Causes of herpes on the face, treatment, prevention
They say about herpes: "Small is evil." After all, the size of the lesion is small, but it is very disturbing. Many people are interested in "which doctor to turn to for the treatment of herpes on the lips in order to banish the disease once and for all?" - because this disease can recur more than once, appearing at an inopportune moment.
Herpes is a disease of a viral nature, which is manifested by small infiltrates that develop into vesicles (cavities with liquid). The symptoms of herpes simplex infection are too typical not to recognize painful blisters that torment a person for several days. Theoretically, pathology can develop on any part of the skin of the human body. But most often the virus "likes" to infect:
- the mucous membrane of the lips is an area that the pathogen “visits” with record frequency;
- the border of the mucous membrane of the lips and the skin around the mouth;
- conjunctiva;
- cornea;
- external genitals (both in men and women).
Unfortunately, injections or pills for the prevention of herpes have not yet been invented. Therefore, you should study the information about it well in order to successfully fight the disease at the first signs of its appearance, and if possible, to prevent it. It is especially worth watching out for herpes on the lips in women in the early stages of pregnancy. Its presence means that the expectant mother has a viral agent that can affect the fetus's intrauterine development.
Factors causing the disease
The herpes virus can be present in our body, but not manifest itself. The disease begins to develop under certain factors - the virus is activated. The causes of herpes on the face are the same as the causes of herpes blisters on other areas of the skin:
- hypothermia;
- violation of the regime of work and rest;
- hypovitaminosis (regardless of the season);
- overwork;
- chronic disorders on the part of the immune system.
For relapses, it is also important that a person who is periodically ill does not attach importance to herpes, expecting that it will "go away".
Symptoms of herpes simplex infection
The signs of herpes are few, but they are all very characteristic. Therefore, there are practically no difficulties in differential diagnosis.
The main symptoms of infection with herpes simplex, which is the most common form of herpes impression:
- painful swelling of tissues in the affected area;
- after 1-2 days, it transforms into a denser infiltrate;
- infiltrate turns into a bubble with liquid;
- the bubble bursts, a painful ulcer forms in its place;
- the ulcer dries up and is covered with a new layer of epithelium - the wound heals.
The way the lips look after herpes, they do not look like after other skin diseases: the swelling disappears, but the ulcer cannot heal for some time. It is covered with a yellowish film that constantly "climbs" from the surface of the wound, thereby exposing it and delaying the regeneration process of the epithelium at the site of the impression.
Diagnosis of the disease
Herpetic vesicles look so characteristic that they cannot be confused with the morphological signs of other diseases - neither with an abscess, nor with specific ulcers, nor with an allergic rash. In most cases, the diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical manifestations.
Blood analysis for antibodies to the herpes simplex virus is an indirect method of detecting the causative agent in the body. It can be used if the body's reactivity (the intensity of the response to external harmful agents) is low, and the infiltrate does not develop into characteristic vesicles, which raises the question for clinicians: is this herpes?
Herpes simplex, which is manifested purely by a rash on the face, should be distinguished from herpes type 6, which is characterized not only by a rash, but also by a sharp increase in temperature.
How to get rid of herpes that constantly appears on the lips
Herpes is the competence of a dermatovenerologist. Only a qualified doctor will tell you how to treat different types of herpes, taking into account:
- features of the immune system of a specific person;
- the degree of weakening of the body at the time of the disease;
- tendency to relapse.
Medicines used for herpes on the lips:
- antiviral drugs in the form of ointments and gels (acyclovir, herperax);
- immunomodulators that increase the body's resistance (cycloferon, arbidol);
- at the stage of herpetic ulcers - softening balms with vaseline and allantoin.
Many are interested in how to quickly cure a cold on the lips in adults in 1 day (based on analogies with the flu virus, a cold on the lips means a herpes rash). Answer: if the process has developed beyond the infiltration stage - no way. The vesicle must go the entire way from its origin to rupture, the formation of a wound surface and its healing, and this will take an average of 2-3-4 days. A cold ointment on the lips, which would force this process, has not yet been invented.
But if you just felt a characteristic pain and found swelling - physiotherapy methods (UHF, microwave) can contribute to the reverse development of the infiltrate, and it does not transform into an ugly bubble that spoils the anatomical aesthetics.
Medications for herpes on the lips in a child should be used in strict accordance with the doctor's prescription - regardless of whether it concerns immunomodulators or antiviral drugs.
You can read more about the treatment methods used for herpes on the website of our clinic https://dobrobut.com/.
Prevention
The secrets of prevention, how to get rid of herpes that constantly appears on the lips, and reduce the possibility of its recurrence, are quite simple:
- according to all rules, treat fresh herpes rashes by applying local antiviral and drying ointments;
- strengthen immunity with the help of immunomodulators, vitamin therapy;
- do not touch shared dishes with your lips, without further processing them.
Personal relationships with herpes in a partner must also be adapted to prevention - in other words, avoid kissing (not only on the affected lips, but also in intimate places where genital herpes can develop. Even if herpes popped up "just for nothing" on lips - it is not excluded that the pathogen may be on the mucous membrane of the genitals, although their morphological changes have not yet been observed).
Knowing how the herpes virus type 6 is transmitted in children (during breastfeeding and through saliva, most often from the mother), it can be prevented as follows:
- if you suspect a disease, do not kiss the child;
- do not feed the child from one's own cup;
- suspend breastfeeding;
- do not "clean" a child's pacifier or nipple, which has fallen, by a quick method by sucking it in the mouth (an archaic method, nevertheless, for some reason it has caught on among mothers).
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