Herpes on the lips is a very common disease, the causes of which are varied and numerous. This ailment is able to spoil the whole appearance for a certain time. In common people it is called a “cold on the lips,” and many do not take it seriously. But not everything is as harmless as it seems at first glance. If a person is infected with this disease, then it can be confidently stated that he will remain its carrier for life. So why does herpes often appear on the lips, and how to treat it? Let's try to figure this out.
Causes of herpes
For many people who have developed a “cold on the lips,” the question arises: how did this happen and from what? Herpes on the lips appears for various reasons, but most often the infection occurs due to the penetration of the herpes simplex virus into the body . Once on the mucous membranes in the mouth, nose or eyes, it begins to actively affect epithelial cells, and after a week or two, characteristic symptoms of the disease occur. But this happens if the body does not have immunity to the virus.
After an infectious disease suffered for the first time, the body already develops persistent lifelong immunity to this virus, but it cannot completely leave the body, because its DNA is firmly fixed in the nuclei of nerve cells. Theoretically, completely getting rid of herpes is quite possible if replacing the affected cells, but it is practically impossible to do this, and it makes no sense.
Subsequently, the virus manifests itself as a recurring infection, the symptoms of which are not as pronounced as in the primary. Relapses occur due to weakened immunity, as a result of which new tissues are affected by the virus.
The following reasons contribute to the weakening of immunity:
- lack of vitamins;
- strict diet;
- poisoning;
- overheating or hypothermia of the body;
- menstruation;
- protracted allergic reaction;
- physical exhaustion and stress;
- past illnesses.
This is a list of reasons why cold sores appear on the lips. The most common of these are considered to be a lack of vitamins in the body and a weakening of immunity due to past diseases. This mainly happens in early spring or winter, when there is an outbreak of viral infections, and with a lack of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet.
Symptoms of ailment
After finding out the reasons why herpes appears on the lips, you should deal with its symptoms. Most often, this ailment occurs suddenly, since the virus acts very quickly. First, a slight pain begins to be felt on the lip, intensifying over time and turning into itching or burning. If at this time you start treatment with special ointments and gels, then the disease can be prevented, since the virus has not yet matured enough.
In the absence of treatment, the lip begins to swell after a few hours and redness appears, which indicates the development of the inflammatory process. After a while, painful sores appear. They will serve as the cause of the aesthetic defect, and at the same time they begin to hurt and itch. In no case should you touch them, since they will want to scratch them even harder. After some time, these symptoms disappear.
Possible complications
To many, this disease seems completely harmless, and there is not even a question of why herpes appears on the lips. But everything turns out to be much more serious, and often other illnesses provoked by the virus begin to arise.
These may be the following diseases:
- ophthalmic herpes;
- genital herpes ;
- myocarditis;
- herpes eczema;
- stomatitis;
- respiratory diseases: tonsillitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, bronchitis.
Most often, patients do not associate these diseases with herpes on the lips, as they get used to it so much that they stop noticing it. If you timely identify the disease and treat it in time, you can avoid complications.
Herpes Treatment
If a person consulted a doctor about this ailment and received an answer to the question of what causes herpes on his lips, then he proceeds to his treatment. But since the virus is embedded in DNA, it is practically impossible to get rid of it, you can only reduce the manifestation of its symptoms and eliminate the next stage of exacerbation.
The most effective drugs used to treat the ailment are:
- "Acyclovir";
- Zovirax
- Acyclovir-Acre;
- "Valacyclovir."
The latter remedy is considered the most powerful and is dispensed in pharmacies only by prescription. In addition to these drugs, they use an oil solution of vitamin E. It helps ulcers heal faster and relieves pain. The wounds are remarkably dried by salicylic-zinc paste.
If herpes appears on the lips too often, it is best to contact the antiherpetic center. There, the patient undergoes all necessary examinations, after which the doctor prescribes antiviral drugs taken orally. And as a prophylaxis, interferons that suppress viruses should be taken.
Prevention of cold sores on the lips
Knowing what causes herpes on the lips, it is easy to figure out how to avoid its appearance. It must be remembered that the virus is contained in the body of almost every person, and it is very difficult to avoid primary infection. Many herpes carriers do not manifest symptoms in any way, so even avoiding contact with people who have a “cold on the lips”, it is not always possible to avoid infection.
But once a person has recovered from this disease, appropriate antibodies will always be produced, and he will not be able to get infected again.
It is very important to maintain your immunity in the future in order to avoid relapse of the disease. To do this, carry out the following preventive measures:
- more to be in the fresh air;
- move a lot;
- include in your diet fresh vegetables, fruits, berries, herbs, nuts;
- engage in hardening;
- do not start somatic diseases and do not allow them to go into a chronic form;
- have more rest;
- avoid stressful situations.
Also, you should not be in direct sunlight for a long time, you do not need to overheat and supercool.
Output
Many people ask themselves: what to do if herpes appears on the lip? Some believe that it is not worth treating, since it gradually passes by itself. But still, it’s better to make your life easier and relieve the symptoms of the disease with the help of various antiviral ointments, gels and tablets. Before this, you should definitely visit a doctor who will prescribe a specific drug, taking into account the individual characteristics of the body.