The varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox, which contributes to the development of herpes zoster on the head or body. The primary signs of the disease are pain and rashes accompanied by itching. To make an accurate diagnosis, laboratory and instrumental studies are carried out. Based on the results, a treatment regimen is drawn up. The prognosis of the disease is positive if the patient receives timely assistance.
Herpes under the hair on the head: how to treat
Some people, when faced with strange rashes on their heads, panic. To recognize herpes - what kind of disease it is: how to treat it in the head, you need to consult a dermatologist. Only a specialist deals with these issues.
Herpes in the hair on the head is a pathology caused by a virus of the same name, which, penetrating into the cells of the human body, “integrates” into their genetic apparatus, provoking disturbances in metabolic processes. What does herpes look like on the head: photos are attached.
A person of any gender and age can get sick. Herpes occurs on the head of a child and a pensioner. This disease is quite common throughout the globe.
Some people are interested in whether there are herpes on the head? Pathology can affect almost all parts of the body. Herpes occurs on the back of the head. There are known cases when herpes forms on the temple.
Rashes can form anywhere, and scalp herpes is not a rare situation. When herpes is diagnosed on the scalp in the scalp, a photo of which can be seen below, then the treatment of this disease will be quite difficult.
If herpes appears on the head, treatment involves long-term therapy, since hair reduces the effectiveness of any medication. A person is infected with a strain of HSV-3 or Varicella Zoster.
It provokes herpes zoster on the scalp in adults, the treatment of which requires drug therapy. In children, this pathogen causes chickenpox.
Having had this disease once, the body develops lifelong immunity to it, although the virus itself remains forever in the plexuses of nerves. When the immune defense is weakened, it becomes more active, provoking an inflammatory process.
Today, even modern drugs are not able to completely rid a person of this harmful infection.
Only a set of health measures, which are prescribed to patients, helps to block the unpleasant symptoms of this disease. How to treat herpes in the hair on the head in order to alleviate the unpleasant condition, we will discuss in this publication.
Is the infection contagious?
As stated above, shingles and varicella (chickenpox) are caused by the same virus. However, chickenpox is very contagious and can spread through physical contact to people who have not had it before or have not been vaccinated. The immune system then produces antibodies that protect the body from the disease in the future. As a result, a person will no longer get chickenpox, but shingles may appear throughout his life when the virus reacts.
As a result, shingles itself cannot spread to another person. But, it is capable of causing chickenpox in those people who have not had it before. This can only happen through contact with open blisters, and the virus is not transmitted in other ways, for example through the saliva of a sick person or mucus from a sneeze. The infection does not spread after the skin blisters have crusted over.
Open or fluid-filled blisters that have not crusted over are contagious to people who have not yet had chickenpox.
To reduce the risk of transmission of the virus from an infected person, it is necessary to limit or reduce physical contact until symptoms subside. Shingles without a rash is not contagious, but it is recommended to reduce close physical contact with those who do not have the virus, especially pregnant women and people with weak immune systems.
Causes of herpes on the head
Herpes under the hair on the head appears due to the following unfavorable factors and conditions:
- physical injury;
- weakened immune system;
- previous surgery;
- elderly;
- poor nutrition;
- hypothermia of the body;
- oncology;
- the use of hormonal, chemotherapy or radiation therapy;
- directly due to contact with the carrier of the pathogen in the acute phase.
When herpes is detected on the head, its causes may be hidden in a completely different nature of origin:
- passive lifestyle;
- abuse of bad habits (alcohol and smoking);
- experienced stress.
To understand how dangerous this disease is and how to cure herpes scalp, it is necessary to find out what could provoke the pathology.
Herpes on the head in the hair, photo
Differential diagnosis
This type of herpes is differentiated from chickenpox and eczema. It is easily confused with lichen. Reminds me of chickenpox in children. Pathology can be distinguished by the location of the rash. With herpes, it occurs along the nerve. Elements of chickenpox are located throughout the head. The rash appears pointwise and is accompanied by high fever. Acne is localized throughout the body, unlike herpes zoster.
Diagnosis of this virus includes histological examination. This helps when it is difficult to distinguish the disease from others.
