Fever blisters, or cold sores, are caused by the herpes simplex type 1 virus. Typically occurring on or around the mouth, fever blisters usually heal within 2-3 weeks at the most. They may also occur on the cheeks, lips, chin, fingers, nostrils, or even on the genitals. These blisters are contagious, and are typically confused for canker sores.
Suggested read: All you need to know about how to reduce fever with home remedies
Causes of fever blisters
The most common causes for fever blisters include:
- Stress
- Hormonal fluctuations
- Trauma to the skin
- Cosmetic surgery
- Lip injury
- Weakened immune system
- Overexposure to sunlight
- Dental treatment
- Hugging/kissing/close contact with someone who has fever blisters
- Sharing a towel/handkerchief/lip products of the infected person
Symptoms of fever blisters
The most common symptoms of fever blisters include:
- Pain and irritation
- Fever
- Itchiness
- Redness
- Swollen lips
- Headache
- Small, red fluid-filled blisters
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Burning sensation
Home remedies for fever blisters
Cold sores or fever blisters most commonly appear as a cluster of small, white blisters. Not only are fever blisters painful, they seriously mar your appearance as well. Although there are many over-the-counter medications available, they’re not always effective. So, you could try some easy, simple, yet natural home remedies for fever blisters, that actually provide you relief fairly quickly. Take a look at some of these remedies:
1. Aloe vera
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Aloe vera is naturally nourishing, which possesses healing properties that help get rid of fever blisters quickly. Additionally, thanks to its anti-bacterial properties, it disinfects the infected area. It also helps speed up the healing process, while reducing the pain and inflammation.
Remedy
- Slice open an aloe vera leaf and squeeze out the gel into a clean bowl. Apply this gel directly over the blisters using clean fingertips. Let it dry on its own. Then, clean it off with lukewarm water. Pat dry with a soft towel. Repeat this remedy several times a day till the blisters dry out completely.
2. Garlic
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Garlic possesses anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties that help get rid of fever blisters quickly. Additionally, it also helps disinfect the area, thereby lowering the healing time.
Remedy
- Crush 3 cloves of garlic and make a paste out of it. Apply this paste directly on the blisters, letting it stay for about 15 minutes. Then, wash it off with plain water. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for a couple of days to treat the fever blisters effectively.
Tip: Garlic when applied on your skin tends to burn and sting a bit. But it subsides soon enough.
3. Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural disinfectant, thus making it highly effective in killing off the germs that might infect the fever blisters. It also helps keep the affected area dry, clean, and free of moisture, because the herpes virus thrives in a damp, warm environment.
Remedies
- Dip a clean cotton ball in 3% hydrogen peroxide and dab it gently on the blisters. Let it stay for a few minutes, before cleaning it off with a wet washcloth. Pat dry with a soft towel. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for at least 3 days to see visible improvement.
- In a clean bowl, crush 2 aspirins and mix it with 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Apply this on the blisters using a clean Q-tip. Let it stay for just a few minutes, before washing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy once a day for not more than a couple of days to get rid of the blisters.
4. Ice
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Cold compresses are known to alleviate swelling, pain, and the redness associated with fever blisters. Additionally, it also helps prevent the infection from spreading.
Remedy
- Take a clean washcloth and wrap a few ice cubes in it. Press it gently over the affected area for about 15 minutes. Repeat this remedy ever few hours to help with the healing process.
Suggested read: 15 extremely effective home remedies for laryngitis that provide quick relief
5. Licorice
Licorice contains anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties that help treat the infection, while also helping bring down the swelling, redness, and inflammation. It also helps speeding up the healing process.
Remedies
- In a clean bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon of licorice root powder and half a teaspoon of water. Apply this paste on the blisters using a clean Q-tip. Let it stay for a few hours, before rinsing it off with plain water. Repeat this remedy at least four times for several days, till the blisters heal completely.
- To 1 cup of hot water, add 1 teaspoon of licorice root powder and cover it with a lid. Let it steep for 10 minutes, before straining the liquid. Drink this licorice tea to speed up the healing process.
