In fact, some doctors say as many as 1 in 5 children will contract Herpes Simplex 1, HSV-1, the virus that causes cold sores.

Luckily, treating cold sores and preventing lip blisters isn’t much different in children than it is in adults.

How to Recognize Cold Sores

Cold sores, unlike other mouth sores, are usually small, red bumps that appear primarily as sores on lips. They can appear inside the mouth, but that is rare. Cold sores can also creep up into the nose and they can cause a lot of pain no matter where they show up.

These fever blisters can last 1-2 weeks, often erupting a few days after a child feels a tingling in their lips. Once the sore grows, it will eventually burst and leak a white fluid. The exposed lip sore will then crust over and last as many as 10 days.

After healing, sores on lips will leave a red mark on the child’s face for as long as a month in some cases.

What Problems Cause Cold Sores in Children?

Just like adults, kids can get HSV-1 from the following:

• Sickness
• Overexposure to Sunlight
• Stress
• Chapped Lips
• Sharing Food or Drink with a Kid Who Has Cold Sores

Read more about what problems cause cold sores.

Fever Blister Treatment for Kids

There is no cure for cold sores, but you can take steps to help heal lip sores more quickly.

Here’s how to take action:

• Make sure the child is getting a balanced diet. Doctors have linked improper diets to contributing to trigger factors in cold sores.
• Give the child foods high in Lysine, a compound known for quickening the lifespan of a lip sore. Foods high in lysine include Chicken, Beans and Fish.
• Apply moisturizer to the cold sore
• Cover sores on lips with a balm
• Acetominophen and Ibuprofen can be given to some children to help ease the pain caused by lip blisters.

Get more cold sore remedies.

Prevent Cold Sores

Cold sores can’t be completely prevented, but kids can reduce the likelihood of a cold sore outbreak.

A simple step would be to make sure child washes his or her hands and face regularly, especially when they are around a child who currently has cold sores.

Get more methods to prevent cold sores.

Herpecin-L Lip Balm Stick, SPF 30

Apply Herpecin when you feel your lips begin tingling.  This balm is known to stop cold sores in their tracks.  There are a lot more reviews out there about Carmex but I think that is because Carmex has been around longer and therefore has a greater loyalty.

Herpecin is a really great product and it has cured my lip sores before they even get to the blister stage.

Ingredients:

Sunscreen – Sun burn is known to agitate the skin and cause lip sores
Lemon Balm, Vitamin B6 – skin conditioner
Dimethicone – seals moisture in skin
Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Lysine – antioxidants

Carmex Cold Sores Click Stick Lip Moisturizer with Sunscreen, Cherry Flavor, SPF 15

Carmex Lip Balm seals in lip moisture and helps prevents your lips from getting dried out or wind burned. Sun is a known culprit in causing cold sores and lip sores so having the double feature of sunscreen along with the moisturizer is a great way to cure lip sores.

Carmex is a long, trusted brand in cold sore prevention and relief.  Many people swear by it and take Carmex with them wherever they go.  For a while I even heard rumors that Carmex had addictive qualities.
It doesn’t, if you are worried.

Besides the somewhat medicinal taste of Carmex, it works really well at relieving burning, itching and swelling of mouth sores.  Carmex, in my experience, has never prevented a cold sore from appearing like Herpecin does but Carmex does an excellent job at keeping lips moisturized and soft, which will keep cold sores from happening in the long run.  If you wear Carmex daily you’ll probably have fewer mouth sores.

If I were you I would not buy the flavored Carmex.  Scents and added dyes can irritate your lip sore further.  It is always best to stick with an all natural product with no added flavors–although the flavored type is tempting to buy since Carmex doesn’t taste great.

Active Ingredients:
Octinoxate
Oxybenzone

Inactive Ingredients:
Petrolatum
Lanolin
Meadow Foam
Seed Oil
Camphor
Menthol
Phenol
Salicylic Acid in a mixture of fragrance

Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment

Blistex offers hydrating lip therapy for extremely chapped lips.  Chapped lips leave lips sore and dry and this can cause a lip sore outbreak.  The nice thing about Blistex is that the menthol in it makes your lips instantly feel cool and refreshed.  It relieves burning and itching right away and it doesn’t have the waxy taste associated with Herpecin or Carmex.  Blistex has a nourishing feel but again, it doesn’t prevent or cure a cold sore; it does help relieve the lip sores once they come though.

