admin Home page » On the lips Views: 6427
( 1 ratings, average: 5.00 out of 5)
It has been proven that more than 90% of the world's population has encountered the herpes virus in one form or another.
Considering that the virus penetrates neural networks and is stored there until the end of life, these people are also carriers of herpes. But it's not that scary.
Even if you or your loved ones suffered from this disease a long time ago, it is not necessary that herpes will torment you constantly. Most often, people encounter herpes on the lips.
The reason for its occurrence is stress or a decline in immunity. Next, we will tell you how many days it takes for herpes to go away and what you need to do to avoid catching it.
How many days does herpes on lips last?
Why does herpes appear on the lips?
This disease is provoked by the herpes virus of the first and second types.
In addition to them, there are other varieties of this non-cellular infectious agent that cause herpes zoster (shingles).
In the modern world, it is extremely difficult to avoid the appearance of herpes on the lips.
If the infection first enters the body, its incubation period will be approximately 20 days.
The body itself fights it, producing protective cells, but cannot completely get rid of foreign proteins.
This is due to the ability of the virus to penetrate neurons and successfully hide from the immune system.
Most of the time, herpes is dormant, but there are a number of factors that can activate it.
These include:
- Chronic diseases and acute infections . It doesn’t matter whether you have allergies or just accidentally caught ARVI, your immune system becomes weak at this time. As a result, the virus begins to actively develop and sores appear on the lips.
- Physical exhaustion, unbalanced diet, stress. All this affects the protective functions of the body, making them weaker.
- Smoking, overeating, excessive craving for alcoholic beverages. These habits have a significant impact on the body, causing it to experience extreme stress and creating a favorable environment for the development of the disease.
- Menstruation, pregnancy . At this time, the female body becomes vulnerable to various strains of viruses.
It is not difficult to catch this disease and various factors can affect the activation of the virus. Of course, if a person has good immunity, then resistance to infection will be higher, and the duration of the disease will be shortened.
Predisposing factors
The total number of relapses with characteristic clinical manifestations in the form of very painful and unaesthetic blistering rashes can vary greatly from 2 to 12 per year.
Provoking factors for herpes activation:
Among other negative factors, experts indicate:
- abuse of alcohol and tobacco products;
- lack of quality night rest;
- uncorrected diet;
- frequent hypothermia;
- industrial hazards, intoxication;
- gastrointestinal pathologies.
Having carefully analyzed his own situation, a person can identify and eliminate the above-mentioned negative factors, thereby preventing the relapse or onset of herpes.
How does the disease progress?
Those who get the herpes virus notice itching concentrated near the lips. In some cases, the entire face may itch.
After a couple of hours, redness and swelling appear on the lips. Usually, bubbles with liquid begin to form immediately, which indicates the transition of the disease to the second stage. It goes away in 5-6 days.
Important ! The second stage of herpes on the lips is contagious. The patient is advised to have less contact with people, allocate separate dishes for himself and not touch the area affected by the virus, so as not to spread it throughout the body.
The third stage represents the formation of erosion. The bubbles on the lips begin to burst. A whitish liquid flows out of the formed depressions.
These places need to be treated with herpes ointment. After applying the medicine, the patient should thoroughly wash their hands with an antiseptic and not touch the infected area again.
The ulcers that form during treatment disappear within 2-3 days.
In some people, areas affected by the herpes virus remain painful for up to 14 days. This indicates that the immune system is too weak and requires a catalyst.
In such cases, immune-stimulating drugs and vitamins will help speed up healing. Ideally, the disease disappears without a trace in 6-10 days; if herpes does not go away for a long time, consult a specialist.
If the infection lasts longer than this time, then you need to visit a therapist and dermatologist. As a rule, it indicates another disease.
Therapeutic approaches
Unfortunately, doctors have not yet achieved critical success in combating viruses. However, it would be wrong to say that we have nothing to oppose HSV. It may be impossible to completely cleanse the body of the pathogen, but it is possible to shorten the active phase and speed up recovery.
Drugs have been developed that act specifically against HSV. The point of application is the DNA of the virus. Medicines disrupt its division without affecting the cells of the human body. The most well-known and tested drug is acyclovir. It was synthesized in 1977 and has not lost its relevance to this day. It has contraindications for use, so you should not take it without consulting a doctor.
Systemic treatment
When used correctly, antiviral drugs can prevent the appearance of herpetic rashes on the body. To do this, you need to start taking them at the very first symptoms - pain, itching and burning. People who have suffered more than one exacerbation recognize these symptoms unmistakably and can confidently say where on the body they can expect herpes.
The most popular and accessible form is oral tablets. The active components of the drugs stop the excessive proliferation of the virus in the nerve fibers.
As a result, those virions that reach the nerve endings on the skin can no longer cause the classic picture. No vesicles - no crusts.
Local treatment
When the rash phase begins, you need to use topical treatments. This is an ointment or cream based on, for example, acyclovir. It is natural that the sooner you start treating the affected areas, the better the rash is treated.
The use of local forms from the very beginning stops the spread of rashes and speeds up the opening of the blisters. When drying begins, creams soften the crust, making it easier to separate and restore the underlying skin.
