Once a fever blister has appeared, it can hang around, looking crusty and disgusting, for weeks. The sooner it dries up and scabs away, the better. There used to be a non-prescription remedy on the market called "Cure-a-Sore" but I have not been able to find it lately. My pharmacist told me the main ingredient in it was ether and he could sell me a bottle of ether for $3. It works just as good. Especially if applied at the first signs of an outbreak. I also take 8-10 tablets (500mg) of L-Lysine for a few days starting as soon as I feel the first tingle.
