Fever Blisters on Lips

A cluster of small, tiny blisters or sores formed on the lips is often referred to as fever blister on lips. It is also known as cold sores. Both children and adults may get infected by fever blisters on lips. This infection spreads from one person to the other on direct contact of the infected area or with secretions of the infections. In children, it spreads when they rub the blister with their hand and touch other children with the same hands. Among adults, this infection is most commonly acquired as a result of kissing. When the infection gets aggravated, a number of tiny blisters may merge to form ulcers and spread inside the mouth on the gums and roof of the mouth or palate.

Symptoms and Causes of Fever Blisters on Lips

Fever blisters on lips occur due to the infection of a highly contagious virus known as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). The virus of the fever blisters attack the skin for the first time when a person is in his or her childhood or adolescent stage. This is known as primary infection where the HSV-1 attacks the wet cell membranes of the lips. When this primary infection happens, its symptoms are fever, headache, soreness of mouth and throat, nausea, vomiting, and painful, open sores on the gums and on the inside wall of the cheeks. In the primary infection stage, it has a lot of similarity with many other viral or bacterial infections of the throat. In most cases, no symptoms are observed in the first few days of infestation. One or more of the symptoms often show up after a week of the attack by the virus.

Once the primary infection sinks, the virus stays in the nerve roots of the infected area in a dormant state. The virus keep getting activated every now and then, and new fever blisters erupt, particularly on the outer portion of the lips. Fever blisters are named so because the virus causing them gets activated from the dormant condition by fever. Some other factors that can lead to activation of the virus include a weak immune system caused by diseases like cancer or AIDS, malnutrition, trauma to the lips, stress, exposure to ultraviolet radiation, menstruation, etc. The very first signs of recurring fever blisters is a mild sense of burning, itching, or tingling. Later, the area swells up and turns red. After a day or two the fever blisters start erupting in clusters. Fever blisters often break and fluid substances are secreted.

Cure for Fever Blisters on Lips

There is no cure for fever blisters on lips as such. However, you can take certain measures that can help to get rid of the pain to some extent:

Antiviral Medicines: The main cause of fever blisters on lips is a virus. Therefore, when antiviral drugs are taken orally they are effective in giving some amount of relief from the pain and swelling of the blisters. They can give the best results if taken at the very early stage of formation of the blisters.

Zinc: Along with the medicines, any topic sulfate cream which contains zinc is good to heal up the sores of fever blisters. It has to be applied on the affected area a number of times all through the day. Research has found that zinc also decreases the chances of recurrence of fever blisters in future.

Aromatherapy: This is an alternative form of treatment for fever blisters on lips. Essential oils like lavender oil, rose oil when applied on them can bring down the pain. Even chamomile or lemon balm can also be used on them. Instead of direct application, you can mix one drop any of the oils and mix it up with jojoba oil and apply on the affected part. It should be applied for 3-5 times every day then only it will show the desired results.Aromatherapy is fast becoming a popular treatment for fever blisters.

Home Remedies: Tannic acid is an essential ingredient of tea bags, and have antiviral properties that helps to decrease fever blisters. For this you have to simply apply a damp bag of black tea on the blisters on lips for around ten minutes. This should be repeated 3-4 times every day. Extracts of aloe vera work wonders in bringing down fever blisters on lips. Aloe vera with a strength rate of .05 percent is the best. It should be applied thrice at least for five days at a stretch. Learn more on:

• Cure for Fever Blisters
• Fever Blisters: Causes and Home Remedies

The primary fever blisters on lips are far more severe that those which happen as a recurrence. Usually, it has been observed that the frequency of recurrence of fever blisters on lips decreases after the age of 35.