How do fever blisters work

Avoid coming into contact with infected body fluids, such as kissing an infected person. Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking cups, or other items that a person with a cold sore may have used.

Avoid the things that trigger your cold sores, such as stress and colds or the flu. Always use lip balm and sunscreen on your face. Too much sunlight can cause cold sores to flare.

Avoid sharing towels, razors, silverware, toothbrushes, or other objects that a person with a cold sore may have used. When you have a cold sore, make sure to wash your hands often, and try not to touch your sore. This can help keep you from spreading the virus to your eyes or genital area or to other people.

Talk to your doctor if you get cold sores often. You may be able to take prescription pills to prevent cold sore outbreaks. Symptoms Cold sores are blisters on the lips and the edge of the mouth that are caused by an infection with the herpes simplex virus HSV. Other symptoms may include: A sore mouth that makes eating, drinking, and sleeping uncomfortable. Cold sores can be painful. A fever. A sore throat. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Drooling, in small children. Some common triggers that cause cold sores to return include: Sunlight exposure, especially on the lips.

Stress or fatigue. Other infections, such as a cold or the flu. Food allergies. Dental treatment or injury to the lips or gums. An impaired weak immune system. Cosmetic surgery, such as dermabrasion or laser skin resurfacing. Pregnancy and hormonal changes in women caused by the menstrual cycle. Who is at greatest risk for developing cold sores? Examinations and Tests Your doctor can diagnose cold sores by asking questions to find out whether you've been exposed to the herpes simplex virus HSV and by examining you.

Treatment Overview There is no cure for cold sores, nor is there a cure for the herpes simplex virus HSV that causes them. For treatment of recurrent cold sores, the following medicines may reduce the severity and duration of the outbreak: footnote 1 Topical creams or ointments, which are available with or without a prescription, can reduce pain, itching, and healing time.

Oral antiviral medicines, which are available by prescription only, may be used when the first symptoms such as burning or itching begin.

Other treatments The first episode of cold sores can be so painful that you may have trouble eating, drinking, and sleeping. Complementary medicine Several complementary medicine treatments are available if you wish to try an alternative way to ease your symptoms. Home Treatment Most cold sores heal on their own. But you can manage your symptoms at home by: Placing a cool, wet towel on the sores 3 times a day for 20 minutes each time to help reduce redness and swelling.

Using a mouth rinse that has baking soda to soothe a sore mouth. Avoiding foods that contain acid such as citrus fruits and tomatoes. Using non-prescription ointments that can relieve pain or help heal the cold sore. Some products such as Abreva and Zilactin can speed the healing of cold sores or prevent them if applied early enough.

Other products such as Orajel and Anbesol can numb sore areas in the mouth or on the lips. Abreva is for people age 12 and older, so talk to your doctor before using it for a younger child. And if your child is younger than 2, talk to your doctor before using any of these medicines. You can reduce the frequency of cold sore outbreaks by taking the following steps: Avoid prolonged exposure of your lips to sunlight.

Use sunscreen at all times on your lips in a lip balm form and protect your face from the sun. Using lip balm that contains sunscreen may help reduce outbreaks of cold sores. Avoid intimate contact such as kissing with people who have cold sores or genital herpes.

These measures may help prevent the spread of cold sores in children: Encourage frequent handwashing. Do not let children share toys that other children put in their mouths.

Clean toys occasionally with a disinfectant. Do not let children kiss each other while they have cold sores or uncontrollable drooling. Use disposable gloves or a cotton swab to apply medicated ointment to a child's cold sores. Related Information Genital Herpes. References Citations Worrall G Herpes labialis, search date February This virus attacks cells and, as a side effect, it creates an area of inflamed sore skin, which we call a fever blister or a cold sore.

In addition to being called fever blisters or cold sores, these blisters are often called oral herpes because they are caused by the herpes simplex virus 1 HSV This common viral infection affects around two thirds of adults aged 50 and over according to the World Health Organization, but not everyone will show the telltale symptom of blisters on their lips. The blisters associated with cold sores appear on the lips or the edges of the lips.

If, however, the herpes simplex virus HSV-1 is passed to other parts of the body, such as the nose, eyes or genitals, you may experience fever blisters there, too. A fever blister on your lip will appear as a small area of red, inflamed skin that may feel sore. A blister will then form, and may break apart and weep clear liquid.

After a few days, the fever blister will be covered by hard crusts or scabs. More than one blister is likely, with fever blisters often grouped together in patches. Fever blisters heal without leaving a scar. Fever blisters are highly contagious and can be spread easily. To avoid passing the virus to others, you should stick to a strict hygiene regime and avoid kissing and sharing objects such as eating utensils and cosmetics iv.

A blister or cold sore on your lip may take up to two weeks to fully heal. Symptoms normally begin with a tingling, itching or burning sensation. It later develops into a blister, may weep clear fluid and then scab over. Fever blister complications are uncommon.

Page last reviewed: 20 July Next review due: 20 July Cold sores. Check if it's a cold sore A cold sore usually starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling. Over the next 48 hours: Small fluid-filled blisters appear. Other possible causes of your symptoms Symptoms Possible cause Painful red spot on the face filled with pus Spot or boil Blister on the inside of the lip or mouth Mouth ulcer Red sores or blisters on the face that become crusty, golden-brown patches Impetigo.

Information: If you regularly get cold sores, use antiviral creams as soon as you recognise the early tingling feeling. Find a pharmacy. Important Kissing a baby if you have a cold sore can lead to neonatal herpes , which is very dangerous to newborn babies. Do eat cool, soft foods wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying cream avoid anything that triggers your cold sores use sunblock lip balm SPF 15 or above if you're outside in the sun take paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease pain and swelling liquid paracetamol is available for children — do not give aspirin to children under 16 drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.