For many of us, happiness is all those days when we don't have to deal with fever blisters. Life is good, the sun is shining and all is well with the world.
But somewhere in the dim recesses of our minds lurks the sure knowledge that we will eventually have a fever blister, if not today or next week, then next month or the month after.
Herpes Simplex Virus Type I
The biggest problem with fever blisters isn't just the fact that they are painful and nasty. It's that we can't cure them once and for all. This is because fever blisters are not blisters, nor do they have anything to do with fevers. Fever blisters, or cold sores as they are sometimes called, are caused by the herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1).
If you suffer from fever blisters - or herpes simplex virus type I - you are part of a huge group of people. In fact this common skin condition is thought to affect 15% to 30% of US population. And it is estimated that more than 85% of the world’s population is infected with HSV-1.
Fever Blister Infection
There is only one way to get herpes simplex virus type I, and that is direct contact with someone who has a fever blister. This contact can be via droplets in the breath, skin-to skin contact or infected saliva. This means it is spread most often through kissing.
If you suffer from fever blisters or herpes simplex virus type I, the odds are that you contacted at when you were a child somewhere between six months and 10 years of age. The villain may have been your mother or father or an aunt who just had to cuddle you and smother you with kisses, never realizing that he or she had just gifted you with a virus will last your entire lifetime. On the other hand, if the fever blisters or cold sores came to you later in life, you can probably thank a old boyfriend or girlfriend.
Fever Blisters Lie Dormant
Once you contact herpes simplex virus type I, it generally remains in a nerve located near the cheekbone. It may stay totally dormant in this site but that is rare. What happens most often is that the virus travels down the nerve to the skin surface, causing a recurrence of the fever blisters. These usually erupt at the outside edge of the lip or the edge of the nostril, but can also occur on the chin, inside the mouth or on the cheeks.
The only good news of herpes simplex virus type I is that the recurrent fever blisters usually become less severe after the age of 35.
Fever Blister Warning Signs
Many fever blister sufferers experience what is called a prodrome or symptoms that occur before the fever blister appears. Common prodrome symptoms include pain, tingling, and burning. One of these prodromes can last from two hours to two days. They represent an early warning sign that it's time to start treatment before the fever blister actually appears which, in turn, can help lessen the pain and cut down on the time it takes for the fever blister to heal.
Fever Blisters May Reappear Every Few Months
Fever blisters may reoccur several times a year. This often happen when our body's defenses have become weakened by factors such as emotional stress, illness, injury, fever and even exposure to sunlight. For that matter, many women have recurrences only during menstruation. And there is one study that suggests a susceptibility to re-occurrences of fever blisters may be inherited.
Fever Blister Treatment
While there is no cure for fever blisters, you can lessen their effects. There are fever blister treatments available, over-the-counter or by prescription, that can reduce the pain and burning and decrease the amount of time it takes for the fever blister to heal. Prescription anti-viral drugs can even prevent the sores from forming if you take them soon enough and can even reduce the size of the fever blisters, again if you take them soon enough.
The four prescription fever blister medications normally used to treat fever blisters are Penciclovir 1% cream (Denavir), Acyclovir 5% cream (Zovirex), Valacyclovir (Valtrex) and Famiciclovir (Famvir). All four of these medications are FDA-approved for treating recurring fever blisters. They will also shorten the time to healing by anywhere from half a day to two days, if you begin treatment at the first sign of symptoms.
Fever Blister Suppression Therapy
Some people have tried suppression therapy to reduce the recurrence of fever blisters. Suppression therapy simply means taking a medication every day with the hope of preventing recurrences. While this is not yet FDA approved, there are studies showing that people who have had six fever blisters or more per year, can benefit from taking acyclovir 400 mg twice daily. Other drugs that could be used in suppression therapy include famciclovir 250 mg twice a day or famciclovir 500 mg once a day.
Over-The-Counter Fever Blister Treatments
You can also buy over-the-counter fever blister treatments. And there is a new type of cold sore treatment recently introduced that capitalizes on the microbicidal effects of its active ingredient (benzalkonium chloride) to directly act on the cold sore virus. This treatment is available as Viroxyn.
Some of the other over-the-counter treatments for fever blisters are:
- Viradent Gel Cold Sore Treatment
- Lipreve for Cold Sore Relief
- Abreva Cold Sore Treatment
- H-balm
- Orajel Medicated Cold Sore Brush
- Sore Cold XM
- Super Lysine for Herpes
- Zilactin Cold Sore Gel
- Herpecin-L Lip Balm
- Terasil Cold Sore Cream
What Else Can You Do About Fever Blisters?
When a fever blister erupts you should keep it clean and dry to prevent bacterial infections. You might also eat a soft, bland diet to avoid irritating the sores and surrounding sensitive areas. Be careful not to touch the sores and spread the virus to new sites, such as your eyes. And make sure you do not infect another person by kissing them or touching the fever blister and then touching them. If you have learned that your fever blisters are triggered by sunlight, there is some good news. Scientists at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research have confirmed that if you apply sunscreen to your lips, this can prevent sun-induced recurrences of fever blisters.
Getting a fever blister is certainly bad news, especially given the fact that there is no cure. However, as you have read, there are fever blister treatments that can at least mitigate their effects. One of these medications is sure to help relieve the pain and burning of your fever blisters and shorten the time to healing. You should discuss fever blisters with your doctor or dentist as he or she will be happy to help you determine which of the many fever blister treatments might be best for you.
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