Physiotherapeutic methods are a good help. For example, the use of an LED laser in conjunction with local and general therapy significantly accelerates the falling off of crusts and the restoration of normal epidermis.
Preventative treatment
The most promising direction. Periodic monitoring of antiviral immunity allows you to predict a likely exacerbation. When necessary, a course of oral antiviral drugs is administered and rashes do not appear on the body.
The best effect is expected to be observed from complex treatment. A competent combination of oral and local treatment can reduce the active period to five days. Afterwards, not a trace of the rash will remain on the body.
How to heal faster?
Like any other disease, herpes on the lips goes away in a couple of days only if the body’s immunity is normal. However, it can be helped and the lifespan of the infection can be shortened.
As soon as inflammation appears in the mouth area, you need to take the ointment and apply it to them. But you shouldn’t limit yourself to this.
Buy echinacea tincture, Derinat or Milife and start using them every day; do not neglect pills for herpes. These drugs will strengthen the immune system and help the body cope with the virus faster.
By applying ointment to herpes, the patient prevents the disease from degenerating into a vesicular form, reducing the duration of the disease.
As a rule, herpes goes away from this treatment within 5 days.
If bubbles appear on the lips, apply soda and mint compresses. They will reduce discomfort by slightly reducing the sensitivity of the mucous membrane.
How many days does herpes last?
Treatment tactics
When the first vesicular rash appears - the moment of the first symptoms has been missed - it is recommended to add systemic drugs to local therapeutic antiviral agents: Acyclovir tablets, Zovirax, Panavir, Famvir. They prevent viral activity from the inside, providing a powerful systemic effect. Thanks to which it is possible to reduce the period of ulcerative tissue defects from 3 days to 1-2 days. A faster effect is hardly possible - tissue damage has already occurred.
Once the blisters are opened, it is unlikely that it will be possible to speed up the healing process. Various alcohol tinctures come to the rescue, for example, based on calendula to dry out defects and prevent their re-infection, this time only with bacterial flora.
Modern immunostimulants and vitamin complexes help increase the defenses of the human body at the time of activation of the herpes virus. During the consultation, in addition to the optimal option of antiviral therapy, the specialist will also recommend auxiliary medications, for example, Immunal, Centrum, Vitrum.
Folk remedies against herpes on the lips
Various herbs and plants can also help clear up cold sores before painful blisters appear. However, they must be used carefully, because... most cause allergies.
Among the most effective folk remedies for inflammation and itching is fir oil. It is applied to swollen lips every 2 hours. The obvious disadvantages of this product are the unpleasant taste and burning sensation after application.
Sea buckthorn oil will help those who have advanced herpes on the lips to the third stage. It accelerates the healing of wounds on the mucous membrane, drying them out.
Rosehip oil has a similar effect. They need to be applied from the edges of the wound to the center, and not vice versa.
This technique prevents the spread of infection throughout the face. Kalanchoe and aloe juice are also suitable for these purposes. You need to break off a fresh plant and apply it to the inflammation.
You can strengthen your immune system with rosehip decoction. The berries of this plant contain a powerful dose of vitamin C, which is an excellent remedy for colds.
If you notice redness on your lips, then you need to start drinking this decoction once a day.
An alternative to rosehip decoction is syrup, which can be purchased ready-made at any city pharmacy. Mint, eucalyptus, hawthorn berries and citruses will help your immune system become stronger.
Complications from herpes on the lips
In 70% of cases, complications from this disease are associated with the fact that the patient unintentionally drags the virus from the lips to other mucous membranes.
The worst of all is the development of ophthalmoherpes. This disease takes a long time and is difficult to treat. It can cause blurred vision and other unpleasant symptoms.
As for the skin, here herpes manifests itself in the form of eczema, so during illness it is recommended not only to constantly treat your hands with an antiseptic, but also to refrain from any intimacy with your partner.
Where it all begins
Infection with viral agents of a simple variant of herpes, as a rule, occurs in early childhood, for example, common chickenpox, this is the same herpes. In children's organized groups, this pathology of a viral nature is extremely contagious. Every year, kindergartens are closed for chickenpox quarantine.
After the initial stage of infection, the human immune system successfully inactivates the virus, but viral agents persist in the dorsal root ganglia. The latent phase of the pathology is formed - the virus itself can be detected by conducting appropriate diagnostic tests, but no clinical manifestations are observed.
What should you not do if you have a herpes infection?
It is not recommended to constantly touch the area affected by the disease, because... the infection can be spread to other areas.
It is also forbidden to try to disguise herpes on the lips, because any manipulation of the ulcers impairs their healing.
If the disease has reached the second or third stage, then you must try to exclude contact with people.
The patient is strictly prohibited from eating in cafes and other public places, because... this will lead to herpes infection of other visitors.
At home you should eat and drink only from your own container. The patient must prohibit relatives from taking his personal belongings, because they contain strains of the virus and require specialized treatment after treatment is completed.
Various creams, hygienic lipsticks and concealers cannot be used.
This is due to the fact that they perfectly store viral strains inside themselves. Therefore, the most miraculous cosmetics should be postponed until recovery.
