected area using a cotton ball.
- Wash with water after about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Follow the remedy twice daily.
Include yogurt in your daily diet as much as possible.
Also read : How To Alleviate The Pain After Getting Braces?
10. Plum juice:
The compounds in fresh plum juice are very effective in curing cold sore. It is known to give relief from the stinging and burning pain. You can apply the plum juice to the affected areas at least thrice daily. For blisters in mouth, gargle with plum juice thrice daily for a noticeable result.
Must read : Benefits and Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar
Many people claim that home remedies effectively relieve the symptoms of a wide range of ailments with no dangerous side effects. Do try them out and let us know your experience. If you have any other secret home remedy to get rid of fever blisters?, please share too!
Author Bio : Chaitali Chaudhuri, an ex-banker taken up content writing as profession. A writer by profession and a blogger by hobby. I do extensive research on health topics to offer a high-end exclusive content. I love using spices and other readily available items as home remedies for routine illnesses and health problems. The remedies are cost-effective, easy to make, and typically without the kind of side effects that can come with medication.
