This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
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Herpes Simplex is a super common virus that is nothing to be embarrassed about.[1] If you have herpes (usually type 1), you probably know that the virus causes cold sores. Most of the time, these appear on the lips, but they can also appear on the chin, cheeks, and nostrils. These outbreaks often recur and are very contagious. Luckily, there are several ways that you can alleviate symptoms and even reduce the likelihood of future outbreaks.
Here are 11 effective ways to treat cold sores and fever blisters.
Steps
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhat should I do after I have put the tea bag on the sore?Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MSLuba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
Board-Certified Family Nurse PractitionerAfter you've placed the tea bag on your sore, relax while you keep it in place for about 5 minutes. Repeat this 3-4 times a day for best results.
Video
Tips
- Some women experience cold sore outbreaks during or just before menstruation.[27]Thanks
- Hormonal changes can sometimes prompt an outbreak. Don't be surprised if certain forms of birth control (such as the morning after pill) cause an outbreak.[28]Thanks
Warnings
- Talk to your doctor before trying out home remedies. Products like essential oils, for example, can cause further skin irritation. Never use nail polish remover or alcohol.Thanks
- Cold sores are contagious starting from the moment they appear to when they have healed completely.[29]Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371023
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/in-depth/fever/art-20050997
- ↑ http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001565.htm
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371023
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a606001.html
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371023
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21136-cold-sores
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/contactlenses/viral-keratitis.html
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20371017
- ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/herpes-hsv1-and-hsv2/herpes-meningoencephalitis
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21136-cold-sores
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21136-cold-sores
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/Dental-dam-use.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/std/herpes/stdfact-herpes.htm
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/heres-how-you-can-get-rid-of-a-cold-sore-fast/
- ↑ https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/cold-sores-self-care
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11799306/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371023
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/390.html
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419779/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20371023
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/cold-sores
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relievers/art-20047257
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20371017
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20371017
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/
About This Article
To treat a cold sore, also called a fever blister, hold a cold compress over it for 10-15 minutes at a time, which can reduce pain and swelling. You can also try dabbing some milk on your cold sore several times a day since milk contains proteins that can help sores heal. Even placing a cool, used green tea bag on your sore for 5 minutes several times a day can help speed up the healing time. If you're looking for a more powerful solution, try using an over-the-counter topical antiviral medication. To learn how to treat cold sores with lifestyle changes, scroll down!
Reader Success Stories
- "This really helped me not freak out too much about it. I'm trying to handle it, even if it is hard and I'm too nervous and ashamed to tell a doctor or my mom. I'm only 14 years old, but I can use some of these methods until I'm ready to go to a doctor."..." more
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