Do you have herpes again and again? So you can solve it

The herpes labialis it is a process caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. It is very contagious and the usual thing is that we get infected before age 5 for having had contact with a person who has herpes labialis. At that time, two circumstances can occur; that is not made visible or that a first herpes in the mouth that is bulky and quite painful.

Once we have been infected, the virus penetrates the body through the skin and goes through the nerve pathways to a ganglion where it remains in a dormant state, as explained María Teresa Gutiérrez Salmerón, member of the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV).

The virus can remain dormant all the time without causing injuries to the lip and its reactivation can occur, according to Gutiérrez Salmerón. infectious process, by exposure to the sun, by menstruation, stress or transient states of a depressed immune system. With the help of the doctor, we reviewed the cold sores.

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symptom

The first is to feel a tingling sensation (paresthesias) or itching that usually identify quickly those people who have already had a cold sore. Then, one of the areas of the lip reddens to give way to the appearance of vesicles with liquid that will form crusts when breaking. The infection disappears after seven days.

Why does it appear again and again?

The herpes It always appears in the same place and if it is recurrent, it must be treated because it can leave scars. If it occurs in the eyes, it can have serious consequences, which is why preventive prophylaxis is usually recommended. "It is unknown why some people reactivate and others do not, especially in cases where it is recurrent and can happen every two weeks or monthly despite the fact that the person does not have an immune deficit," he says. Gutierrez Salmerón, titular professor of Dermatology of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Granada.

How is it cured?

There are few treatments, because being a virus is not possible to do what is done with bacteria, which are living organisms that can be attacked with a drug. "In the case of viruses, which live inside cells, every treatment must preserve the life of the cell," he says. Thus, the antiviral treatment of herpes simplex is based on the administration of acyclovir and derivatives topically or orally, in order to reduce the time of evolution and discomfort and also inhibit the possibilities of replication.

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How is it spread?

It is unusual for contagion to occur to an adult or a child over two years since they have usually had a previous contact with the virus and retain antibodies that make them immune. With what we must take special care is with newborns and children under 2 years, because in these cases the complications can be serious, especially in the case of newborns.

Which areas are most affected?

It is common to appear in the mouth, although it can also affect the genital area, so it is not advised to practice oral sex when the virus is reactivated. In most cases the reactivation occurs in the lip but it can also occur in the cheek, nose, scalp and eye. In the latter case, rapid diagnosis is important, because there is a risk that it will be damaged, according to the doctor.

The most common bruises

One of the most common is to put a huge glob of cream days after the onset of herpes. The topical antibiotic should be applied in the first 24-48 hours, five times a day and not large quantity but enough to ensure that it is absorbed. And if this is not done, they are useless. In addition, misuse can lead to resistance to acyclovir, which can lead to complications if at some point you have to treat a major herpes.

What habits provoke it?

An unbalanced diet, skipping meals, not resting enough hours or chaining several days of stress at work or personal situations that generate anxiety are some of the factors that can accelerate those cited triggers: infectious process, excessive sun exposure, menstruation , stress or transient states of a depressed immune system.