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How to Treat a Cold Sore or Fever Blisters
Herpes labialis, also known as cold sores or fever blisters, are painful lesions which
usually form on the lips, chin, cheeks, or nostrils. The blisters typically turn into
yellow-crusted sores and then disappear within a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, people
who get cold sores, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus (usually type 1),
generally get outbreaks over and over again, and they are highly contagious. While there
is no cure or vaccine at this time, there are things you can do to ease the pain of cold
sores, speed up their healing, and stop their spread.
Steps
1. Make sure you have cold sores. A cold sore is the same as a fever blister, but it is
not the same as a canker sore. Canker sores are mouth ulcers that occur inside the mouth.
While cold sores may on occasion develop inside the mouth, they are usually smaller than
canker sores, and they start as blisters. Canker sores are not contagious, and they are
not caused by a virus, so treatment differs from that for cold sores. Check with your doctor,
who can determine which problem you have either by looking at it or performing a test.
2. Recognize the signs of an impending outbreak. Before you can actually see a cold
sore, you will probably be able to feel a slight tingling or burning somewhere around your
mouth where the cold sore will erupt. You may also be able to feel a small bump or
hardness in the skin at this point. The earlier you can detect an outbreak, the quicker
you can take action to hasten your recovery.
3. Quarantine your sore at the first sign of an outbreak. The herpes simplex virus is
highly contagious, so avoid kissing or other mouth-to-body activities at any time during
an outbreak. Also avoid sharing utensils, cups, or straws with other people, and wash
dishes and utensils thoroughly with disinfectant soap.
Wash your hands frequently, and try to avoid touching the sore. If you touch the cold
sore, you can then spread it to other people or to other places on your own body, such as
the eyes and genitals. Gently washing the blisters with soap and water may also help to
prevent the spread of the outbreak.
4. Your toothbrush can keep reinfecting you, so throw it away after an outbreak.
5. Take an antiviral medication. A few prescription antiviral medications, such as
Penciclovir, Acyclovir, and Famciclovir, have been approved for treatment of herpes
simplex outbreaks. These medications do not cure herpes simplex, and they have not been
shown to be effective in preventing outbreaks, but they can speed up healing and reduce
the severity of an outbreak. They are generally most effective if you start taking them as
soon as you notice the first signs of an impending outbreak.
If you have very frequent outbreaks, your doctor may prescribe these medications to be
taken daily, even in the absence of symptoms, to suppress future outbreaks. Suppression
therapy may be effective for some people, but clinical studies have not shown widespread
success. You may also have success with topical ointments, such as Abreva and Denavir.
Both are designed to treat the viral infection topically and promote speedy healing. Abreva
is non-prescription and is available over-the-counter.
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