Home Remedies For Herpes On Lips Using Aloe Vera Gel
Using aloe vera is also considered among the greatest home remedies for herpes on lips. Its gel works well in decreasing herpes blisters. Due to its antioxidants properties, it reduces inflammation and eliminated the skin irritation as well.
You need to prepare:
- Aloe vera gel or aloe vera leaf
Directions:
Take an aloe vera leaf and wash it thoroughly. Next, cut the leaf by using a knife and take out its gel by using a spoon. After that, use this aloe vera gel to apply on your blisters as well as herpes sores with the help of a cotton swab and leave it to dry totally. Soak a towel in warm water and clean the aloe vera gel with this towel. This remedy will give a soothing effect to your condition by repeating it 3-4 times every day.
See more: 16 Advantages And Disadvantages Of Aloe Vera Juice On The Human Body
Home Remedies For Herpes On Lips Using Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is also one of the top home remedies for herpes on lips. Lemon balm helps to heal herpes because it owns antiviral and antibacterial properties. Besides, lemon balm acts as a great natural pain reliever thanks to a compound named eugenol in it.
Method 1:
Directions:
Take some lemon balm at first and directly apply on your lips. After that, leave this balm for a couple of minutes till it completely dries. To cope with herpes on lips, continue this process about 3 to 4 times per day.
Method 2:
- 4 to 5 lemon balm leaves or 2 tbsp of dried lemon balm leaves.
- 2 cups of boiling water
Directions:
Add dried lemon balm or 3 to 4 fresh leaves of lemon balm to two cups of boiling water. Next, steep it for fifteen minutes and leave it to cool naturally. Then, strain the tea and consume it warm. Or, cleaning the affected area with this tea compress is also very effective. Follow this process 2-3 times in a day to remove herpes on the lips.
How Do You Get Rid Of A Cold Sore Fast
Much as sufferers would love one, there is no miracle cure for cold sores. Without treatment, a cold sore will disappear in roughly 7-10 days, says Dr Mahto. However, there are a few things you can try to help speed along this process. You can use an over-the-counter antiviral cream. If youre getting cold sores frequently, visit your GP to see if you can get antiviral prescription tablets, she advises. Alternatively, look into laser treatment or supplements both of which boast some success for people with recurrent cold sores.
Also Check: How Do You Get The Herpes Virus
Recommended Reading: Foods To Help Prevent Herpes Outbreaks
What You Need To Know
- Fifty percent to 80 percent of U.S. adults have oral herpes.
- Oral herpes can be spread through intimate contact with someone who is infected.
- Oral herpes can be difficult to diagnose. Often confused with many other infections, it can only be confirmed with a virus culture called PCR, blood test or biopsy. PCR is the preferred test for diagnosing herpes infections.
- The best treatment for oral herpes is antiviral oral medication. Symptomatic treatment may include antiviral ointment, over-the-counter topical anesthetics or over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents.
Whether you call it a cold sore or a fever blister, oral herpes is a common infection of the mouth area that is caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 . Fifty percent to 80 percent of U.S. adults have oral herpes. According to the National Institutes of Health, about 90 percent of adults have been exposed to the virus by age 50.
Once infected, a person will have herpes simplex virus for the rest of his or her life. When inactive, the virus lies dormant in a group of nerve cells. While some people never develop any symptoms from the virus, others will have periodic outbreaks of infections.
Best For Online Consultations: Lemonaid
- Price: $25 for consultation and prescription, cost of medication varies
- Pros: convenient online appointments and medication delivery
- Cons: does not accept insurance for consultations
This telehealth company provides prescription medications for herpes.
People must fill in an online health questionnaire and provide a photo ID. Depending on the state a person resides in, Lemonaid may require a video or telephone consultation with a healthcare professional.
The company offers preventive treatment with a prescription that lasts for 1 year or immediate treatment for current herpes flare-ups.
People can choose home delivery or pick up their medication at a local pharmacy.
However, Lemonaid does not offer genital herpes prescription medications for people using the service for the first time. In this case, users must go to a doctor or gynecologist for an initial diagnosis.
The majority of Lemonaid consultation fees cost a flat rate of $25. This fee does not cover the cost of medication.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Herpes On Lips Fast
Why Cold Sores Come Back
Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.
Most people are exposed to the virus when they’re young after close skin to skin contact, such as kissing, with someone who has a cold sore.
It does not usually cause any symptoms until you’re older. You will not know if it’s in your skin unless you get a cold sore.
Page last reviewed: 20 July 2020 Next review due: 20 July 2023
How Is Genital Herpes Diagnosed
Doctors can diagnose genital herpes by examining visible sores or by submitting a sample of the lesions to laboratory tests. Herpes can be difficult to identify between one manifestation and another. Blood tests that indicate the presence of antibodies to HSV viruses of both types can be useful for diagnosis in people who do not exhibit symptoms or in the time interval between manifestations.
