Herpes on the lips: duration of occurrence and treatment

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It has been proven that more than 90% of the world's population has encountered the herpes virus in one form or another.

Considering that the virus penetrates neural networks and is stored there until the end of life, these people are also carriers of herpes. But it's not that scary.

Even if you or your loved ones suffered from this disease a long time ago, herpes will not necessarily torment you constantly. Most often, people encounter herpes on the lips.

The reason for its occurrence is stress or a decline in immunity. Next, we will tell you how many days it takes for herpes to go away and what you need to do to avoid catching it.

How many days does herpes on lips last?

Why does herpes appear on the lips?

This disease is provoked by the herpes virus of the first and second types.

In addition to them, there are other varieties of this non-cellular infectious agent that cause herpes zoster (shingles).

In the modern world, it is extremely difficult to avoid the appearance of herpes on the lips.

If the infection first enters the body, its incubation period will be approximately 20 days.

The body itself fights it, producing protective cells, but cannot completely get rid of foreign proteins.

This is due to the ability of the virus to penetrate neurons and successfully hide from the immune system.

Most of the time, herpes is dormant, but there are a number of factors that can activate it.

These include:

1. Chronic diseases and acute infections . It doesn’t matter whether you have allergies or just accidentally caught ARVI, your immune system becomes weak at this time. As a result, the virus begins to actively develop and sores appear on the lips.
2. Physical exhaustion, unbalanced diet, stress. All this affects the protective functions of the body, making them weaker.
3. Smoking, overeating, excessive craving for alcoholic beverages. These habits have a significant impact on the body, causing it to experience extreme stress and creating a favorable environment for the development of the disease.
4. Menstruation, pregnancy . At this time, the female body becomes vulnerable to various strains of viruses.

It is not difficult to catch this disease and various factors can affect the activation of the virus. Of course, if a person has good immunity, then resistance to infection will be higher, and the duration of the disease will be shortened.

What determines the rate of activation of viruses?

Based on the length of the incubation period of herpes, doctors can make an initial diagnosis and immediately begin treatment, adjusting the patient’s therapeutic regimen if necessary. This possibility is due to the different rates of activation of herpes viruses. Even with the rapid onset of symptoms, infectious agents continue to spread in the human body and penetrate cells. If adequate treatment is carried out at this stage, the prognosis for minimizing the consequences of infection is quite favorable.

Primary infection causes the virus to pass through the endoneural and (or) perineural pathway to the sensitive spinal or cerebral ganglia, in which a persistent pathological process always occurs in a hidden latent form.

The main stages of incubation for the convenience of diagnosing a disease caused by HSV or other types of agents are classified as follows:

• introduction into cells and adaptation;
• replication of genomes and reproduction of other components of Vibrio;
• dissemination or spread.

Unnoticed by the patient at this time, primary inflammatory foci begin to form in the body, biochemical processes are launched, and the immune system responds to the introduction of foreign proteins by producing antibodies. Despite the fact that a person is still considered only a virus carrier, he is quite capable of infecting the people around him.

In the first 12 hours of incubation, the formation of protein structures and then nucleic acids occurs. The cycle of intranuclear reproduction is considered complete after the final formation of the nucleocapsid or vironucleon. The duration of the stage of reproduction of infectious agents varies from person to person and depends on the person’s gender and general health. No clinician is able to predict the first manifestation of any symptoms in a particular patient at a certain time.

How does the disease progress?

Those who get the herpes virus notice itching concentrated near the lips. In some cases, the entire face may itch.

After a couple of hours, redness and swelling appear on the lips. Usually, bubbles with liquid begin to form immediately, which indicates the transition of the disease to the second stage. It goes away in 5-6 days.

Important ! The second stage of herpes on the lips is contagious. The patient is advised to have less contact with people, allocate separate dishes for himself and not touch the area affected by the virus, so as not to spread it throughout the body.

The third stage represents the formation of erosion. The bubbles on the lips begin to burst. A whitish liquid flows out of the formed depressions.