6. Onion
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Onion is another remedy that helps treat fever blisters effectively. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory property, it helps in reducing the swelling and pain.
Remedy
- Slice an onion and use it to gently rub on the fever blisters. Let it stay on for about 20 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy twice a day for a few days to get rid of the fever blisters.
7. Plum juice
Plum juice is another useful remedy to get rid of fever blisters effectively. It helps relieve the pain, while also helping speed up the healing process.
Remedy
- Dip a clean Q-tip in plum juice and apply it on the fever blisters. Let it stay on for half an hour, before rinsing it off. Repeat this remedy several times a day for a few days, till the fever blisters dry out completely.
8. Tea
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Tea contains tannins, which is an astringent that contains anti-viral properties. It helps get rid of fever blisters fairly quickly. Additionally, tea also contains antioxidants and vitamins that help heal the blisters.
Remedy
- In 1 cup of boiling water, put 1 black or green tea bag. Let it stay for a couple of minutes. Take off the tea bag and let it cool down completely. Press this tea bag gently on the blisters for a few minutes. Repeat this remedy at least 5 times a day for 4 days to find relief from the blisters.
9. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil possesses anti-viral properties that help treat fever blisters effectively.
Remedies
- In a clean bowl, mix together 1 part tea tree oil and 3 parts water. Dip a clean cotton ball in this and apply it on the affected area thrice a day. Repeat this remedy for a few days, till the fever blisters heal completely.
- Mix together equal amounts of tea tree oil and olive oil. To this, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil. Apply this on the blisters thrice a day for 4-5 days to find relief from the blisters.
10. Toothpaste
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Toothpaste is made with ingredients like menthol, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and baking soda, which help dry out the fever blisters quickly. Additionally, the sodium lauryl sulfate found in it helps reduce the size of the blisters in a couple of days.
Remedies
- Apply a bit of white toothpaste on the blisters, leaving it on overnight. The following morning, wash it off with a clean washcloth. Then, apply petroleum jelly on the affected areas. Repeat this remedy once a day so that the blisters heal quickly.
- In a clean bowl, mix together 1 teaspoon of white toothpaste and half a tablespoon of salt. Use a Q-tip to apply this on the blisters before going to sleep at night. The following morning, clean it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy once every day till the blisters are fully healed.
Tip: Only white toothpaste works best on fever blisters, NOT gel, whitening, or colored toothpastes.
11. Whole milk
Whole milk is another effective remedy that helps fight the virus that causes the fever blisters, thanks to the calcium and immunoglobulins that it contains. Additionally, it also possesses anti-viral properties that help accelerate the healing process by fighting off the virus.
Remedies
- Dip a clean cotton ball in cold whole milk and apply it gently on the affected sores. Let it stay on for about 10 minutes, before rinsing it off with cool water. Repeat this remedy several times a day for 4 days, or till the blisters are gone.
- Drink a glass of warm milk mixed with 1 teaspoon of turmeric twice a day for a week to find relief from the fever blisters.
12. Witch hazel
Witch hazel helps bring down the redness, swelling, and the pain of fever blisters, thus making it an effective remedy.
Remedy
- Dip a cotton ball in witch hazel and dab it on the affected areas. Let it dry on its own, before washing it off with plain water 20 minutes later. Repeat this remedy once a day till the blisters dry out and disappear.
Suggested read: 13 superbly effective home remedies to expel phlegm from your system
13. Yogurt
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Yogurt contains compounds that help combat the virus that cause fever blisters. Additionally, it also helps in preventing the virus from becoming active.
Remedy
- Whisk 1 whole egg in a clean bowl till it’s frothy. To this, add 1 cup of yogurt and 1 tablespoon of honey to form a smooth, thick paste. Slather this on the affected areas using a clean cotton ball. Let it stay for at least half an hour, before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy once a day as needed, till the blisters dry out.
These are all the amazingly effective home remedies for fever blisters that actually work! For more updates on skin care, health tips, and beauty secrets, subscribe to our newsletter today!
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