About Fever blisters

Fever blisters are afflictive lesions which usually erupt on the lips, cheeks, mouth area, chin or the nose, causing the sufferer physical as well as mental distress. Commonly known as cold sores, fever blisters are contagious in nature.

The mode of spread of fever blisters is the HSV 1 virus which can last for a week or two. Often, fever blisters are linked with herpes, but in reality they are dissimilar to each other. Herpes is triggered by the type-two of the same virus and affects the genital area whereas the root causes for fever blisters can vary.

Few known causes that can lead to fever blisters are prolonged anxiety, exhaustion, common cold, exposure to harmful UV rays, exposed cut or bruised skin near the mouth area, during child birth or menstruation.

Some useful practices to help heal fever blisters fast and effectively

• A few over-the-counter anodynes such as Paracetamol, ibuprofen or Aspirin that are available at the local pharmacist are quite effective in relieving the pain.

• Cover and protect the affected area as much as possible. For speedy recovery, application of a petroleum based product such as Vaseline is highly advisable. Other skin ointments such as Betadine are also reckoned as effective as they contain Povidone-iodine, which is known to aid in killing and fighting the bacterial infections.

• Refrain from eating spicy food items as they will exacerbate the problem. Instead, choose to eat healthy foods such as fruits, curd or lysine supplements which are proven to cure and to slow down the spread of fever blisters.

• Always keep the affected area clean and do not touch it with contaminated hands. Wash your hands with a medicated soap or use a sanitizer as a precautionary measure before you touch your face.

• Fever blisters sufferers should abstain from using used lipsticks, gloss, lip balms, handtowels, toothbrush, tissue papers etc.

• Since fever blisters are contagious in nature, indulgence in any type of oral sex should be avoided in order to aid the healing process.

• Use of natural or herbal products such as lemon balm and Ganoderma lucidum based products are highly recommended as they are rich in anti-viral properties.

• Avoid application of any cream or lotion which contains alcohol.

• Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water or juices in order to stimulate cell growth and expedite the healing process.

• To mitigate the symptoms of fever blisters, intake of vitamin E supplements in the form of prunes, nuts, etc. is highly suggested.

Although fever blisters usually heal well within eight to ten days, certain outbreaks can be of a hazardous nature, particularly afflicting people with weak immune systems. In cases where the outbreak persists for over two weeks, it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention in order to avoid complications.