What is a fever blister?
A fever blister on the lip or mouth cannot only be itchy and painful, but also, quite embarrassing.
It is a skin condition that is caused by an infection of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), that comes in two different strains.
The viruses causes fever blisters or cold sores, but can also lead to genital sores and herpes in other strains.
Fever blisters are the more commonly reported herpes infection, however with about 15 to 30 percent of Americans being affected by the condition at some point.
They are not only very painful and irritating, they are very contagious as well. They usually appear on the lips, mouth or other parts of the face, such as the nose, cheeks and chin.
There are various symptoms that come with the condition, including a tingling or burning sensation on the part of the face or body that is infected.
Within a couple of days, however, there will be a reddish skin blister appearing that is filled with fluid, which can then turn into an open sore. The sore then crusts over and heals.
These blisters usually resolve themselves within a period of two weeks, but there are effective home treatments and medications that can be used to make the problem go away at lot faster.
Patients usually prefer to treat the condition at home, since they are not only painful, but very unsightly.
A person should take action against the infection as soon as a tingling sensation is felt around the mouth, and not wait for the blister to erupt before beginning the treatment.Treatments
It is very important to clean the blisters. Alcohol or diluted hydrogen peroxide will do the trick. Make sure to use a sterilized cotton ball to treat and clean the infected area several times each day.
A good home remedy to use includes salt and toothpaste. The salt will draw moisture from the infection and the toothpaste is used to hold the salt in place. Clean the blister before going to bed and then apply the paste mixture to the blister.
When the person washes the paste of in the morning, they will notice that the blister has dried.
Exposing the blistered to cold area is a way to increase the chances of further infection, so in order to protect the blister, it is a good idea to use petroleum jelly to cover it.
Hot and cold compresses will offer relief for the pain and itching. It is important to not apply ice directly to the blister, but, to wrap it up in a cloth. Even though this only provides temporary relieve, it is better than nothing at all.
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