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There are 8 types of herpes. Each of them causes diseases of varying severity. It could be chickenpox or shingles.
The most common are the first two types of herpes. One of them manifests itself as rashes on the lips, and the second affects the human genitals.
These viral lesions are quite common in the modern world. A person can be a carrier of the virus, or unnoticed by it in childhood.
Primary infection develops over a week or month. The body begins to fight the virus and produces antibodies to neutralize foreign proteins.
The virus will never leave the body, since its cells are embedded in the nerve endings of the bone marrow, and the immune system ceases to notice them. Activation of the virus can occur for various reasons, mainly it is in a “dormant” position.
Early infection
As a rule, people encounter the herpes virus type 1 in childhood. The source of infection becomes parents or close people who come into contact with the child.
Once the virus enters the body, it does not manifest itself in any way. The first infection is characterized by the fact that the immune system copes with external viral manifestations, but it cannot eliminate the virus itself.
This is due to the fact that it attaches to nerve cells and is in a “sleeping” state there. It is called latent, that is, herpes is inactive.
But exactly until one of the factors activates it. After this, it begins to actively multiply, its particles make their way along the nerve further into the body and the infection process starts again.
Causes of herpes
These include the following:
- regular monthly bleeding, pregnancy . During these periods, there is a decrease in immunity that inhibits the virus;
- presence of chronic and acute diseases . Rashes may appear after hypothermia or flu. Diabetes mellitus can provoke herpes activity;
- poisoning, stress, poor nutrition, poor physical condition. These factors weaken the body, and therefore give way to the virus;
- alcohol, coffee and cigarettes can be considered negative factors.
It is worth noting that colds and herpes are not equivalent concepts, but they are closely related.
Stages of herpes on the lips
When should remedial measures be taken?
The symptoms of herpesvirus depend primarily on the type of disease.
With herpes types 1 and 2, the following symptoms develop:
- Pain and itching at the site of the rash.
- Characteristic burning sensation.
- Redness and swelling in the affected area.
- Increase in body temperature to 38 degrees.
- Weakness and deterioration in general health.
- Joint and muscle pain.
Herpes types 1 and 2 most often occur after a person has had a cold.
Genital herpes is also accompanied by an increase in temperature. This causes enlargement of the lymph nodes.
The most painful is herpes zoster. The pain and discomfort are so unbearable that the patient does not sleep at night.
His body temperature rises, which requires periodic use of antipyretic drugs.
How does herpes develop?
The stages of development of herpes on the lips can be divided into six categories.
- Harbingers . These are various symptoms that indicate that rashes will soon appear on the lips. These include itching, tingling, numbness of the skin. The stage takes from 2 to 24 hours.
- Swelling and overflow of blood in the vessel in the lip . At this stage of herpes, you can observe swelling of the affected area and redness. In addition, it begins to itch a lot. This is an important period because it is easy to prevent the development of the disease. To do this, apply antiviral ointment to part of the lip. For example, Acyclovir 5%. This precaution stops the development of blistering rashes. The stage is typical for the first or second day of the disease.
- Blistering rashes . The redness and swelling intensify, and several blisters appear in their place. They contain clear liquid inside. As the swelling increases, the rashes increase in size and the fluid in them becomes cloudy. This is the most obvious sign of a herpes infection. The stage coincides with the first or second day of the disease.
- The appearance of ulcers . At this stage, the bubble, having reached its maximum size, bursts. In its place, a weeping ulcer forms. Fluid that leaks from the blister is a potential infection. It contains a virus. This stage is very dangerous, as infection of other people can occur. Therefore, you should refrain from kissing. The stage is typical for the third day.
- Crusts . The ulcer gradually becomes covered with a crust. It is easily removed, but you should not do this, as this can lead to blood appearing in the wound and pain. At this stage, we can begin to talk about the initial stage of recovery. This happens on days 4-9 of illness.
- Tightening the wound . Over the course of several days, the wound becomes scarred and the redness disappears. You can talk about recovery on the 9th or 11th day. This is the period when the virus loses its activity.
Herpes chooses its own location. It can appear on the upper lip, lower lip, or in the corner of the lips. It also affects the gums and inner cheeks.
If a woman has herpes on her lips before her menstrual period, this indicates an unstable hormonal background. This situation is typical for women who take oral contraceptives for a long time.
Virus activation factors
The disease can appear again and again. Relapses are possible 2 or more times throughout the year.
