Herpes on the lips: causes, symptoms, which doctor to contact

More than 70% of Russians are infected with the herpes virus, but in most cases it does not pose any threat to health. The virus is relatively safe and becomes active only against a background of weakened immunity, especially in the autumn-winter period. It manifests itself in the form of a rash on the lips, genitals and other areas. As a rule, neoplasms go away on their own, but in some cases you may need to get help from a doctor.

Causes of the disease

Herpes is an infectious disease. This is a virus that enters the body in different ways:

• sexual;
• contact (household);
• airborne (sneezing, coughing);
• placental (from a pregnant woman to a child).

In this case, herpes is most often transmitted by contact. The virus lives in saliva, so a person can become infected through a kiss, toys, underwear, dishes and other objects.

There are several factors that provoke the activation of the virus:

• constant stress;
• depressive states;
• prolonged hypothermia of the body, including one-time hypothermia;
• ARVI with and without complications;
• diseases that suppress the human immune system;
• bad habits, especially alcoholism, unhealthy diet;
• severe intoxication;
• Alzheimer's disease.

Herpes is present in the body of almost every person, but most of the time it is in an inactive state. Usually the virus “wakes up” against a background of weakened immunity. This can happen for various reasons, including against the background of severe stress, lack of sleep and other unfavorable factors.

Transmission routes

How is the herpes virus transmitted? This is a rather insidious microorganism that can spread in various ways. This is why many people are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. However, you can only become infected from a person suffering from an acute form of herpes. Infection occurs in the following ways:

1. Through a kiss or oral-genital contact with the patient.
2. By airborne droplets. The patient can transmit the virus to others by coughing or sneezing.
3. The infection is transmitted through personal objects, such as a towel, toothbrush or lipstick.
4. Infection is possible when sharing utensils with a sick person.
5. A pregnant woman with acute herpes can infect her unborn child in utero.
6. In rare cases, a person can infect themselves. Inaccurate application of creams and ointments may spread the rash from affected areas to healthy ones.

It is important to remember that the herpes virus is quite stable and can live outside the body for about 4 hours. Therefore, healthy people easily become infected through objects and utensils that the sick person has come into contact with. Then this microorganism penetrates through the mucous membrane into the nerve endings and settles there forever.

How does herpes on the lips manifest itself: symptoms

After activation in the first period, which lasts from 2 to 10 days (depending on the individual characteristics of the body), the herpes virus does not manifest itself in any way. After this, characteristic white bubbles (growths) appear on the surface of the skin and mucous membranes of the face (including on the lips), which merge with each other. Often the symptoms are accompanied by itching and a slight, barely noticeable tingling sensation.

In some cases, other symptoms are possible, for example:

• headache;
• general weakness;
• fatigue;
• elevated body temperature.

Very rarely, the development of the virus can lead to herpetic meningitis. This is a dangerous condition accompanied by inflammation of the brain. In such cases, it is necessary to seek medical help as soon as possible.

How to quickly cure a cold on the lips at home

Since most people think herpes on the lips is a “mild” disease that does not require visiting a doctor or taking medications, treatment for colds on the lips begins with searching the Internet for traditional medicine recipes. At the same time, few people remember that modern medicine is based on evidence: medications undergo numerous clinical trials on thousands of patients, their effectiveness is assessed in the long term. And folk methods and means of treatment do not have a serious scientific basis.

Treatment of herpes on the lips with folk remedies

Any folk remedies used to treat colds on the lips can be dangerous in case of overdose, have side effects and contraindications. Folk remedies, unlike medicines, do not come with instructions where all this is described in detail. Even the most seemingly harmless infusions, lotions and decoctions from various plants and herbs can cause an allergic reaction and cause complications.

To combat herpes on the lips, it is necessary to use antiviral drugs with proven effectiveness. One of these drugs is the antiviral and immunomodulatory drug VIFERON, which includes recombinant interferon alpha-2b in combination with the antioxidant complex - tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) and ascorbic acid. The drug is available in various dosage forms for systemic (in the form of rectal suppositories) and local (ointment, gel) use.

