Can i pop fever blister

After treatment, you…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. Risks Try this Healing time Takeaway What is a cold sore? Read on to learn why and find out what you can do instead. What happens when you pop a cold sore? What can I do instead? How long will it take to heal on its own? The bottom line. Cold Sores. Read this next. The 7 Best Cold Sore Remedies. Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.

If you prefer to listen to this article, click on the SoundCloud player below. Lysine: An oral supplement or ointment, found in the pharmacy or health store supplement section, may prevent outbreaks, or lessen its duration.

Use as directed on the bottle. Lemon lip balm or lemon tea: Use a lip balm with at least 1 percent lemon, or you can use a cottonball soaked in strong lemon tea used as a compress, held in place for a few minutes, and repeated several times a day.

Aloe Vera: The preferred usage is applying fresh gel directly from the easily-maintained plant in compress form, but a store-bought pure aloe vera gel can also be used. Aloe vera is often used for treatment of skin problems, and can help prevent a bacterial infection from developing in the open sore. Real vanilla extract: The alcohol in the extract keeps the area clean and may make it harder for the virus to flourish.

Apply compress-style as soon as you feel the first tingling sensation, and use until no longer needed. NOTE: There is some discussion as to whether an open sore heals faster when kept dry which is enhanced by using an alcohol-based product or moist, which results from using an ointment such as petroleum jelly. Trial and error will let you know what works for you.

However, once a scab is formed, an ointment can reduce the chances of the scab cracking, causing more pain, and increasing the chance of a secondary infection. Licorice powder: Unfortunately, chowing down on your favorite brand of black licorice won't do the trick on this one.

Use licorice powder mixed with water or petroleum jelly to form a paste, and apply it to the affected area several times a day — or even better, right before bedtime so it can stay there all night. Milk: It's not just for babies anymore! Milk contains L-Lysine and proteins known as immunoglobulins the little soldier cells your body produces to fight off infections. To prevent outbreaks, drink whole milk. To help cold sores that have already erupted, use a whole-milk compress.

Peppermint oil: This natural remedy kills the virus cells when applied directly to an open wound. Unfortunately, the oil can't soak through your skin, so this isn't a preventive measure.

Add peppermint oil to a little water and use in compress form. Hydrogen peroxide: Yes, that cure-all your mom poured on every ailment actually IS a disinfectant, and can help prevent an open sore from creating another sore. Use in compress form. Over-the-Counter Medicines Several over-the-counter medicines are commonly used to treat cold sores.

Abreva and Zilactin can help the sore disappear more quickly, and some people find they can stop a severe outbreak if applied soon enough. Orajel and Anbesol are used to reduce the pain of the sore. Prescription Treatments Many physicians will take your word for it if you tell them you're prone to outbreaks. Prevention Cold sores can appear at the worst times.

Use Sunscreen Sunscreen, in addition to keeping you from looking like an old raisin and helping you avoid skin cancer, can also help prevent an outbreak. Don't Touch You may want to scratch at the newly-formed bumps. Use Ice Applying a soft ice pack to the sore can reduce the tenderness of the area. Trade-in Your Toothbrush Get rid of your toothbrush after a fever blister has formed, and get rid of it again once the sore is gone. When you pop a pimple you release sebum from a clogged pore in the skin.

When you squeeze a cold sore you release infectious viral fluid through an open sore that can easily spread to other parts of the body. Through direct contact with the open sore, the fluid can spread to your fingers, eyes or genitals, causing a serious infection to develop. Beyond prolonging the healing process and increasing your risk of spreading cold sores to other parts of the body or to other people, there are several other reasons not to pop a cold sore.

Therefore, instead of popping your cold sore, make sure you avoid touching or scratching it. Close search.