In a 2010 report entitled "Oral Health in America," United States Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D. notes that 500,000 Americans develop oral herpes simplex virus infections each year. Oral herpes simplex virus infections follow five characteristic stages. The term "fever blister" refers to the second stage which is characterized by floppy, 1- to 2-mm blisters filled with transparent, yellow-tinged fluid. You can get rid of a fever blister immediately by lancing it and draining the resultant fluid. A lanced fever blister leaves behind an flat, open sore that some people feel is more cosmetically acceptable, although it does not influence the overall duration of symptoms.
Clean Hands and Affected Skin
Step 1
Wash your hands and the affected area with soap and water. To minimize the potential for scarring, do not handle the fever blister with your hands. Instead, irrigate the fever blister with cleanser, then water.
Step 2
Dry hands thoroughly with a paper towel. Gently pat affected skin with another paper towel.
Step 3
Drop paper towel into waste basket.
Prepare Equipment
Step 1
Peel or cut three sides of the gauze wrapper. Set the gauze on the bathroom counter in front of a mirror, still in its wrapper. Without touching the gauze inside, open the wrapper like a book.
Step 2
Fold a square of paper towel into a layered square approximately twice as long as the needle. Set it near the gauze.
Step 3
Light the flame on your burner or candle.
Step 4
Insert the tip of the needle into the flame until the first 1/4 inch glows red. Remove from heat.
Step 5
Extinguish the flame.
Lance the Fever Blister
Step 1
Advance the needle into the fever blister just until it pops. Although it's unlikely, it's okay if the needle is still hot. This increases the sterility of the procedure.
Step 2
Wrap the needle in the square of paper towel. Drop the wrapped needle into the garbage.
Step 3
Blot the fever blister with the sterile gauze for a few minutes, or until blister fluid stops flowing.
Step 4
Apply bandage. Drop the wrapper into the garbage.
Step 5
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Dry with paper towels.
Tips and Warnings
- The herpes simplex virus is highly contagious. Avoid kissing or engaging in oral sex until symptoms resolve. Do not share objects that come into contact with your lesions until they have completely healed. If you share a bathroom with another person, use paper towels on your hands and the affected skin. Put eating utensils directly into the dishwasher or consider using disposable utensils. Applying a lip balm that contains aloe vera at least three times per day until all symptoms resolve. According to the American Academy of General Dentistry, lip balm prevents the lesions from drying out while aloe vera accelerates healing. If you apply cosmetics to the open sore, use a disposable applicator such as cotton swab until your symptoms resolve. Otherwise, your cosmetics may become contaminated with the virus and spread the infection to other areas of your face. If you experience recurrent outbreaks of fever blisters, talk to your doctor about prescription antiviral drugs. Taken daily, the drugs can reduce the number and severity of fever blisters outbreaks.
- Advance the needle only far enough to puncture the fever blister. Do not insert the needle into the skin beneath the blister. Doing so increases the potential for scarring. Avoid picking or playing with the lesions. This increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections and scarring. If you have pets or young children who are likely to play in the garbage, take the garbage out as soon as you have lanced the blister.
Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- Sterile gauze
- Bandage
- Needle or pin, preferably unused
- Gas burner or candle with match
References
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General
- "Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine, 7th Edition"; Klaus Wolff, M.D. et al.; 2008
- Academy of General Dentistry: What Are Cold Sores?
