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Home > Skin & Beauty > Skin Conditions > Fever Blisters: 6 Home Remedies and Self-Care Tips

Fever Blisters: 6 Home Remedies and Self-Care Tips

Updated on June 16, 2022
7 min read
By Akanksha Shah Sanghvi, MD, Clinical Dermatology

In this article:

  • Home Remedies for Fever Blisters to Aid Recovery
  • Self-Care Measures
  • Most-Asked Questions About Fever Blisters
  • Final Word

Fever blisters are caused by the herpes simplex virus. While herpes simplex virus type 1 is largely responsible for it, herpes virus type 2 may also cause the infection.

remedies for fever blisters

These viruses live on nerve ganglions, which are a bundle of nerves on the side of the face. From there, the viruses may infect the tissue around your lips and cause an outbreak. You may harbor the virus in your childhood and only develop symptoms at an older age.

Medical treatment is available for fever blisters, and you can also try home remedies and self-care measures that can help manage the condition at home.

Home Remedies for Fever Blisters to Aid Recovery

The following are some home remedies that you can use to promote healing of fever blisters.

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Caution: Conduct a patch test to rule out any allergies or sensitivity reactions.

1. Apply a cool compress

applying a cold compress can help soothe skin blisters

Applying a cool compress can help reduce the pain, swelling, and redness associated with fever blisters. It is best to use a cold compress at the initial appearance of the symptoms – that is, when tenderness and tingling around the lip first occur.

How to use:

Place a cold compress on the affected area for 10–15 minutes. You can use ice cubes wrapped in a cotton cloth, a packet of frozen peas or corns, or ice gel packs for this purpose.

2. Try kanuka honey

Medical-grade kanuka honey is as effective as 5% acyclovir cream in the treatment of fever blisters. (1)

How to use:

  1. Dab some medical-grade kanuka honey on the fever blisters.
  2. Leave it on for 5–7 minutes before washing it off.

3. Take echinacea supplements or tea

Studies have shown that the polysaccharides, (2) alkenes, and amides (3) in echinacea can help prevent recurrence of infection.

How to use:

Consume echinacea tea or supplements upon consulting with your doctor.

4. Apply licorice root

Glycyrrhizin, the active compound of licorice root, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties that can help control a herpes simplex virus infection. (4)(5)

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How to use:

  1. Mix 1 tablespoon of licorice root powder with ½ teaspoon of water to form a thick paste.
  2. Apply the paste to the affected areas using a cotton swab.
  3. Rinse it off after a few minutes.

5. Use aloe vera gel

aloe vera can help control skin infections

Aloe vera has been shown to help control the growth of human herpes simplex virus type 2. (6)

How to use:

It is suggested to use medicated gels available in the market as fresh, pure aloe vera gel may not be effective.

6. Use propolis extract

Propolis extracts contain flavonoids, phenyl carboxylic acids, and polyphenols that act as antivirals against HSV-2. (7) Moreover, it has been seen that propolis extracts may be as effective as acyclovir and may show synergistic effects when used together. (8)

How to use:

Consult your doctor on the use of topical creams containing 3% propolis.

Self-Care Measures

Following some self-care measures during the treatment of the infection can promote fast recovery, avoid skin damage, and prevent recurrent episodes of fever blisters.

Here’s what you can do:

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1. Protect your skin from the sun

protect your skin from sun exposure

The harmful UV rays of the sun can delay skin healing or recovery and even activate dormant viruses, resulting in another outbreak. Therefore, it is vital to prevent sun exposure.

You can use broad-spectrum lip balms, gels, and ointments with SPF 30 or higher on your lips and mouths, especially in summer. (9) It is also suggested to use sunscreens with zinc or titanium oxide as they are highly effective.

2. Maintain personal hygiene

Make sure to wash your hands using soap and water before touching the sores or applying any medicated ointment. In addition, avoid sharing your toiletries, cutlery, or makeup with anyone else.

3. Avoid contact with others

Since the infection can spread through skin-to-skin contact, refrain from coming in close contact with anyone else.