At the first sign of a lip sore, fever blister or severe chapping or sunburn rub this ointment on your lips to soothe and protect them.

Like Carmex (with flavoring) Blistex does offer balms that have added flavors.  This can cause further irritation to your sores if you have a bad reaction to it.  Keep this in mind when making your product choice.

Active Ingredients:
Allantoin
Camphor
Menthol
Phenol

Inactive Ingredients:
ammonium hydroxide
beeswax
calcium disodium EDTA
calcium hydroxide
cetyl alcohol
dimethicone
flavors
glycerin
lanolin
lauric acid
mineral oil
myristic acid
oleic acid
palmitic acid
paraffin
petrolatum
polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate
potassium hydroxide
purified water
SD alcohol
silica
sodium hydroxide
sodium saccharin
stearyl alcohol

Be aware of ingredients and allergies.  If you are allergic to any of the ingredients listed do not use that product.  A small amount of an ingredient you are allergic to applied to an open sore can seriously negatively affect your good intentions and cause more pain.

The fact is, lip sores are extremely contagious.  They are most contagious when the blisters are opened and not scabbed yet.  The pus is the cold sore virus and when you have open mouth blisters this virus is available to contaminate the world.

You want to be sure to keep your hands very clean and be sure not to touch at your mouth.  This can be difficult since you are probably self-conscious of your lip sore and it is easy to touch at the area subconsciously, please try not to do this.

Wash your hands and carry sanitizer with you while you are suffering with a cold sore outbreak.  Clean hands will prevent you from spreading the virus to others and it will also protect you from reinfecting yourself.

Be very careful not to touch, scratch or rub at your eyes after touching your lip sore.  Having the Herpes Simplex 1 virus in your eye is dangerous and can cause blindness.

You can transmit the cold sore virus by kissing and by oral sex!  Don’t share chap stick, towels, beverage glasses, or eating utensils-unless you are trying to pay back someone for giving you a cold sore.

It is especially important to stay away from the elderly, infants and ill people when you have contagious lip sores.  These people are especially susceptible to the virus and could end up getting very ill if they are exposed and contract a lip sore.  With a low immune system their bodies don’t have the ability to fight off the virus and therefore they get extremely sick and may have multiple out breaks.

The sad thing is, you can’t cure cold sores, also known as fever blisters.

But you can take steps to prevent cold sores and it’s best to know what triggers a lip sore outbreak for your body.

COMMON COLD SORE TRIGGERS

If you’re going to prevent new sores on your lips, get to know these common triggers that many of us don’t give enough credit to.

1. Stress: We all have too much stress in our lives. But when stress really gets to us, it’s common for a cold sore to erupt. Talk about adding wood to the fire.
2. Not Enough Sleep: The average adult should get at least 6-9 hours of sleep a night. If you’re not getting that much, you could be tempting a mouth sore to appear.
3. Overexposure to Sunlight: Too much sunlight or exposure to UV rays can dry out the skin and attach your lips. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time or in the tanning booth, make sure you use a lip balm to protect your lips.
4. Dry, Chapped Lips: Deal with chapped lips immediately. The last thing you want to do is create lip sores by not taking care of them.
5. Menstruation
6. Pregnancy
7. Fever: Getting a cold or flu can reduce your body’s hydration levels, which can spur fever blisters.

While not all of these causes of cold sores can be avoided, some of them can at least be addressed before it becomes too late. If you think you are about to have some mouth sores, it’s best to get prepared with some pain relievers and natural home remedies for mouth sores.

Once contracted, cold sores will lie dormant in your nervous tissue. Everyone has certain lip sore triggers that will prompt a new sore to erupt.

Fever blisters can’t be cured but you can take steps to prevent cold sores and treat them to shorten their lifespan.

Cold Sore Signs and Symptoms

Here’s some things you should look for to identify lip sores:

• Tingling of the lips. This sometimes precedes lip blisters by 1-2 days.
• Small, hard bumps under the skin around the mouth
• Small and painful blisters filled with fluid on around the mouth. These blisters are often raised, red and very painful.

