Cure cold sores in the lips

Oral or folk herpes is also known as shingles, which are caused by oral vesicles caused by the herpes simplex virus. Serious disease over time and easily spread by contact especially when kissing.

Signs of disease

The pronounced signs of the disease are itching, hot, burning, redness of the skin, a feeling of tingling in the lips , then the appearance of tiny vesicles , focusing on clusters of lips or around the lips (sometimes in mouth, cheeks, chin, nose). These pimples are filled with fluid, when ruptured, the fluid leaks out and spreads the disease. Herpes in the lips are not allergy-like as some people think, not because of bacterial infection. The disease is caused by the herpes simplex group I virus (different from herpes simplex group II, causing genital herpes).

Patients often have associated symptoms such as neck lymph nodes, lymph nodes under the swollen, painful jaw; mild fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat .

After 1-2 weeks, the blisters will dry out, close the eyebrows and will heal without scarring. If the blisters break, they will create ulcers or slippery spots, then close the brow and heal after 10 days but are more susceptible to infection and spread the herpes virus more.

Herpes sores are easy to recur when there are favorable factors because the virus persists in the body, even if the blisters disappear.

About 80% of the population has this virus in their bodies but only about 25% develop the disease, which occurs mostly in children, when there are favorable conditions. Each episode lasts 1-3 weeks, there are recurrences, one year people relapse 1-2 times but there are people 5-6 times.

Depending on favorable conditions, the disease may be at different levels. If resistance is weak or immunodeficiency diseases (such as newborns, pregnant women, organ transplants, HIV infection), the disease is often severe, widespread, prolonged and complicated. In most other cases, mild illness usually resolves in a few weeks.

Favorable factors trigger herpes sores

1. Lesions in the lips (dry, cracked lips, trauma, biting into the lips when eating .).
2. Oral injuries, fever, flu, upper respiratory tract inflammation.
3. Menstruation, pregnancy.
4. Body weakness, mental stress, physical injury.
5. Reduce resistance, reduce immunity (AIDS, cancer, radiation therapy or chemotherapy, organ transplantation .).

The disease is easily transmitted through contact (including indirect contact such as sharing towels).

Treatment of cold sores on the lips at home

1. Rinse your mouth with diluted saline to clean and soothe the wound and reduce the risk of bacterial infection. Bathe with warm water and dilute with salt or violet.
2. Use lip balm with vaseline and sunscreen (SPF> = 15) to soothe cracks (caused by cold weather or sunlight. Do not use makeup or makeup to cover the herpes to Avoid superinfection.
3. Minimize stress, anxiety; enhance nutrition.
4. Do not touch your area with lesions (blisters, sores) on others.
5. Do not share personal items: toothbrushes, towels, face wipes, cups, bowls, lipsticks, makeup and "chilled towels".
6. Wash your hands after applying the medicine.
7. Avoid foods rich in arginine (a substance necessary for the regeneration cycle of herpes virus) such as coconut, soy, peanuts, chocolate, carrots . Eat soft and light foods like fruits and vegetables, fruit tree, price, beef, fish, chicken . to avoid stimulating the sores and sensitive skin areas around.
8. Take common painkillers (paracetamol) with or without codeine (such as Efferalgan Codeine) for the first 7-10 days. If the disease is prolonged, severe, widespread, causing serious complications or occurs in special patients (newborns, pregnant women, patients with AIDS, organ transplants), there should be a doctor's supervision. .

Common medicines

Antiviral drugs : Choose one of three types of acyclovir, famcyclovir, valacylovir. Both mild or severe cases should be used because the drug shortens the time, reduces recurrence, reduces the severity of the disease. Use as soon as possible, right after the first signs (itching, burning, redness .).

Take high doses at the beginning (eg, acyclovir 2-3 times a day, 400 mg each), every 5 days. Particularly for patients with HIV infection, the minimum course of 10 days, if used orally, the only drug selected is famcyclovir. In case of necessity (patients with intolerance, or at risk of adverse events, including HIV infection), acyclovir can be administered intravenously.

Painkillers : Pain is usually not intense but prolonged, uncomfortable, it is recommended to choose a normal medicine, causing less complications.

Medications applied on the spot : Both severe and light cases need to be used. Mild illness sometimes only requires the use of external medicine. Topical care medications include: acyclovir 5% antiviral cream which acts as an oral agent but is lower; anti-infective agents (such as povidin solution, milian solution) to quickly dry out sores and scabs; lip balm sunscreen with an SPF of about 15; Cream for pain relief xylocain.

In addition, rinse your mouth with salt water, take a warm bath or dilute violet solution. It is not necessary to use all but to choose the type needed (for example in case of severe oral or parenteral antiviral use, no cream form is required).

Drugs to prevent relapse : Use only regular, long-term relapse vaccine with people who return 6 times or more each year. It is common to use 6-18 months, when only recurring from 2 times a year, stop. Take one of 3 antiviral drugs acyclovir, famcyclovir, valacylovir. Although lower doses are used during acute treatment (about half to two-thirds), because of regular and long-term use, the drug has side effects (though not large) and is expensive. This is something to consider.

In parallel with taking drugs, patients need to have a good diet to increase resistance . Avoid high arginine foods such as coconut, soy, chocolate, carrots . because arginine is a necessary factor for herpes simplex regeneration. It should be noted, however, that not abstaining from these foods because arginine is also essential for the body.