Herpes on the face and on its mucous membranes is one of the most common viral pathologies. The relevance of this disease is explained by the aesthetic discomfort and severe discomfort that are its consequences.
Herpes on the face can deprive a person of an active social life for a long time, since during this period his face does not look very good. Also, the disease is accompanied by severe pain and manifestations of general intoxication. Patients want to get rid of their symptoms and recover as quickly as possible, but this is not so easy.
What is herpes?
Herpes on the face usually affects the skin of the nose, eyebrows and mucous membranes (lips, mouth) and is the most common viral disease. The disease is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and the varicella zoster virus (herpes simplex and herpes zoster). The latter provokes the development of herpes zoster.Fledand chicken pox. It's a virus that contains DNA that lives in our body and that we don't even know about most of the time.
The insidiousness of this virus lies in the fact that it is transmitted imperceptibly at the slightest contact with an infected person and remains in the body forever, waiting for its best moment while its defenses are weakened. Currently, it is impossible to get rid of this infectious agent forever, but it is possible to control the patient's condition and reduce the number of relapses.
Herpes simplex is able to invade the cells of our body and become tightly intertwined with the DNA of our tissues, allowing it to remain in this state for the rest of its life. For this reason, it does not cause a pronounced reaction in our immune system. While a person is strong and healthy, it does not manifest itself in any way, but as soon as the immune system weakens, it immediately activates.
It is very easy to become a carrier of the herpes virus, it is highly contagious, therefore this pathology occurs in one in two inhabitants of the planet. Regardless of the stage and type of the disease, it is highly contagious, since the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, shaking hands, kissing, sex, household items, saliva.
Most often, the infectious agent affects the lips and nasolabial region, and even penetrates the nasal passages. In this case, there is a high probability that it will spread all over the face. What does herpes look like on the face? It is a small conglomerate of bubbles located in a group in a specific area of the face. You can see them well in the photo below.
How can you get infected?
Since herpes appears on the body of almost every person, provoking factors are needed to wake it up.
There are many of these factors, including:
- banal coldness;
- stressful situations that last a long time;
- vitamin and mineral deficiencies;
- Overwork and physical fatigue;
- hypothermia;
- other viral diseases (ARVI, acute respiratory infections, tonsillitis);
- decrease in the body's defenses;
- non-compliance with hygiene rules;
- nicotine and alcohol abuse;
- from mother to fetus;
- direct contact with a sick person (sexual tract).
Stages of development of the disease.
Reduced immunity is a favorable environment for the development of the disease, and infection with the second type of herpes can occur through sexual contact, that is, oral sex. If an infectious agent causes blisters to appear on the face, there is a high probability of recurrence. Therefore, the disease can appear on other parts of the face and sometimes on the body.
Unfortunately, modern medicine has only drugs that weaken the effect of the virus, reduce the manifestation of the disease and calm the virus, but not completely destroy it.
The disease has four stages of development. You can see the course of the development of the disease in the photo below.
- The first stage is itching and discomfort, tingling and tingling.
- The second stage is inflammation of the skin and the appearance of a red spot, and then a blister with liquid. At the same time, pain, itching and swelling are felt.
- The third stage - the bubbles break open, and in their place ulcers form. In this case, they must be treated carefully so as not to introduce an even more dangerous infection.
- The fourth stage - the wounds heal, dry up and scabs grow on them.
The four stages take place in two weeks. However, if the symptoms do not disappear within this time, you should consult a doctor immediately. Very dangerous herpes on the lips withof pregnancyespecially for the fetus.
types of herpes
There are eight types of herpesviruses, but six types are the most common. All types have their manifestations, symptoms and development.
- The first type, herpes simplex, appears on the lips in the form of small blisters.
- The second type is genital or genital herpes.
- The third type is chickenpox (varicella).
- The fourth type is Epstein-Barr virus (infectious mononucleosis, Burkitt's lymphoma).
- The fifth type is cytomegalovirus (most common in young people in their 30s).
- The sixth type is pseudorubella.
The seventh and eighth types are not well understood at this time, but experts are inclined to believe that these types of herpes can cause chronic fatigue. The first three types of this infectious agent are the most common and cause numerous health problems. Herpes on the face is caused by the first and third types.
The third type of herpes is more common in children because it causes chickenpox. It remains in a dormant state in the body forever. After many years, as a result of a decrease in the body's defenses, the virus can become active and cause shingles.
Herpes Symptoms
The incubation period is characterized by general malaise:Headache, joint pain, fever and cold symptoms (inflammation of the nasal mucosa, runny nose, swelling of the face and tearing).
The disease caused by the first type of virus is characterized by a rash on the lips in the area of \u200b\u200bthe red border with the transition to the skin. In severe cases, the condition can affect the lining of the mouth and another area of the face. A group of fluid-filled vesicles appear on the skin. At the same time, itching, swelling, redness and pain are felt.
Shingles on the face is manifested by rashes very similar to those seen with a simple virus, but larger. A distinctive feature of this disease is the localization of the rashes: they are located along the same line that repeats the course of the nerve and are not located randomly, as in a simple type. Regional lymph nodes are also enlarged, and there is significant pain on palpation.
