How do you treat a cold sore

At Home Treatment for Cold Sores

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

If you’ve ever had a cold sore, you know the signs. It starts with the tingling, then the edge of your lip or the corner of your mouth begins to burn. Then the outbreak: An ugly red sore appears. A few days later it breaks open and crusts over. Within 2-4 weeks, it should disappear.

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are caused by a virus and have no cure. When you feel one budding, you want to get rid of it, fast.

But you probably don’t need a doctor. There are things that you can do at home to soothe the pain and make cold sores look nicer as they heal -- anything from using ice or aloe vera to using pain medication from your medicine cabinet.

How to Treat Cold Sores

There are many that you can do at home to soothe the sting of a cold sore, such as:

Ice. You can numb the pain if you apply a cold compress to the sore. Don’t put ice directly on your skin -- that could damage it.

Pain relievers. When a cold sore really stings, you may get some relief from an over-the-counter painkiller like acetaminophen.

Over-the-counter creams. There are products available at the drugstore that can help reduce the pain of a cold sore or help keep the skin soft while it heals.

Prescription drugs. Because cold sores are caused by a virus, doctors may suggest an antiviral medication to help you heal more quickly. The antiviral drugs used to treat cold sores include acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), famciclovir (Famvir), and penciclovir (Denavir).

Sunscreen. Getting a sunburn may trigger a cold sore. Using sunscreen when you’re out in the sun may prevent it.

Aloe vera gel. The same gel used for sunburn may help a cold sore to heal. Lab research has shown the gel may help fight viruses, including herpes simplex.

Lysine. This supplement may be used sometimes to treat cold sores. It comes in a cream or in capsule form.

Propolis. This is a resin-like material made by bees from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing trees. It may be used like an ointment to treat cold sores.

Lemon balm. Some research has shown that lemon balm extract can help cold sores get better, too.

Tea tree oil. Some research has shown that this strong-smelling oil helps a cold sore heal more quickly.

Peppermint oil. Research has found that peppermint oil is effective at fighting cold sores.

Kanuka honey. Medical-grade kanuka honey, which is produced by bees in New Zealand, is as effective as topical medication as a treatment for cold sores, according to a recent study published in BMJ Open.

Vitamin C and vitamin E. Both of these vitamins have been shown to fight cold sores. Studies have shown that vitamin C can inactivate the herpes simplex virus, the virus that causes cold sores. Other research has shown that vitamin E can help heal cold sores.

Stress reduction. Taking steps to lower your stress levels may help ward off cold sores. Try meditation or deep breathing exercises.

What Not to Do With Cold Sores

Certain habits or behaviors could trigger a cold-sore outbreak or make new cold sores appear elsewhere on your body.

Avoid triggers. This means that if you know a hot, sunny day at the beach or a lot of stress makes you break out in cold sores, try to stay out of those situations when you can. You may be able to stop it in its tracks, or at least keep it from getting worse.

Don’t touch. If you pick at your cold sore, you may spread the virus to another part of your body. That will just make your outbreak worse. Keep your hands away from your mouth, and wash your hands often, especially when you touch your face.

Don’t pop sores. The virus is most likely to spread after a cold sore appears and before it heals. Popping the sores may spread the virus to other parts of your body.

Don’t give or receive oral sex. When you have a cold sore, you can spread it to other parts of the body, including the genitals.

Causes of Cold Sores

Cold sores are caused by a common virus called herpes simplex. Most people get exposed to the virus when they’re babies or children. There’s no cure for it. Once you’ve been exposed to it, it’s always in your system, even if it doesn’t often cause cold sores or other symptoms.

Herpes simplex is spread by close contact. If you kiss someone with a cold sore, or you touch their face and then touch your own face, you can catch the virus. You can also get herpes simplex by sharing lip balm, a fork, a mug or a razor with someone who has it. You’re most likely to get the virus from someone who has an active cold sore, but it’s also possible to contract it from someone who doesn’t have a sore or blister showing.

