A smile can mean so many things – and can be painful and embarrassing when you suffer from fever blisters. Fever blisters, sometimes also called cold sores, are actually symptoms of the Herpes Simplex virus. It is possible to keep this virus until control and never worry about that first-impression smile again!
Things You’ll Need:
Blistex
NSAIDs, such as Advil or Motrin
Prescription medication, such as Valtrex (options)
Step1 The first symptom of a fever blister outbreak is usually a tingling, itching or burning feeling of the skin above the affected nerves. It is at this point that prescription medication has the best effectiveness. If you have recurring episodes, it is wise to keep a prescription medication on hand to minimize the symptoms of an outbreak and allowing healing to proceed as fast as possible.
Step2 If your blister has progressed past the initial tingling stage and blisters have appeared, you can use a topical treatment. Make sure to keep the area clean and dry. If you touch the blisters with your hands, make sure to wash them after contact, because the fluid in the blisters is highly contagious. Apply a topical drying/healing agent, such as Abreva, to the area several times a day until the area is healed and dry. Natural supplement alternatives, such as L-Lysine, are also available. Since this stage can also be accompanied by flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, achiness), it is helpful to use an over-the-counter NSAID like Motrin or Advil to help you feel better until it passes.
Step3 Once you have an occurrence of a fever blister, you have a high chance of having subsequent outbreaks, although they will become less frequent over time. At this point, it is important to know how practice ongoing care to minimize future outbreaks. Since the herpes simplex virus is affected by sunlight, physical and mental stress and illness, avoiding exposure to all of these is your best way to avoid future outbreaks.