Don’t Miss: How To Prevent The Spread Of Genital Herpes
A Pharmacist Can Help With Cold Sores
A pharmacist can recommend:
- creams to ease pain and irritation
- antiviral creams to speed up healing time
- cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals
You can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers.
Some people find these helpful, but there have not been many studies to confirm if they work.
If you regularly get cold sores, use antiviral creams as soon as you recognise the early tingling feeling. They do not always work after blisters appear.
Mouth And Lip Sores In Toddlers And Babies
Most of the causes of mouth sores in baby areas we have discussed. One of the possible ways that young babies and toddlers end up with sores on their lips is through infection at birth from infected mothers, kissing their lips or touching the lips with contaminated hands frequently.
Causes of in toddlers include herpes simplex, canker sores, syphilis, gingivostomatitis and ulcerative colitis.
Symptoms shown by young babies and children may vary in accordance with the causes. These comprise:
- Swelling on the affected area
Read Also: Can You Catch Herpes With Condom
How Can I Stop Cold Sores From Forming
So you nipped your last cold sore flare-up in the bud , and it lasted less than a week but here you are, just a few months later, and the cold sores are back. There’s good news, and then there’s bad news. Let’s start with the bad news.
“Once a person is infected with herpes simplex virus, he or she is infected for life,” says Dr. Brown. “After a cold sore heals, the virus isn’t actually cleared from your body. Instead, the virus travels back into your nerves, where it can lie dormant for long periods of time. When the virus reemerges, it typically does so in the same spot as before.”
So what triggers the virus to reactivate and cause a flare-up?
Dr. Brown says that a cold sore outbreak can be triggered by:
How Long Does A Cold Sore Last
The amount of time a cold sore hangs around for can vary, but its roughly 14 days. Thats from the day you first feel a tingle, to the day its completely healed.
For the first couple of days the cold sore will be developing. You will feel a tingle and the skin may also tighten.
In day 3 and 4 the body begins to fight the virus and a blister will appear. These blisters contain virus particles which spread the virus. Doing this will restart the cycle and make the cold sores last longer.
Around day 4 or 5 the blisters burst, which leaves a shallow ulcer. The cold sore will begin to dry out from here and until day 10. When dry, the cold sore may crack, which can delay the healing process.
To speed up the process, avoid the urge to pick and scratch a cold sore. This not only prolongs the life of an existing cold sore, but can also create a new virus.
Recommended Reading: Is Femiclear Herpes Supposed To Burn
Home Remedies For Herpes On Lips Using Tea Tree Oil
Using tea tree oil is regarded among the most excellent home remedies for herpes on lips. It is antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory in nature, all of which make it effective in curing herpes on the lips.
You need to prepare:
- 1 to 2 drops of tea tree oil
- 1 to 2 tsp of carrier oil of your option
Directions:
Wash your hands using soap and water at first and pat dry completely. Take tea tree oil and add about one to two teaspoons of carrier oil of your option, such as almond, coconut or olive oil to it. After that, apply the tea tree oil mixture using a cotton swab to your blisters on your lips. Let the oil remain for several minutes or till it totally becomes dry. After applying the oil, wash your hands again. To remove herpes on the lips, follow this home remedy about 3 to 4 times daily.
Note: Tea tree oil may cause irritation so dont apply it anywhere on your skin except blisters or sores.
See more: 16 Advantages Of Tea Tree Oil For Skin, Hair And Health
Complications Of Cold Sores
Cold sores are usually mild, but may cause complications in rare cases. People with weak immune systems caused by illness or treatments such as chemotherapy are particularly at risk of complications.
Dehydration sometimes occurs if drinking fluids becomes painful. Young children are particularly at risk of becoming dehydrated.
The herpes simplex virus can also spread to other parts of your body. Examples of when this can occur include:
- skin infections these often occur if the virus comes into contact with broken skin, such as a cut or graze, or a skin condition such as eczema
- herpetic whitlow this causes painful sores and blisters to appear on and around your fingers
- herpetic keratoconjunctivitis this causes swelling and irritation of your eye area and sores to develop on your eyelids
Left untreated, herpetic keratoconjunctivitis can cause the cornea, the transparent layer at the front of your eye, to become infected, which can eventually lead to blindness.
It’s therefore important not to touch your eyes if you have an unhealed cold sore. If you must touch your eyes for example, to remove contact lenses wash your hands thoroughly first.
In very rare cases, encephalitis, a condition where the brain becomes inflamed and swollen, can be caused by the cold sore virus spreading to the brain. It can be treated with intravenous injections of antiviral medications, such as aciclovir.
Read Also: How Can You Tell If You Got Herpes
What Happens If Herpes Goes Untreated
The first outbreak of genital herpes can be the most severe and can cause complications such as vaginal yeast infections, urinating problems, and meningitis.
Treatment may not be necessary for subsequent outbreaks, but anyone experiencing very regular or severe outbreaks should speak with a doctor about preventive treatment.