Stages of the disease
Herpes on the head in the hair, a photo of which can be viewed on this page, goes through 4 stages from the moment of its formation to the advanced stage.
Herpes in the head has specific symptoms - they depend on the stages of development of the pathological process:
- For the first stage, a characteristic manifestation is considered to be severe itching and burning that a person begins to experience. Herpes in the head can also be detected by changes in the color of the skin under the hair. It takes on a reddish tint.
- The second stage is diagnosed when there is herpes of the scalp, the symptoms of which are different from the first manifestations. The patient may notice bubbles with fluid. The patient complains of pain in places where they accumulate.
- Herpes of the head of the third stage is considered the most dangerous, since the vesicles rupture and fluid leaks out. As a result, open microtraumas are formed in this affected area, into which pathogenic microflora can penetrate. Herpes in the head is dangerous inside because of serious consequences for the condition of the whole organism.
- Herpes in the head, the photo of which is given below, during the fourth stage of development is manifested by the formation of scabs instead of blisters. Depending on what health-improving actions are taken by the doctor to destroy herpes on the head, they will help rid the patient of scabs, promoting better regeneration of the affected skin.
Herpes in the head, the symptoms and treatment of which we will consider below, is a very diverse disease. Herpes on the head and face and other parts of the body can signal its presence:
- severe chills and incredible weakness;
- elevated body temperature and muscle pain.
To choose the right set of health treatments when scalp herpes is present, treatment should be carried out only after a thorough examination of the patient. How is herpes on the head diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made based on external signs of pathology, after analysis using the PCR method.
Provoking moments
Often the provoking factor is local hypothermia. It can occur after driving in a car or public transport with an open window.
Cosmetic procedures, facial cleansing, eyebrow shaping, and shaving help activate the virus.
It can occur after operations, both after injuries and to improve appearance.
It happens during a respiratory illness, or after a streptococcal infection.
How to treat herpes on the head
When diagnosing herpes on the head in the hair, treatment, a photo of which is attached below, involves the following actions:
- herpes in the scalp of the groin or in other places of infection requires treatment of the affected skin with antiviral ointments - Zovirax or Gerpevir;
- Herpes Zoster on the head is treated by lubricating bursting blisters with liquid with bactericidal preparations - brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine, fucorcin, miramistin;
- ulcers must be treated with healing agents - erythromycin ointment;
- use immunomodulatory vitamins or complexes;
- if there is herpes on the head, as in the photo, it is necessary to undergo a course of antiviral therapy with acyclovir, famciclovir, valacyclovir in the dosage prescribed by the doctor;
- If diagnosed with herpes zoster on the head, it is recommended to undergo physical therapy (irradiation with an ultraviolet or quartz lamp, laser);
- It is recommended to relieve pain with ointments or a patch with lidocaine.
Treatment of this disease in combination with medications involves the use of traditional medicine.
Treatment of herpes scalp with folk remedies
If herpes appears on the temple, how to treat it with improvised drugs, now we’ll figure it out. Traditional healers recommend using the following remedies in the fight against this disease:
- ointments;
- lotions;
- herbal decoctions.
To cure herpes on the temple, a photo of which we publish, you can prepare an ointment. Take 1 tsp. calendula juice and Vaseline. Combine them and treat wounds up to 4 times a day.
Lotions can be made using apple cider vinegar. This remedy helps relieve pain. For the procedure, you need to take a wide cloth and soak it in apple cider vinegar. Apply the product to the affected skin area for a quarter of an hour.
A decoction of lemon balm will help improve the condition, relieve the inflammatory reaction, and remove toxins. For the recipe you will need 1 tbsp. l. herbs and 200 ml of boiling water. Leave the mixture for 30 minutes. Drink a glass after every meal.
Complications
If herpes appears on a child’s head, what complications can await him, as in other matters for an adult? Everything depends on the phase of the pathological process.
Timely consultation with a doctor will help minimize the following unpleasant consequences of this pathology:
- rash in the eyes and ears, which can lead to blindness;
- paralysis of limbs;
- pneumonia, hepatitis, radiculitis;
- infertility and a number of other chronic diseases.
