Have you ever experienced painful and annoying sores on your lips? The painful blisters that appear around the lips are called cold sores or fever blisters. They generally are found on the edge of your lip, are unpleasant, and are also associated with a burning sensation. Further, they develop into a red painful sores, which heal within a span of 2-4 weeks.
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and have no permanent cure. It's always better to get rid of a cold sore as soon as you feel one. Home remedies can make you feel better. Generally, the symptoms of cold sores reduce within 3-5days, if symptoms get severe consult a doctor.
Treatment and medications can help you to ease the symptoms as well as reduce the recurrence of these painful blisters.
What are cold sores?
Cold sores are caused by the infectious virus herpes. Over 90% of the humans have this virus in their body, they do not always suffer from cold sores. Those who have suffered from the cold sore in the past will face recurrent infections.
Cold sores produce a painful blister initially, which starts on one side of the lip and spreads to the surrounding skin and into the mouth. Cold sores are recovered within 7-10 days. These blisters break easily and fluid is leaked and the wound is healed. It gets painful and may feel extremely annoying. This can be reduced using some of the home remedies and with the right medication.
According to WHO “In the year 2016, people below the age 50, about 67% of the population had HSV-1. It is seen that the occurrence of this infection was more in Africa about 88% and low in America of about 45%.”
The probability of getting the virus increases with your age. Many people are not aware of it because they do not show any symptoms. It is estimated that around 20-40% of people might get a cold sore who already have the virus in them. [1]
Treatment
Cold sores are caused by the herpes virus and they generally get cured within a few days on their own but sometimes the pain and rate of infection spreading will be at a higher rate. There are ways to reduce the pain, frequency, and intensity of the recurrence.
Few antiviral drugs are available and there are many home remedies too. Here is a list of a few home remedies that can help you ease your symptoms. If you are facing severe infection it is better to consult a doctor and take proper medication.
1. Ice
Ice can blunt the pain, and applying an ice pack on the sore can make you feel better. Ice will not reduce the duration or outbreak of the infection, it just helps you feel more comfortable and acts as temporary pain relief.
2. Lemon
Lemon (Melissa officinalis) has antiviral and antioxidant properties. It is filled with vitamin C, which can boost your immunity and also helps to reduce redness and swelling. Applying lemon-based lip balm can be soothing and can help you avoid the risk of future infections. [2]
3. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera (Liliaceae family) can be easily grown in our garden. Aloe vera has many medical properties such as wound healing, antibacterial, and antiviral. Aloe vera gel has an anthraquinone compound which is antiviral [2]. Applying aloe vera gel on cold sores has been found helpful.
4. Turmeric
Turmeric is best known for medicinal properties and used from our ancient times for its properties like antiviral, anti-inflammatory. It is also used to treat UTI, wounds, and arthritic pain. One of the studies has shown that its effective against herpes. [2]
5. Pain Relievers
When you have cold sores you may experience severe pain. Taking pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help you feel better.
6. Sunscreens
Sunscreen should be used when stepping out of your home. Sunscreens protect your lips while you have cold sore and also they help to avoid the recurrence. It is preferred to use SPF 30 and above. [3]
7. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs
Lysine is an otc drug that is consumed as an oral drug or sometimes as a cream, this is used to treat cold sores. Acyclovir is also an otc drug that is used as an ointment made of beeswax and is used to treat cold sores. [3]
8. Meditation
Stress can also be one of the reasons for herpes virus infections. With regular exercise, mediation one can avoid stress and also build a good immunity. [4]
Transmission and Prevention
Cold sores are transmissible and can be spread by any contact with the sore until it is healed completely. People who are having a cold sore need to be careful, to avoid the transmission of the virus. Here is a list of things to follow during cold sore.
- Do not try to pop your cold sore. Popping your sore leads to the spread of virus fluid throughout your lip and mouth. If it's too itchy then get a lip balm or cold sore patch from a pharmacy. It can help you to avoid breaking it and spreading it.
- Wash your hands with soap immediately after you touch a cold sore. The vial fluid of cold sore may spread to other parts of the body.
- Avoid having oral sex if you have a cold sore. It increases the risk of genital herpes to your partner.
- Do not kiss your partner if you have a cold sore. It increases the spread of cold sore to your partner.
- Do not share your drinks and food with others when you have a cold sore. This increases the spread of cold sore to others as it is contagious.
- Do not wash your face with soap or facial washes, it increases the burning of sore. Soap and facial wash are not effective against the cold sore. Wash your face with mild soap and warm water
When to Consult a Doctor?
Cold sores usually reduce after 3 to 5days with home remedies, personal hygiene, and care. If you are still experiencing the cold sore and if the symptoms appear to be severe, then immediately report to your doctor.
Reason to visit the doctor:
- Difficulty in swallow
- Sore continues to weep
- Appearance of more number of cold sores
- Cold sores spread to other parts of the body
- Cold sores lead to further complications like herpes whitlow(spreads between the fingertips) and herpes keratitis (herpes spreads in eyes)
In case of eczema patients who suffer from apoptotic dermatitis also can have a severe impact if cold sore spreads into the cuts and crack skin, they have to take special care as soon as a cold sore appears and report to the doctor. [5]
Generally, HIV patients and cancer patients have weak immunity. If they have a cold sore then it takes a long time for the recovery. It's better to take doctor’s advice in such cases.
Commonly prescribed drugs as recommended by WHO are acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. These medicines can reduce the pain and cure it, but the virus is not completely killed.
Bottom line
Once you are affected with cold sores, the herpes virus will stay in your body forever. All the existing treatments and remedies are to cure the viral infection and reduce the recurrence. No treatment is available to get rid of it completely.
These home remedies, mediation, personal hygiene, and developing your immune system will help you to reduce future outbreaks and allow fast recovery.
Cold sores are common, so there is no need to worry or panic. If you are immune enough it's likely to get healed soon. If you have symptoms visit a doctor. They will recommend you the antiviral drugs.
Self-caring and hygiene is the best way you can avoid cold sores. With developed innovations and advances in medicine, a cold sore can be healed easily. Do not neglect it, take care, and stay safe.