Can Cold Sores Be Prevented
There are steps you can take to prevent spreading cold sores to others if you have them:
- Avoid any direct physical contact with other people, particularly kissing or intimate sexual activities such as oral sex.
- Always wash your hands if you touch the affected area.
- Try not to share things like cups, cutlery, towels, toothbrushes, razors, flannels and cold sore creams with anyone else.
- Try not to pick at a cold sore as this can lead to further infection and/or scarring.
There are also ways to prevent spreading cold sores from erupting again:
- Try to avoid your triggers. Triggers are different for different people but can include things like a cold , sunlight, very windy conditions, emotional or physical stress and hormonal changes.
- Take care of your general health avoid getting run down and overly stressed.
You May Like: Why Do I Keep Having Herpes Breakouts
Why And How Cold Sores Develop
Before we get into the best ways to get rid of a cold sore quickly, lets look at how cold sores can develop in the first place.
Cold sores are a symptom of the herpes simplex virus , which is better known simply as oral herpes. Oral herpes is extremely common, with the World Health Organization reporting that about two thirds of the global population under age 50 is infected.
Oral herpes spreads primarily through direct contact, for example through kissing or havingoral sex, which is one reason its common for cold sores to carry a bit of a stigma, from a dating perspective. It can also be spread through sharing, lip balm, lipstick, cups, and utensils.
While HSV-1 is extremely common and highly contagious, many people never experience any cold sores. On average, about 20% to 40% of people that have HSV-1 will get cold sores, sometimes once or twice a year, although they can be more or less frequent.
When we talk about cold sores, what were really talking about is a cold sore breakout. This is when the HSV-1 virus becomes active after staying dormant in the body, causing sores to develop.
Cold sores usually develop on your lips, but they can also form on your gums and on the roof of your mouth.
Normally, cold sore breakouts are triggered by a specific event or condition, such as stress or illness. Some of the most common triggers for cold sore breakouts are:
How Are Cold Sores Treated
Cold sores cant be cured, but, if symptoms are severe, treatment may help relieve some symptoms. Treatment may include:
-
Antiviral topical ointments
-
Antiviral oral medications
-
Over-the-counter topical anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents may help with symptoms
Cold sores take about 1 to 3 weeks to heal. The first time they appear, they can take up to 3 weeks to heal. But, when cold sores return, they usually take a week to heal if no medicines are used. Antiviral medications may help, but they need to be started before day 3 or 4 of the blister formation. Antivirals are usually not recommended for otherwise healthy people. Always consult your health care provider or dentist if the sore does not heal or becomes worse as time passes.
Don’t Miss: How To Prevent Recurrent Genital Herpes
Dermatologists Tips For Treating Cold Sores At Home
Although most cold sores heal on their own, there are things you can do to help lessen the symptoms. This is what dermatologists tell their patients:
-
To reduce the time that you have a cold sore: At the first sign of a cold sore, gently apply an antiviral cold sore medicine. You can buy some without a prescription. Look for a product that contains docosanol or benzyl alcohol.
-
To lessen pain, burning, or itch: Place ice on the cold sore or suck on ice chips. You can also apply a non-prescription gel or ointment that can help relieve pain. These usually contain either benzocaine, lidocaine, dibucaine, or benzyl alcohol.
-
To lessen the pain: Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
-
To avoid pain caused by foods: Some foods can cause burning if they touch a cold sore. You can avoid this by not eating foods that contain acid, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits. Avoiding foods that are salty or spicy can also help.
-
To minimize redness and irritation: Place a clean, cold, wet towel on the sores for 5 to 10 minutes a few times a day.
-
To avoid dry, cracked skin: Gently apply petroleum jelly to the sores and surrounding skin.
How To Prevent Cold Sores
The virus that causes cold sores, herpes simplex virus type 1, is a lifelong problem, but there are measures you can take to prevent outbreaks.
Replace your toothbrushafter a cold sore. The virus can live on your toothbrush for days, and if you use a contaminated toothbrush, your lips could become re-infected.
Avoid triggers for cold sores, which can be different for each person. Some common cold sore triggers are stress, hormonal changes, illness and physical strain. Once you know your personal triggers, you can be mindful to avoid them.
Taking care of your lips with a sunblock lip balm can help prevent cold sores from other triggers, such as exposure to sunlight and dry, cracked lips. There are even lip balms specifically designed to help prevent and treat cold sore outbreaks. While this isnt a guarantee to stop cold sores, keeping your lips moisturized and protected from the sun is an easy daily step for prevention.
If you suffer from cold sores often, your dentist may recommend taking an antiviral medication regularly to help prevent outbreaks.
Although there isnt a cure for the common cold sore, there are plenty of ways to cope with it. Finding the right treatment for you might take a bit of trial and error, but with these options, you can find one that works best for you and get back to your healthy smile.
Donât Miss: What To Do If You Have Herpes
Recommended Reading: Does Herpes Medicine Prevent Spread