Cold sores last 7-14 days and can leave a lasting red bump for up to a month after a lip sore has erupted. They can also appear on your nostrils and sometimes inside your mouth.

After a cold sore has appeared, it will eventually break and release fluid. After that, the lip sore will crust over and will create a scab that can last for about 10 days.

Cold Sores Are Contagious

Cold sores brought on by HSV-1 are very contagious, especially during the period that they have erupted on your skin. It’s best to stay out of contact with others during this time and avoid touching you sore with with your fingers.

Do not share food, drinks, utensils or even towels with someone who has an open fever blister.

Cold sores are even contagious when they are not present, but spreading them during this time is rare.

Preventing Cold Sores

There are several steps you can take for preventing cold sores. To do so, you must know:

1. What are your cold sore triggers
2. How to prevent cold sores

Some simple steps to take include eating healthy foods, wearing sunblock and avoiding stress.

Cold Sores Treatment

If you have cold sores, you will want to take steps to make sure your body can deal with the pain and also shorten the lifespan of the cold sore.

Here’s some more resources for treating lip sores:

• The truth about Abreva ointment
• Cold Sore Pain Killers

Medical Attention Sometimes Required

Cold sores that last for more than two weeks can be cause for consulting a medical professional. Most cold sores will not need medical assistance, but if your symptoms are severe, you’ve had irritation in your eyes or you have a pre-existing condition that lowers your immune system, it’s best to get the help you need.

If you are doing any of the things listed here and getting lip sores, fever blisters or mouth sores…then stop!

Infected By Other People

Cold sores are always contagious however, they are most contagious when they break and the sore is weeping.  The pus inside contains thousands of viruses.  Do not kiss or share chap stick or utensils with a person with lip sores!

Stress

Any type of stress to your body can trigger a cold sore.  Being ill, traveling and dental work can all affect the Herpes Simplex 1 virus and it will attack.  Not having good nutrition or enough rest will also make you prone to getting lip sores.

Sun

Long exposure to the sun has been associated with lip sore development.  The sun contains Ultra Violet rays and this is what causes an outbreak.

Reinfected By Yourself

Be sure to wash your hands and all washcloths and towels used on your face during your cold sore infection.  Since lip sores are so contagious you can easily spread the virus to another part of your body or reinfect your mouth with another sore.  Don’t touch at the sore unless you are by a sink with soap and can immediately sanitize your hands!

Hormonal Change

Women are vulnerable to lip sores during their menstrual cycles.  This hormonal change seems to stress the body just enough to cause a skin eruption.  Acne works the same way, puberty/changes in hormonal balance will trigger an outbreak.

The Herpes Simplex 1 virus isn’t completely understood.  Some people are completely immune to getting a cold sore while others can be infected time and time again.  This are only the 5 common causes of lip sores, you could be a healthy person who stays out of the sun, gets plenty of exercise and never leaves home without hand sanitizer and still be a victim of lip sore break outs.

For more information on treatment go to mouth sores treatment.

They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  That’s certainly true with reducing mouth herpes breakouts. Avoiding factors like stress and ultraviolet light goes a long way towards preventing a breakout. There are also viral suppression medications that can be taken daily for people who suffer from frequent (6 or more times per year) breakouts.

Best Mouth Sores Killer #2 – Oral Medications

Valtrex (generic name Valacyclovir) is an oral medication which has been shown to reduce pain and shorten healing time. It has only been shown to be effective if used before the appearance of a cold sore. On it works by stopping or slowing the reproduction of the virus.

Best Mouth Sores Killer #3 – Topical Medications

Zovirax (generic name Acyclovir) is an FDA approved cream which has (like Valtrex) been shown to shorten healing time. Sometimes you can’t (or don’t want to) go to a doctor and are stuck with what’s available over the counter. Abreva is a topical cream that is available over the counter for treating cold sores.  For treating the symptoms alone (for reducing pain and itching), we recommend Carmex gel.

There are also natural treatments available for cold sores.  We recommend the Cold Sore Freedom in 3 Days system if you are interested in a natural solution.

