What is the difference between cold sores and cold on the lips: the main symptoms, treatment features

Often a small pimple pops up on the lips in the fall or winter, and it can be difficult to understand whether it is herpes or a cold. Meanwhile, these are two different diseases, the treatment regimens of which have little similarity. What is the difference between a cold sore and a cold on the lips from a medical point of view?

Basic concepts

In the cold season, because of a weakened immune system, people often get a cold. This concept includes all acute respiratory diseases, which are accompanied by general malaise, cough, runny nose, and fever.

Herpes is an infection that almost everyone has in a recessive state. When the immune system is weakened, the virus can manifest itself, activate.

Is cold always on her lips a cold sore? Of course not. Both states proceed almost similarly, but have a different origin.

What is the difference between cold sores and colds on the lips - the difference and features of diseases

It is recommended that when a pimple pops up in the area around the mouth, consult a specialist, but diagnostics can be done independently. To do this, you need to analyze the nature of the rash on the following points:

1. Change in pimples during an illness. To understand whether a cold on the lips is a cold sore or not, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the rash. This is an important sign that helps to identify the disease. During a cold, the rash does not change throughout the illness. Herpes is constantly changing and goes through several stages. First, itching occurs in the lip area, after a couple of days a swelling forms, bubbles with a clear liquid appear, and only then they become covered with a crust, which then disappears.
2. Sensations during illness. During a cold, discomfort may occur. Herpes is not accompanied by itching, burning, or pain. It has mainly external manifestations. This is what distinguishes cold sores from colds on the lips in the first place.
3. Catarrhal phenomena. That is, symptoms for colds and viral diseases. In the first case, pronounced. And with herpes, they are often absent or present in a weak form. Do not ignore this symptom of the disease. This is an important difference between cold sores and colds on the lips.
4. The reasons for the occurrence. A cold on the lip is caused by a number of bacterial infections, and herpes is caused by the first type of virus.

Common causes are: lack of vitamins, the consequences of past illnesses, physical exertion, malnutrition, frequent stress, hypothermia, syphilis, hormonal failure.

Therapies for colds and herpes

Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor to avoid complications. We found out how cold sores are different from colds on the lips and concluded that these are different diseases. Therefore, the treatment cannot be the same. And the sooner the specialist is diagnosed, the sooner the patient will receive treatment recommendations and, accordingly, will recover.

Both diseases can be treated with both specialized medications and alternative methods. Of course, medications will more effectively help eliminate the causes of a pimple on the lip. But traditional medicine alleviates the symptoms and is able to stimulate the disappearance of the rash.

Non-drug methods

Alternative methods of treating a pimple on the lip, unlike medical ones, are common for both herpes and colds, despite the fact that these are different diseases that differ in etiology. The effectiveness of alternative methods of treatment has not been 100% proven, but our grandparents have also successfully used them.

Here are some of the best known techniques:

1. Treat the site of inflammation with cauterizing components. Usually, toothpaste without additives and bleaching particles, alcohol, juice from garlic or onions, baby powder (talcum powder) and laundry soap are usually used for this purpose.
2. Soften the skin with various oils. For example, using olive, sunflower, sea buckthorn, fir.
3. Accelerate the healing of acne, as well as the disappearance of the scab (crust) will help lotions of corvalol, valocordin, aloe juice, chamomile tea.
4. Often make compresses from any herbs and honey.

To prevent exacerbation of rashes, they are excluded from the diet or restrict the use of too spicy, sweet foods, as well as citrus fruits and nuts.

Drug treatment for herpes

This virus will never disappear from your body if you are ill with it once. The fact is that almost every inhabitant of the earth has herpes, just someone may not show it. Those people who regularly suffer from the virus can reduce the number of exacerbations. To do this, it is important to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, to maintain your immunity at a high level. For a quick recovery in case of exacerbation, you need to immediately begin treatment prescribed by a specialist.

Therapy is usually divided into etiotropic and symptomatic. The first involves the appointment of antiviral drugs and is intended to get rid of the cause of a sharp exacerbation. Most commonly, patients are prescribed medications such as Acyclovir, Zovirax, Penciclovir, and Doconazole. Dosage and frequency of use should be prescribed by a doctor.

Symptomatic treatment

This type of therapy is not always necessary. It is prescribed only for severe symptoms and involves taking the following drugs:

1. Antihistamines. Assigned to reduce swelling and itching. In order to avoid side effects, third-generation antihistamines (Claritin, Zodak) are usually prescribed, since taking the first and second drugs (Suprastin, Tavegil) gives some undesirable consequences.
2. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Appointed when pain occurs.
3. Vitamin complexes, immunomodulators. They are used to increase immunity.
4. Herbal antiviral drugs. Assigned to suppress the virus. Most often prescribed "Immunal." These drugs are less effective than synthetic drugs.
5. Antibacterial agents. Appointed in case of infection.

In some cases, the doctor may prescribe other drugs.

Medication for the common cold

Etiotropic therapy is very individual, since the common cold is a generalized concept of respiratory infections. Treatment is prescribed by the doctor, initially conducting an examination and making a diagnosis.

Symptomatic treatment of the common cold is based on the use of:

1. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that relieve pain.
2. Drops and sprays with a cold, with vasoconstrictor properties.
3. Expectorants prescribed for coughing.
4. Antipyretic drugs.

So, before embarking on therapy, you need to understand how to distinguish: herpes or a cold on the lips. Both diseases have different etiologies and cannot be cured with the same drugs.