Lip Blisters
Taking Care of Lip Blisters
Lip blisters can be extremely painful which is annoying. When you eat certain foods it can further aggravate them. The biggest problem though is that they are right in plain sight. It can be embarrassing to allow people to see them so many people try to hide them as best they can. For someone with chronic outbreaks though it can take a huge toll on their self esteem.
Paying attention to the onset of lip blisters is the place to start. If you take action immediately you can significantly reduce the size and severity of them. At the same time you can minimize the amount of time it will take for them to clear up. The difference between three days and seven days is significant.
Most people feel itchiness and tenderness around the lips before the blisters start to show up. Nausea, fever, headache, and even sores in the mouth in the back of the throat may develop. Many people think they are suffering from strep throat in the days right before the lip blisters emerge.
Do your best to keep the lips dry when you think an outbreak may be on the horizon. When they do show up it can be tempting to open them up and remove the pus. However, this will make them more irritated and it can also result in an infection if your hands are dirty.
There are many over the counter products you can apply to lip blisters when you feel them coming on. The specific symptoms you experience may be different from someone else. Pay attention to the clues your body gives though and that will help you to intervene. You may want to take an over the counter pain reliever as well to make yourself comfortable. It is wise to take one that is well known to help with inflammation as well.
Other than when you are washing the area and applying ointment, you need to leave it alone. That is often said than done though because many people pick and pick at lip blisters. Give them the chance to dry up and to crust over. Then they will heal up without any infection or scarring.
There is a strong connection for many people between certain foods and the onset of lip blisters. If you consume large amounts of chocolate, grains, seeds, or nuts that could be triggering the problem. This is because such foods have arginine in them and that can be something your body is only happy with in moderation. Making such food changes to evaluate if that is the cause is well worth it.
If you get severe lip blisters or they develop frequently you should talk to your doctor. It may be connected to some other type of underlying health problem or skin condition. If over the counter products aren’t clearing them up then your doctor may be able to offer you something more powerful. Such prescription medications should be used daily until they are gone – even if the lip blisters have disappeared by then. This will reduce the chance of them returning any time soon.
To prevent the spread of lip blisters, don’t kiss anyone if they have them on their face. Likewise, you shouldn’t kiss anyone if you have them. If you feel an outbreak may be possible then you should also avoid kissing during that incubation process. By taking responsibility in such a manner you can avoid passing them back and forth with someone. It is also a good idea to avoid kissing for a few days after the entire lip blister has disappeared to be on the safe side.