There are a variety of things you can try to get rid of fever blisters. Over the counter medications are available which may help clear them up sooner, and there are also natural remedies you can try. If you suffer from frequent outbreaks of fever blisters, you may require a prescription medication to lessen their frequency.
Fever blisters are caused by a type of herpes virus. This virus can lie dormant in the body for months or even years, but during times when the immune system is compromised, blisters can form. They can be very painful and cause severe discomfort, as well as being embarrassing. While they are hard to prevent, there are ways to get rid of fever blisters more quickly.
One way you can attempt to heal a blister is to use an over the counter ointment. These can be found at your pharmacy or grocery store. This may allow you to lessen the appearance of blisters more quickly by drying them out. You can also try using toothpaste or salt mixed with water on the blister. This works in much the same way, and it is more economical.
If you are prone to severe outbreaks, you may get rid of fever blisters by taking a prescription anti-viral medication at the first sign of getting one. This can lead to faster healing and prevent blisters from growing too large. There are also medications you can take over the long time to prevent outbreaks from occurring in the first place.
You should be sure that the sore you have is, in fact, a fever blister. Other wounds, like canker sores, are caused by different things and may require different treatments. If you do have fever blisters, you should avoid kissing and sharing utensils with others until they are healed. You should also avoid oral sex, as sometimes the virus which occurs in the mouth can lead to genital herpes.
There is no way to get rid of fever blisters long-term. No vaccine exists to prevent the herpes virus, and those who contract it generally continue to have outbreaks throughout their lives. They are highly contagious and are often sore and painful or tingling before erupting, and can last for several weeks once they do. Most times they open and ooze a straw colored liquid and then scab over before disappearing entirely.
As the name suggests, sometimes a fever can occur alongside fever blisters. If this happens, keep a close watch on it to make sure it doesn’t get too high. You can take an over the counter anti-fever medication to bring it down in the meantime.
