Using a cold towel may cause lip sores

Lip blisters often increase when it gets cold, the body is tired; The main culprit is herpes virus. The reuse of chilled towels at restaurants and restaurants to wipe face is one of the causes of this virus infection.

Mouth sores caused by herpes simplex virus group 1 (group 2 causes genital herpes). They make small blisters on the lips, sometimes spreading down the chin or on the nose or cheeks. The infection occurs when contact with someone who has been infected with herpes virus. Injury often occurs in the lips, because the lips are often exposed to pathogens (through kissing, washing towels .) and thin lip mucosa makes the virus easier to penetrate epithelial cells.

A typical illness lasts about 1-3 weeks. About 80% of the population carries herpes virus, but only about a quarter of them have clinical symptoms and have a relapse. Some people only develop symptoms after months or years of viral infection, when the body suffers from reduced systemic resistance or injury in the mouth. Herpes virus will remain permanently in the body, reside in the nerve nodes and may develop the disease when there are favorable factors, including:

- Lip lesions (dry, cracked lips, trauma).

- Oral-oral injuries (extractions, fillings).

- Fever, flu, infections (such as upper respiratory tract inflammation).

- Menstruation, pregnancy.

- Physical weakness, mental stress, physical injury.

- Reduce resistance, reduce immunity (AIDS, cancer).

The disease starts with lip signaling symptoms such as burning, itching. After 12-24 hours, there are small clusters of blisters with a tip on the red swollen skin on or around the edge of the lips (sometimes in the mouth, chin, nose, 2 cheeks .). Feeling pain, burning in the area with lesions. These vesicles contain serous fluid and will ooze out when broken, easily infect others. During this time, the lymph nodes, under the jaw, can be swollen, painful and often accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as mild fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat, difficulty eating .

After about 1-2 weeks, the blisters will dry out (if not broken), close the brow and will heal quickly without scarring. The broken vesicles will form ulcers or slip marks, then close the brow and heal after 10 days; but they are more susceptible to bacterial infections and spread herpes virus more.

Herpes lips are very contagious through direct contact when there are still lesions. Therefore, to avoid infection, need:

Do not touch the area with your lesions on others, such as kissing, touching, touching.

Do not share personal items such as toothbrushes, towels, face wipes, drinking cups, chopsticks-spoons, lipsticks, makeup powder and 'chilled towels' .

Wash your hands after applying the medicine.

Do not touch the eyes.

Be careful when applying makeup and removing makeup. Do not try to use cream or makeup to cover herpes or sores because they will be susceptible to multiple infections.

The sores will no longer cause infection once they have healed completely and the affected skin has returned to normal.

How to care and treat at home

In most cases, the lesions close the eyebrows and go away in about 2 weeks. Therefore, home treatment plays an important role. Rinse your mouth with diluted saline to clean and soothe the wound and reduce the risk of superinfection.

Topical medications: Colorants (such as Milian, Povidine) prevent superinfection, quickly dry out the slide. Xylocaine pain reliever cream and anti-viral cream (Acyclovir 5% or Penciclovir 1%).

Need to reduce stress, anxiety; enhance nutrition, improve overall condition. Avoid foods high in arginine (an amino acid needed for the regeneration cycle of herpes) such as coconut, soy, peanuts, chocolate, carrots . Eat soft and light foods like fruits and vegetables, fruits tree, price, beef, fish, chicken, cheese . to avoid stimulating the sores and sensitive skin areas around.

If the disease persists, spreads, complications or occurs in special patients (neonates, pregnant women, AIDS patients, organ transplant patients), there should be monitoring of doctors and use of killing drugs virus (acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir). The drug will help reduce symptoms severely, shorten the duration of the disease and reduce recurrence. Use the medicine as soon as possible in these cases (when symptoms appear).

In patients with at least 6 relapses / year, favorable factors causing frequent onset and withdrawal of antiviral drugs must be removed. Discontinue treatment if there are less than 2 episodes per year.

Herpes causes many complications

Acute gingivitis, often occurs in children aged 1-5 years.

Eczema herpes: Common in patients with previous skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, darier disease, pemphigus, chronic dermatitis.

Chickenpox rash: A form of skin infection with herpes virus that spreads and is impetuous. Sudden onset of symptoms: fever, chills, discomfort and blisters appear in areas of abnormal skin. The lesions form in 7-10 days, spread and connect each other into larger ulcers. Then infected with Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria.

Corneal keratitis - conjunctiva: Pain, irritation, lacrimation and light sensitivity. If not treated early, the disease can lead to blindness caused by corneal and conjunctival ulcers. Immediately see an ophthalmologist if a herpes infection is suspected in the eye.

Acute encephalitis - meningitis in the form of herpes: The complication is often fatal if not treated promptly.

Injectable herpes infection: A career risk of doctors, dentists, and nurses when in contact with patients infected with herpes. Manifestations are symptoms of herpes virus infection in the finger. It is important to distinguish it from the diagnosis of perineal (ripening) infections in these subjects.

Rash variety: A symmetrical rash, often in the arms, legs and lesions appear in many forms (inlaid, papules, patches .), not just blisters. The disease can recur in waves and last 2-3 weeks.