Antiviral drug VIFERON for herpes on the lips

VIFERON has been used for several decades to treat and prevent a wide range of infections in adults and children, being the first drug in its class approved by the State Pharmaceutical Committee of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for use in children, including newborns and premature babies, as well as pregnant women. The production of the drug VIFERON complies with GMP requirements. The GMP standard (Good Manufacturing Practice) are rules that establish requirements for organizing the production and quality control of medicines. In order to obtain a statement of compliance, pharmaceutical manufacturers must confirm that compliance with all norms, technologies and standards is monitored at each stage of the production process. Only in this case, in accordance with international requirements, can consumers be guaranteed high quality products.

Ointment against herpes on the lips: instructions for use

To combat colds on the face, both gel and ointment are used. The ointment has a hydrophobic base and is better absorbed on the skin, while the gel has a hydrophilic base and is better absorbed on the mucous membranes. During treatment

a strip of gel no more than 0.5 cm long is applied with a spatula or a cotton swab to a previously dried affected surface 3-5 times a day. The duration of the course of treatment is 5-6 days. If necessary, the duration of the course is increased until clinical manifestations disappear. The gel is colorless, so it does not stain clothes and is invisible on the face. It forms an imperceptible, thin film on the affected surface, so women can freely use decorative cosmetics during treatment. This is important for those who want to look great even if they have a cold on their lips. The gel can also be used from the first days of a child’s life.

The ointment is applied in a thin layer to the lesions 3-4 times a day, the duration of the course of treatment is 5-7 days. It is possible to use the drug VIFERON Ointment during pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, the good tolerability of the drug makes it possible to use it in children from the first year of their life.

1,000,000 IU suppositories for HSV-1 in adults are used for 10 days, in pregnant women - at a dosage of 500,000 IU for the first 10 days, then therapy continues according to the instructions.

VIFERON ointment, gel and suppositories not only fight viruses, but also improve local immunity, reducing the likelihood of a relapse[1].

Diagnosis: which doctor to contact

You should consult a doctor in case of complications (for example, headaches), as well as in cases where the rash becomes more and more numerous and does not go away for a long time. For herpes, contact the following specialists:

• gynecologist (for women);
• urologist (for men);
• therapist (if the rash does not appear in intimate areas);
• pediatrician (for treating children).

The doctor examines the patient, asks questions, analyzes complaints. If necessary, several laboratory tests are carried out to study:

• blood;
• sperm;
• urine;
• vaginal discharge;
• urethral discharge;
• biological material from ulcers or other skin lesions.

Along with the cause of the rash, it is equally important to determine the type of virus. To do this, a common PCR analysis is performed, which stands for polymerase chain reaction.

Symptoms

Signs of the disease depend on the stage of development of the herpes infection:

1. Stage 1. The virus travels along nerve pathways to the lip area. The skin in the mouth area turns red, there is a slight itching and tingling sensation. Some patients experience flu-like symptoms: malaise, slight fever, chills, body aches. If you start treatment at this stage, it will help avoid the formation of a blistering rash.
2. Stage 2. Inflammation occurs in the affected areas, accompanied by the appearance of blisters. The rashes are filled with clear liquid. Over time, the bubbles become larger. The itching becomes more severe, and painful sensations appear in the lip area.
3. Stage 3. The blisters burst and ulcers form in their place. At this time the patient is especially contagious. There is a high risk of infecting others.
4. Stage 4. Crusts form on the affected areas. They should never be torn off, as they protect the ulcers from infection. Sometimes the crusts rupture on their own with active movements of the mouth.

Patients often ask: “How to get rid of lip fever in a short time?” It is impossible to quickly eliminate the external manifestations of the disease. Usually, it takes about 7-14 days from the appearance of the first signs of skin damage to complete recovery.

It is important to remember that herpes on the lips is not as harmless as it seems at first glance. Frequent exacerbations of infection negatively affect the heart and blood vessels. Herpes is especially dangerous for pregnant women. This disease increases the risk of miscarriage and can also lead to infection of the embryo. Because of this, the newborn may suffer from encephalitis of herpetic etiology.

Herpes on the lips: treatment

If the immune system is strong enough, rashes on the lips and other places will go away even without treatment in just a few days or weeks. In some cases, special therapy will be required. The course depends on what specific cause led to the development of herpes.

As a rule, treatment is complex and includes the following measures:

• taking antiviral drugs;
• taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
• vitamin complexes;
• special diet (increasing the proportion of protein foods, greens, fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as fermented milk products);
• drink: plenty of it.