In this case, the main symptom is a strong debilitating pain, which torments the patient even after the rash disappears. When the blisters erupt, ulcers appear in their place, which eventually become covered with crusts and after a while disappear, leaving pigment spots on the face. Spots after herpes on the face appear when the patient forcibly tears off an incompletely healed scab.
Therefore, the main manifestation of the disease are blisters filled with a clear liquid. After ripening, they burst and become covered with serous crusts. This whole process is accompanied by itching, swelling and pain.
After recovery, the virus fragments penetrate the spinal cord and "hide" in the depths of the nerve ganglia. They reach the reproductive system and smuggle their genetic material into the chromosomes of our body. From now on, our own cell will produce large quantities of the virus for the rest of our lives, and man will become its constant carrier. Therefore, the risk of recurrence is very high when the body's defenses are weakened.
How to treat herpes on face
Treatment is aimed at relieving the symptoms of the disease and eliminating its manifestations. It is important to put the virus in a latent state and reduce the frequency of relapses. For this, it is necessary to follow the principles of treatment and preventive measures.
The virus is treated as follows:
- Antiseptics are used that dry the blisters with liquid. As antiseptics in this case are: alcohol, iodine, brilliant green.
- Moisturize and soften the formed crusts.
- Take antiviral medications by mouth.
- Local treatment is carried out with ointments and antiviral creams.
- Prescribe treatment with interferon.
- Take immunomodulators.
- You are vaccinated.
The following antiviral drugs are taken from medication:
- Acyclovir is the most popular drug that almost everyone knows. Treats a viral infection at any stage of development and in different places.
- Zovirax - effective at the first stage of the development of the disease, is used as a prophylactic agent. The composition of the drug includes acyclovir.
- Valtrex: effective in localizing the virus on the lips and genitals. It is both curative and preventive.
- Famvir (famciclovir) is the most effective new generation anti-herpes drug. Its use in the early stages of the disease helps prevent further progression of the disease.
- Foscarnet - inhibits metabolic processes in viral cells and the action of its enzymes involved in DNA synthesis.
All drugs for herpes are selected individually, depending on the localization of the rashes, their number and the observed symptoms. If the rashes are not grouped, isolated items are treated with external antiviral ointments. These external funds include:
- Viru-Merz Serol;
- Fenistil;
- vivorax;
- Pencivir;
- Zovirax;
- Acyclovir.
Treatment with external agents is particularly effective for rashes on the nose, lips and oral cavity. Ointment from herpes on the face contributes to the rapid drying of blisters and the formation of crusts.
Immunomodulators play an important role in increasing immunity. Also, these drugs have an antiviral effect and an immunocorrective effect, suppressing the activity of an infectious agent at the cellular level.
These drugs include:
- Cycloferon - is produced in the form of a solution in ampoules and is intended for injection. Treatment with this drug is carried out according to the scheme: two courses with a two-week break.
- Interferon is an effective antiviral drug.
- Likopid - strengthens the immune system, helps to resist viruses. The drug is produced in the form of tablets, which are suitable for the treatment of adults and children. Adults are prescribed 2 tablets twice a day for 10 days. Children - 1 tablet for 7 days.
- Derinat is a very effective drug that has no contraindications. It is shown to both adults and children.
- Viferon is another drug without contraindications, which is produced as an external agent (ointment). Ideal for pregnant and breastfeeding women, children and adults. Use the ointment 4 times a day for 7 days.
- Echinacea and Eleutherococcus are natural immune boosters.
- vitamin and mineral complexes.
With many rashes on the face, an increase in body temperature is recorded, antiviral drugs based on valacyclovir and acyclovir (Valtrex, Gerpeval) are prescribed.
Vaccination is also not a panacea for this disease. However, it helps reduce the activity of the virus and minimize its manifestations, resulting in a reduction in relapses. During vaccination, an inactive virus is introduced into the human body. As a result, the immune system reaction is provoked, which activates the cellular defense mechanisms against the infectious agent. This leads to the formation of a sufficiently long resistance to herpes.
Important! Any antiviral drugs can be taken for no more than two weeks. Repeat the treatment only as directed by the doctor and under his supervision.
Herpes Prevention
Prevention of the disease consists in observing a number of sanitary and preventive norms. That means:
- frequent hand washing;
- frequent change of bed and underwear;
- understandability in sex life;
- use of personal household items (towels, slippers, cosmetics and dishes);
- healthy lifestyle(full sleep, adequate nutrition, walks in the fresh air, exercise, taking vitamins and supplements).
Remember! It is impossible to fully recover from the virus. Therefore, neither a complete cure for the recurrence of herpes, nor prevention of the disease can fully protect the body. The absence of obvious symptoms does not mean that a person is non-contagious (non-contagious). Therefore, it is worth protecting yourself from contagion by refraining from promiscuity and following the precautions mentioned above. It is also important to monitor the state of the immune system, since errors in its work contribute to the awakening and activation of the virus.