|
Fever blisters and blisters caused by sun poisoning can often not be told from one another without a proper medical examination. It's best to consult a dermatologist to diagnose the problem. These blisters usually develop in the same place (in and around the mouth), and look similar. The major difference between sun poisoned lips and fever blisters is that the former are reddish and usually accompanied by an itch, while the latter are fluid filled and painful. In addition of course, the causes of fever blisters and sun poisoning (medically called photo dermatitis) are also different. Sun poisoning is a severe case of sunburn, caused by overexposure to the harmful ultra-violet rays of the sun. There are also certain chemicals in lotions or creams that make our skin more sensitive and prone to suffering from sun poisoning. Also, people with fairer skin are at a higher risk of getting sun poisoning because of the lack of skin pigmentation compared to people with darker skin. Fever blisters, on the other hand, are caused by a virus called herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Exposure to the sun is actually a common cause of both sun poisoning and fever blisters. However, sun poisoning is only caused by overexposure to the UV rays and exposure to the sun for a long period of time, and unlike sun poisoning, the excessive sunlight is only an aggravating factor for fever blisters. Fever blisters can also develop because of exposure to wind and extreme weather changes, as well as factors such as stress, heredity, lack of Vitamin C, and food allergies. You can treat sun poisoning and keep it from recurring if you do not step out in the sun without protection. But in the case of herpes or fever blisters, low resistance of the body or stress at any point can make them recur.
No matter what these blisters are, the affected area should be kept clean. Do not touch the blisters again and again, and if you must touch them, your hands must be washed and clean. Also, no matter what, the skin should not be peeled, scratched, or pierced. Cigarettes and spicy food should also be avoided when suffering from blisters of any kind. Petroleum jelly or alcohol can be applied on the blisters to ease the inflammation, and they also provide relief, even if temporarily (the alcohol may of course burn a bit at first). Aloe vera is also effective in healing blisters naturally. Slit open an aloe leaf and apply the pulpy side on the blisters for about 5 minutes.
|
