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 Fever blisters, also known as cold sores, can be described as tiny lesions that appear on your lips as well as the outer edges of your mouth. These blisters generally appear in patches, grouped together around the mouth. They are also filled with a clear liquid and develop scabs after a couple of days.

Cold sores or fever blisters are caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV 1) and can easily spread from one person to the other, through personal contact. Unfortunately, there is no cure for an HSV infection, which is why the blisters may recur sporadically. You could try some antiviral medication to heal the sores quickly and reduce the frequency of the recurrences. There are also several simple home remedies that alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by fever blisters.

Given below are a few effective home remedies that you can use to treat your fever blisters at a faster pace:

• Aloe Vera: Most skin experts suggest fresh Aloe Vera gel for treating sores and other skin ailments. As soon as you experience tingling, itchiness or burning of the fever blister, apply the gel from an aloe leaf directly on to the area.
• Aromatherapy: Several people have successfully relieved the symptoms of fever blister using essential oils, which include bergamot, geranium, rose, lemon balm and tea tree. However, it is important to dilute the essential oil before applying it on to the skin.
• Cornstarch: Fever blisters can be quite itchy and may lead to a lot of skin irritation. Prepare a paste using cornstarch and a small amount of water. Apply the paste directly on to the blister and leave it on till it dries up, before rinsing it off.
• Honey: The antiviral, antifungal and antibiotic properties present in honey enable your body to fight off the infection faster. Take a few drops of honey on your fingertip and apply it directly on to the blister
• Ice: Run a piece of ice directly on the blister for about 10 minutes every hour. This relieves the pain, bleeding and swelling. It also keeps the virus from spreading to other parts of the skin. Instead of ice cubes, you could also use cold water for this purpose.
• Petroleum Jelly: Dab a small amount of petroleum jelly on the blister twice a day. This keeps them from cracking and bleeding. It also reduces the pain caused by the blisters.
• Sage Tea: Prepare a cup of fresh sage tea and add a dash of powdered ginger to it. Drinking this tea a couple of times relieves the discomfort caused by the blisters.
• Salt: Moisten the tip of your index finger and dab it in a bowl of table salt. Next, press your index finger on to the blister for about a minute. Repeat this exercise twice a day, for the next two or three days.
• Teabags: Several individuals have managed to treat their blisters in two or three days, with the help of a used teabag. Steep a plain teabag in a pot of boiling water for a couple of minutes. Allow the teabag to cool completely, before placing it on to the blister.
• White Vinegar: This remedy helps slow down the development of fever blister patches. Dip a cotton ball in a bowl of white vinegar and dab it directly on to the affected parts of the skin. Vinegar can reduce the swelling and relieve the pain to a great extent.
  

It is important to realize that these remedies only alleviate the symptoms and speed up the healing process; they do not cure the infection that causes the cold sores. Moreover, it is best to check with a doctor before using any of these remedies.

References

1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-sore/DS00358/DSECTION=lifestyle-and-home-remedies

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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