These places need to be treated with herpes ointment. After applying the medicine, the patient should thoroughly wash their hands with an antiseptic and not touch the infected area again.

The ulcers that form during treatment disappear within 2-3 days.

In some people, areas affected by the herpes virus remain painful for up to 14 days. This indicates that the immune system is too weak and requires a catalyst.

In such cases, immune-stimulating drugs and vitamins will help speed up healing. Ideally, the disease disappears without a trace in 6-10 days; if herpes does not go away for a long time, consult a specialist.

If the infection lasts longer than this time, then you need to visit a therapist and dermatologist. As a rule, it indicates another disease.

Features of the disease

Most often, herpes appears in the autumn-winter period, that is, when colds are most common. They weaken the immune system and the virus that lives in the body senses this. Herpes often occurs during strong emotional experiences. This disease looks unattractive, it itches, burns and hurts. The duration of progression of the disease depends on the person’s actions, their literacy and timeliness. If you take corrective measures at the first appearance of watery blisters, then there is a high probability that the disease will not develop further.

As a rule, alcohol, brilliant green, alcohol tinctures, toothpaste or antiviral cream are used for herpes. The choice of the latest funds is determined by the price category. But Acyclovir is considered the most proven medicine.

If blisters have already appeared, treatment will last at least four to six days. The rash will not go away within a week. During this period, you can try to hide them by using a special anti-herpes patch. If the sore does not disappear for more than ten days, then it is advisable to consult a doctor. Such a manifestation may signal disturbances within the body.

In fact, herpes may not be treated at all. With normal immunity, the disease heals quickly. But often the disease lasts for tedious weeks. To speed up this process, you need to understand the stages of herpes. Each of them manifests itself in its own way.

How to heal faster?

Like any other disease, herpes on the lips goes away in a couple of days only if the body’s immunity is normal. However, it can be helped and the lifespan of the infection can be shortened.

As soon as inflammation appears in the mouth area, you need to take the ointment and apply it to them. But you shouldn’t limit yourself to this.

Buy echinacea tincture, Derinat or Milife and start using them every day; do not neglect pills for herpes. These drugs will strengthen the immune system and help the body cope with the virus faster.

By applying ointment to herpes, the patient prevents the disease from degenerating into a vesicular form, reducing the duration of the disease.

As a rule, herpes goes away from this treatment within 5 days.

If bubbles appear on the lips, apply soda and mint compresses. They will reduce discomfort by slightly reducing the sensitivity of the mucous membrane.

How many days does herpes last?

Causes of virus infection

Herpes is a very humble phenomenon of the biological world. Yes, it causes disease, causes trouble, weakens the body, causing harm to its owner. However, he does not seek to kill the body in which he has settled, as if understanding that by destroying his habitat, he himself will die. The same cannot be said about the causative agents of plague and smallpox, AIDS viruses and SARS. The modest behavior of the herpes virus allows it to settle in the human body for its entire long life, without causing fatal damage to its host as its lifelong habitat.

When herpes enters our body, the incubation period of this virus depends on how quickly it manages to overcome the resistance of the body's defense system.

Herpes is not able to overcome the protection of healthy skin. Moreover, infection through the mucous membrane also does not always go smoothly and successfully. However, this virus enters our body only through the mucous membrane of the mouth or genital openings, as well as through damaged skin on the body.

The main areas of penetration are primarily the mouth and nose, and to a lesser extent the genital area.

The most common reason for viruses getting into areas favorable for infection is dirty hands. This concept is, of course, relative. After all, people who suffer from herpes are clean people who live in good sanitary conditions, usually eat well, and have the opportunity to be treated when the need arises.

The path of the virus into our body is through overcoming the protective covers into the nerve processes, and then into the nerve cell located in the spinal cord. Apparently, this is the safest refuge for the virus.

Folk remedies against herpes on the lips

Various herbs and plants can also help clear up cold sores before painful blisters appear. However, they must be used carefully, because... most cause allergies.