Once we feel the tingle of a fever blister coming on, many of us immediately rush to the drug store to find some type of cold sore treatment. One of the top over-the-counter lip sore medicines people buy is Abreva.

Although many people buy Abreva, is it really the solution you should first turn to?

HOW ABREVA ATTACKS COLD SORES

Abreva is the only over-the-counter coldsore medicine that contains 10% Docosonal. What’s interesting that Docosonal is that it works to make cells surrounding your mouth sore impenetrable by the Herpes Simplex 1 virus, otherwise called herpes labialis. This helps prevent spreading of your mouth sores.

Abreva is safe for people 12 years old and older and should be applied 5-10 times per day until your lip sore improves, according to pharmacists. The company that produces Abreva says a common tube should help you battle through 2-3 episodes of coldsores.

PROBLEMS REGARDING ABREVA FOR LIP SORES

You should avoid using Abreva for lip sores inside the mouth and nose because its chemicals can be harmful to your mucous membranes. It’s OK to get a little on your sores inside your mouth, but if you’ve applied a lot, rise your mouth out immediately.

Also, Abreva will produce better results if you apply it in the early stages of a lip sore. If you wait for the mouth sore to form, Abreva will not be as effective in healing any type of fever blister.

SHOULD YOU USE ABREVA TO HEAL MOUTH SORES?

While Abreva is not a natural home remedy for cold sores, it can offer some immediate benefits for helping you to heal sores on lips quickly. In fact, Abreva is the only over-the-counter medicine that is FDA-approved for helping shorten the lifespan of a coldsore.

However, as you learned earlier, the average tube of Abreva lasts only as much as 3 fever blister episodes. If you want to heal cold sores, Abreva is something that can help you in the short term, but costs can rack up with each of cold sore treatment you buy.

The best thing you can do is work to prevent cold sores by avoiding fever blister triggers. This will help live more healthier overall and also help skirt the onset of new mouth sores.

I’ll share 3 useful tips with you that are 100% natural, holistic ways to treat lip sores and cold sores.

Firstly, I suggest you buy the informational product listed on this website.  Cold Sore Freedom in 3 Days is an Ebook that includes everything you want to know about cold sores and healing cold sores and lip sores.

Chances are, if your lip sore is itchy it has blistered and scabbed already.  This is when the lip sore is at it’s ugliest and itchiest!

The best things to do during this time for itchy lip sores:

-Soak a green tea bag in hot water.  Take the bag out and let it cool for a minute then place the tea bag on your lip sore.  Green tea has healing anti oxidants and the warm tea bag on your lip sore will alleviate pain.

-Mix some water and alum (can be found in the spice aisle at the grocery store) together to make a paste.  Apply this to your lip sore, it helps to shrink the sore and take away the stinging, itchy sensation.  Wash off after letting it soak into your sore for about 2 minutes.

-Apply tea tree oil to your lip sore with a Q-tip.  Tea tree oil can stay on your cold sore and be left to soak in.  Apply frequently to shrink your lip sore but be careful that you do not over-dry the area and make it more painful.

Cold sores, also called fever blisters, can’t be cured, according to doctors. But if you’re set on finding something at the drug store to help heal cold sores, they can be treated using pain relievers and topical medicines. Abreva is a common cold sore medicine, but it can be costly.

PAIN RELIEF FOR FEVER BLISTERS

The best way to treat cold sores is to prevent them in the first place, but we all know that is easier said than done.

Since you need help now, here’s some medicines you can use to help ease your pain:

1. Ibuprofen: Also known as Motrin, Ibuprofen helps bring down the swelling on and around sores on your body. This helps reduce pain caused by lip sores.
2. Tylenol: Tylenol contains acetaminophen, which acts as a inhibitor to swelling in your body.
3. Cold Sore Ointment Anbesol: Anbesol contains benzocaine, local anesthetic used in topical pain relievers.
4. Cold Sore Ointment Zilactin: Zilactin contains benzyl alcohol
5. Apply Ice to Lip Sores: Ice also helps reduce swelling on cold sores and could help bring down the size of one that is growing.

Pain relief alone won’t stop your cold sore, but it at least will make it a little more bearable. In the meantime, you can take steps to help prevent cold sores.