4. Refrain from picking the sores

Avoid picking or popping the sores or scabs as it increases the risk of spreading infection via your hands.

5. Improve your diet

eat a well-balanced diet

Avoid consuming spicy, tangy, hot, acidic, or salty foods as they can irritate the cold sores. Instead, eat cold, soft foods, and include fruit juice and vegetable-based beverages in your diet.

In addition, consume antioxidant-rich foods such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and kale. Also, eat foods high in zinc, vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium as they provide antiviral properties. (10) However, avoid consuming foods rich in arginine.

6. Manage stress

Stress can trigger the onset of fever blisters. (11) You can perform meditation, yoga, cardio exercises, and Tai chi to help control mild to moderate stress.

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Most-Asked Questions About Fever Blisters

Can diluted apple cider vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide help treat fever blisters?

Experts highly suggest against the use of these substances on the sores as it can exacerbate them.

Are lysine supplements or ointments useful in the treatment of fever blisters?

lysine supplements efficacy in treating fever blisters

Study results on the use of lysine for treating cold sores are contradictory, with some studies suggesting its usefulness in controlling the viral growth and others saying that it is highly ineffective. Therefore, it is best to use lysine ointments only upon consulting your doctor.

Final Word

Fever blisters, or cold sores, are caused by infection of the facial nerves with human herpes simplex viral strains. It is vital to treat fever blisters at the earliest using antiviral medications to prevent recurrence or complications.

Mild to moderate fever blisters generally improve on their own, but the use of home remedies can aid recovery and skin healing. However, before using any of these remedies, it is vital to get a proper diagnosis and treatment for your cold sores as the problem is often recurrent and can easily spread to any part of the body.

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Continue Reading Continue ReadingWhat Causes Fever Blisters and How to Treat Them
References
  1. Semprini A, Singer J, Braithwaite I, et al. Kanuka honey versus aciclovir for the topical treatment of herpes simplex labialis: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ open. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6530412/. Published May 14, 2019.
  2. Ghaemi A; Soleimanjahi H; Gill P; Arefian E; Soudi S; Hassan Z; Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide reduces the latency rate in herpes simplex virus type-1 infections. Intervirology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19372701/. Published 2009.
  3. JT; BSEHJMSA. Antiviral activity of characterized extracts from echinacea spp. (Heliantheae: Asteraceae) against herpes simplex virus (HSV-I). Planta medica. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12357386/. Published 2002.
  4. Wang L, Yang R, Yuan B, Liu Y, Liu C. The antiviral and antimicrobial activities of licorice, a widely-used Chinese herb. Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4629407/. Published July 2015.
  5. Sabouri Ghannad M, Mohammadi A, Safiallahy S, Faradmal J, Azizi M, Ahmadvand Z. The Effect of Aqueous Extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra on Herpes Simplex Virus 1. Jundishapur journal of microbiology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4216581/. Published July 2014.
  6. Keivan Zandi Emory University Moloud Abbas Zadeh Kohzad Sartavi Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization Zahra Rastian Aarhus University. Antiviral activity of Aloe vera against herpes simplex virus type 2: An in vitro study. researchgate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/27797860/. Published 2007.
  7. P; NSRJSKHS. Mechanism of herpes simplex virus type 2 suppression by propolis extracts. Phytomedicine: international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19682876/. Published 2010.
  8. Yildirim A, Duran GG, Duran N, et al. Antiviral Activity of Hatay Propolis Against Replication of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Type 2. Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4750782/. Published February 9, 2016.
  9. Mazzarello V; Ferrari M; Piu G; Pomponi V; Solinas G; Do sunscreen prevent recurrent Herpes labialis in summer? The Journal of dermatological treatment. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29804485/. Published 2019.
  10. MA; B. Selenium and vitamin E status: impact on viral pathogenicity. The Journal of nutrition. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17449602/. Published 2007.
  11. Huang W; Xie P; Xu M; Li P; Zao G; The influence of stress factors on the reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus type 1 in infected mice. Cell biochemistry and biophysics. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21327577/. Published 2011.
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