Folk remedies

Folk remedies for fighting the virus are considered the most accessible and easiest to use, but in each case their effectiveness can be different - it always helps one person quickly, while on another it acts “like a poultice on a dead person.” It should be noted that natural folk remedies do not cause side effects, and therefore can be used to treat pregnant women and children.

Natural oils - fir, sea buckthorn, rosehip, tea tree. As soon as the first symptoms of “fever” on the lips begin to appear, you should immediately lubricate the area with oil and repeat the procedure every hour or two. This way you can avoid bubbles altogether. Of course, Siberian fir oil does not taste very pleasant and burns a little, but it is better to endure it right away than to walk around with a wound on your lip for a week, or even two. Apply oils in a circular motion, moving from the outer boundaries of the inflammation to the center.

Sea buckthorn oil is considered one of the relatively effective folk remedies.

Also, at the first signs, use Kalanchoe and aloe juices. Simply break off a leaf and gently brush the juice onto your lip.

Garlic, the most famous natural antiviral agent, significantly reduces the symptoms of colds. Having crushed the clove well, add a coffee spoon of honey and a dessert spoon of rich sour cream so as not to get burned when you apply the mixture to the inflamed area.

The affected part of the skin can be gently wiped with chamomile or celandine decoctions.

What to do first if herpes appears

First of all, you need to carefully monitor your personal hygiene - constantly wash your hands with soap or other means. Also, do not put your hands near your eyes, much less touch the cornea. Insert lenses only after first washing your hands or wearing sterile medical gloves. The fact is that the virus can spread to the mucous membrane of the eyes.

Also, you should not touch the swellings themselves or touch them with your fingers. You can use lipstick and other products, but only without sharing them with other people. You should not remove blisters or crusts yourself - then the virus can spread to other areas of the skin. During the period of illness, you should avoid oral sex.

Important! If a young mother has herpes, she should take care of the safety of the child. Before picking him up or feeding him, you must wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

Prevention

Since the herpes virus is very common throughout the world, it is almost impossible to avoid infection, but we can make sure that the immune system successfully resists it:

1. Always practice good personal hygiene
2. Use personal hygiene products: towels, linen, dishes
3. Try to touch your face less
4. Strengthen your immune system - drink decoctions of rose hips, St. John's wort, mint tea, eat more fruits and vegetables, take vitamin complexes in winter and spring
5. If you have a small child and you catch a fever, do not kiss him, wear a cotton-gauze bandage and do not touch the baby without gloves
6. Walk a lot, but avoid hypothermia and overheating
7. Try to avoid stress and don't take things too seriously
8. Get rid of bad habits, as they greatly weaken the body.
9. If you are sick or have a cold, get treatment and help your immune system

This is usually enough to minimize the risk of relapse. I hope these tips will help you prevent the appearance of “fever” on your lips, which so spoils your beauty and, accordingly, your mood. Be healthy!

Medications

Treatment of fever on the lips is aimed at deactivating the virus. There are special drugs that remove pathogen DNA from skin cells. As a result of this therapy, the manifestations of the disease disappear.

At the first stage of the disease, when there are no blistering rashes yet, antiviral tablets are prescribed:

• "Acyclovir";
• "Gerpevir".

These medications need to be taken twice a day for about 3-4 days. In many cases, drug therapy can prevent the blisters from appearing. However, medications in tablet form are effective only in the first days of illness.

At the stage of the appearance of rashes and the formation of ulcers, it is necessary to use antiviral ointments for fever on the lips:

• "Zovirax";
• "Acyclovir";
• "Fenistil Pentsivir";
• "Gerpevir".

These products must be applied very carefully using a cotton swab. Do not smear the drug on the skin, as this will cause the rash to spread to healthy areas.

At the stage of healing and crust formation, you need to use emollient ointments and creams based on zinc.

In some patients, exacerbations of herpes occur very often, more than 5 times a year. How to treat fever on the lips in such difficult cases? For persistent relapses of infection, a long course of immunomodulators is prescribed:

• "Viferona";
• "Cycloferon";
• "Kipferon";
• "Ingarona";
• "Amiksina".

These drugs stimulate the production of interferon in the body and help strengthen the immune system.

In severe cases, after relief of acute symptoms of the disease, the herpes vaccine “Vitagerpavak” is administered. It protects against relapse of the disease. After 6 months, the vaccine is repeated to consolidate the results. One of the indications for vaccination is frequent exacerbations of herpes (more than 4 times a year).