Treatment of fever blisters

Introduction

The treatment of fever blisters should be started as early as possible, preferably before the actual blister has formed. This can alleviate the herpes outbreak and ease the pain. The treatment is mainly directed against the symptoms caused by a fever blister, as there is no possibility yet to completely remove the herpes virus from the body.

A cold sore heals by itself after about a week and treatment is not absolutely necessary. However, to alleviate the symptoms and speed up the healing process, it is recommended that the blister be treated with medication. There are various drugs for fever blisters, which can be purchased over the counter at any pharmacy. As a rule, those affected can treat themselves and do not need to see a doctor.

What are the treatment options?

Various treatment options are available for fever blisters. The most common are ointments or creams containing so-called antivirals. These are active substances that prevent the herpes viruses from multiplying and spreading further in the body.

Common antivirals that are frequently used for lip herpes are, for example, acyclovir, ganciclovir or penciclovir. If used in time, these drugs ensure that the course of the cold sore is attenuated and the fever blister heals faster. To stop the virus multiplying as early as possible, a fever blister should be treated at the first signs, such as burning or tingling on the lips.

Very rarely, it is possible for lip herpes to take a severe course. In such cases, the virustatic agent must then be administered over several days via an infusion. If pain is felt, pain-relieving preparations such as ibuprofen can also be taken.

Disinfecting ointments also support the healing process. Substances that kill the viruses (so-called virucides) are not yet available. For this reason, it is not possible to eliminate the herpes virus in infected persons and those affected often suffer from recurring outbreaks of cold sores. Zinc ointment can also be used to promote healing and dry the blisters.

Should one prick fever blisters?

Many people mistakenly believe that fever blisters heal more quickly when they are punctured. That is wrong! Although piercing the blisters relieves the tension on the lip, the fluid contained in the blisters contains a large number of reproductive herpes viruses and is therefore extremely infectious.

By piercing the blisters, the infection can spread through the skin and hands and thus reach other parts of the body. Other people can also be infected much more easily and also develop lip herpes. There is also another reason why the annoying blisters should not be punctured: By piercing them, bacteria and germs can get into the wound and lead to a further infection of the bladder.

As a result, it takes even longer for the fever blister to heal. This often leaves unsightly scars on the lip. In the worst case, invading bacteria can be carried into the bloodstream and lead to serious complications such as a brain abscess or blood poisoning and multi-organ failure. Read more about this:

  • The right treatment for lip herpes
  • Eye Herpes
  • Herpes simplex encephalitis