Reasons that provoke the appearance of herpes on the lips:
- Weak immunity. To maintain it at a high level, you should exercise, adhere to proper nutrition, take a complex of vitamins, say goodbye to bad habits, get enough sleep;
- Long exposure to direct sunlight . This is typical for the summer season or winter holidays in the mountains. It is easy to reduce the not always beneficial effects of the sun using sunscreens with a high level of protection;
- Stressful conditions . Prolonged exposure to stress negatively affects not only the psyche, but also the body’s defensive reaction. You need to try to deal with stress using a variety of methods. Use auto-training, physical activity, positive emotions;
- Restructuring of hormonal levels. This happens before the critical days, during pregnancy. Due to changes at the hormonal level, the herpes virus may become more active;
- Suppression of the immune system . This occurs when the body receives excessive amounts of drugs. In particular, antibiotics and steroids. The body’s own immune system becomes weaker, so the virus manifests itself against the background of this factor.
How many days does it take?
The duration of the disease directly depends on the state of the immune system and the severity of the infectious process. If herpes develops in a mild form, and the immune system quickly copes with the causative agent of the disease, then complete healing of the rash takes 10-14 days. Residual effects in the form of pink spots on the skin disappear within 2-3 weeks.
The rate of epidermis regeneration in this case depends on the individual characteristics of the body and skin cells.
With a weak level of natural defense and complicated forms of infection (including the addition of a bacterial infection), labial herpes persists for 1 month or more. This period can be reduced to 2-3 weeks when treated with antiviral tablets.
How to reduce the risk of infection
The very first thing a person with a herpes infection should be concerned about is personal hygiene. If you touch the blistered discharge, the virus will get onto your hands, and from them onto anything the person has come into contact with.
These could be eye lenses, household items, towels. Of course, if you come into contact with a person during this period, he can become infected. Therefore, you should not kiss children if their lips are infected. It is not recommended to use cosmetics.
If a person suspects he has herpes fever and experiences itching in the lips, he can stop the virus by taking a number of actions.
After consulting a specialist, you can use topical antiviral drugs - creams, ointments. The intended area must be treated with Acyclovir, Zovirax or Gerpevir. They help in the early stages of herpes.
Another preventative method is the use of essential oils (bergamot, eucalyptus, lavender). They are applied pointwise to the rash.
If bubbles have already formed, then you should not touch them or injure them. If the protective crust is removed from the wound, re-infection may occur. The course of the disease will only become more complicated.
Some dry the bubbles with a mixture of honey and garlic.
The use of folk remedies in treatment
- Fir oil has proven itself well. It is considered quite effective. Oil should be applied to the rashes every two hours. It burns, but not for long.
- Propolis tincture is considered a folk remedy for viral infections. It is used to cauterize blistering rashes.
- Any cauterization should be softened with cream. A cream with chamomile or calendula extract is well suited for these purposes.
- Some people use earwax or Kalanchoe juice. Earwax is applied to the affected areas several times a day. To obtain Kalanchoe juice you will need fresh leaves. After this, the herpes is lubricated with it.
- The next method is not suitable for everyone . To implement it, you will need a glass of hot, freshly brewed tea and a teaspoon. It should be dipped in liquid, allowed to warm up, and then applied to the cold on the lips. The procedure is repeated 2 or 3 times a day.
- Herpes is treated by cauterization with alcohol, valocordin or cologne. This dries the wounds well and promotes speedy healing.
- In case of hypothermia, table salt will help . It is used to treat herpes blisters. It can also cause discomfort, but you can’t do without it. It is also recommended to dissolve several salt crystals throughout the day to disinfect the oral cavity.
- A very common method is to use regular toothpaste. You need to apply it to the itchy area and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Fluorine contained in the paste has a detrimental effect on the development of the virus.
- Egg shell film is considered a good folk remedy . It is glued to the rash.
- Garlic helps with herpes symptoms. To do this, you need to wipe the cold with a cut clove of garlic. Its juice can be mixed with honey and apple cider vinegar.
The following oils are suitable for drying wounds:
- sea buckthorn;
- tea tree;
- almonds
One of the most common remedies is aloe juice. They need to lubricate the lip, and also take it orally, after mixing it with honey.
You can remove the symptoms and consequences of herpes, but it is impossible to completely get rid of it. To treat colds on the lips, well-known medications, as well as traditional medicine, are used.
Their use is especially effective at the initial stage of herpes. It must be remembered that during the period of exacerbation of the disease, contact with other people, especially children, should be minimized.
The most important thing is to maintain immunity, then the herpes virus will be in a latent state and will not cause harm to a person.
Should I worry or not?
It is believed that if the rash appears no more than four to five times a year and only on the lips, then there is nothing to worry about at all. And when an exacerbation occurs more than five times annually, and the rash, in turn, occurs not only on the lips, but also on some other parts of the body, occupying large areas, it is necessary to undergo a clinical immunological examination. Now let's look at the main reasons for the activation of this pathogen in the human body.
Why does the temperature rise with herpes?