Among the most effective folk remedies for inflammation and itching is fir oil. It is applied to swollen lips every 2 hours. The obvious disadvantages of this product are the unpleasant taste and burning sensation after application.

Sea buckthorn oil will help those who have advanced herpes on the lips to the third stage. It accelerates the healing of wounds on the mucous membrane, drying them out.

Rosehip oil has a similar effect. They need to be applied from the edges of the wound to the center, and not vice versa.

This technique prevents the spread of infection throughout the face. Kalanchoe and aloe juice are also suitable for these purposes. You need to break off a fresh plant and apply it to the inflammation.

You can strengthen your immune system with rosehip decoction. The berries of this plant contain a powerful dose of vitamin C, which is an excellent remedy for colds.

If you notice redness on your lips, then you need to start drinking this decoction once a day.

An alternative to rosehip decoction is syrup, which can be purchased ready-made at any city pharmacy. Mint, eucalyptus, hawthorn berries and citruses will help your immune system become stronger.

Complications from herpes on the lips

In 70% of cases, complications from this disease are associated with the fact that the patient unintentionally drags the virus from the lips to other mucous membranes.

The worst of all is the development of ophthalmoherpes. This disease takes a long time and is difficult to treat. It can cause blurred vision and other unpleasant symptoms.

As for the skin, here herpes manifests itself in the form of eczema, so during illness it is recommended not only to constantly treat your hands with an antiseptic, but also to refrain from any intimacy with your partner.

Other types of herpes viruses

Types of herpes viruses that rarely affect humans include types 4,5 and 6. Since infectious pathogens belong to different subfamilies and genera, they also differ in the duration of incubation periods. Activation of Epstein-Barr viruses causes the following diseases to be diagnosed in an adult or child after 5-45 days:

• Central African lymphoma;
• infectious mononucleosis;
• lymphogranulomatosis;
• herpetic sore throat;
• nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Cytomegaloviruses (type 5) provoke the development of cytomegalovirus infection, which is dangerous due to its numerous complications. From the moment of infection to the first clinical manifestations, it usually takes from 3 weeks to 2 months.

Herpes virus type 6 causes skin rashes in the form of spots, papules, vesicles, and pigmentation. Sudden exanthema occurs 5-14 days after infection. The pathology is characterized by a long latent course and the ability to provoke severe complications.

What should you not do if you have a herpes infection?

It is not recommended to constantly touch the area affected by the disease, because... the infection can be spread to other areas.

It is also forbidden to try to disguise herpes on the lips, because any manipulation of the ulcers impairs their healing.

If the disease has reached the second or third stage, then you must try to exclude contact with people.

The patient is strictly prohibited from eating in cafes and other public places, because... this will lead to herpes infection of other visitors.

At home you should eat and drink only from your own container. The patient must prohibit relatives from taking his personal belongings, because they contain strains of the virus and require specialized treatment after treatment is completed.

Various creams, hygienic lipsticks and concealers cannot be used.

This is due to the fact that they perfectly store viral strains inside themselves. Therefore, the most miraculous cosmetics should be postponed until recovery.

Incubation period of herpes

Almost every person in his life is faced with such an unpleasant diagnosis as herpes. And this can be explained by the fact that almost 90% of all inhabitants of the planet carry this virus in their DNA. And those 10% that remain are children under 4 years old, because they have not yet entered society and have not yet become infected with herpes. Many deny the fact that they carry this virus and have ever suffered from its manifestations. However, if we take into account just a small list of diseases caused by the herpes virus, then everything becomes clear by itself, for example, these diseases include:

• direct rashes from the virus, which most often appear in the genital or nasolabial area;
• chronic fatigue;
• cancer diseases;
• mononucleosis caused by infection;
• chickenpox or chickenpox and shingles.

Thus, almost everyone will be able to remember that they have encountered this disease at least once in their life and the rashes associated with herpes prevented them from communicating normally with people, going to parties or holding business meetings. But this problem cannot be ignored, because it needs to be treated. But it is important to understand that this virus is completely incurable, but you can stop its manifestations or make its relapses much less frequent.