The virus also can spread to the eyes or the genitals. For example, if you rub your eyes after getting saliva from an infected person on your hands, or if you receive oral sex from someone who has cold sores.

When you’re first exposed to the virus, you’re likely to get a cold sore. After a week or two, it’ll go away on its own. Then the virus goes dormant in your body. You may never have another cold sore outbreak again, but many people do.

Some things that make an outbreak more likely are:

A cold or other illness
A fever
Stress
Too much sun
Your period

Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Complications, and Prevention

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

What Is a Cold Sore?

A cold sore is a group of tiny, painful blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). They’re also called fever blisters or herpes simplex labialis.

Up to 90% of people around the world have at least one form of HSV.

The symptoms are usually the most severe the first you time you get cold sores. A first-time cold sore can make a child seriously ill.

After the first outbreak, your body should make antibodies, and you may never have another infection. But many people get cold sores that come back.

Cold Sore Symptoms

Cold sores are most likely to show up on the outside of your mouth and lips, but you can also get them on your nose and cheeks.

You may get cold sores as late as 20 days after you’re infected. The sore might appear near where the virus entered your body.

Cold sores happen in stages:

You have a tingling, burning, or itching feeling.
About 12 to 24 hours later, blisters form. The area becomes red, swollen, and painful.
The blisters break open, and fluid comes out. This usually lasts 2 or 3 days.
A scab forms on the sore. It might crack or bleed.
The scab falls off.

You might also have red or swollen gums, swollen glands in your neck, fever, or muscle aches.

First-time infections can also cause:

Burning and pain inside your mouth
Sore throat
Pain when swallowing
Headache
Upset stomach

Cold Sore Causes

You catch HSV when you come into contact with people or things that carry the virus. For instance, you can get it from kissing someone who has the virus or from sharing eating utensils, towels, or razors.

Two types of the virus can cause cold sores: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both types can also cause sores on your genitals and can be spread by oral sex.

Type 1 usually causes cold sores, and type 2 mostly causes genital herpes, but either can be found in both areas.

Certain things can trigger an outbreak, including:

Some foods
Stress
Fever
Colds
Allergies
Fatigue
Sunburn or being in strong sunlight
Dental work or cosmetic surgery
Menstruation

Cold Sore Risk Factors

Cold sores generally aren’t serious, but the infection may be life-threatening for someone who has a weakened immune system because of AIDS, another condition, or medications.

If you have a severe case of a skin condition called eczema, you may get cold sores over large parts of your body.

Cold Sore Diagnosis

Your doctor might diagnose a cold sore just by looking at the blisters. They can also swab the blister and test the fluid for HSV.

Cold Sore Treatment

There’s no cure for cold sores. Once you have the virus, it stays in your body. The sores themselves usually heal on their own in 1 or 2 weeks.

Antiviral medications can speed healing, especially if you take them at the first sign of an outbreak. Your doctor might tell you to use:

Cream that you apply on the sores. Acyclovir (Zovirax) and penciclovir (Denavir) need a prescription, or you can get docosanol (Abreva) over the counter.
Pills that you swallow, like acyclovir (Sitavig, Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), or valacyclovir (Valtrex). You need a prescription to get these.
Medicine injected into your bloodstream (called intravenous or IV) if you have a severe case, such as cidofovir (Vistide) or foscarnet (Foscavir). Acyclovir can also been injected.

Some home remedies can help you feel better while you heal:

Cold, damp compresses
Pain medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen
Cream painkillers with benzocaine or lidocaine
Treatments with alcohol to dry out the blisters
Lip balms and creams to keep moisture in

Cold Sore Complications

Complications from a cold sore are rare, but can happen if the virus spreads to another part of your body, including your:

Fingers. This infection is called herpes whitlow.
Genitals. You might have warts or ulcers on your genitals or anus.
Other areas of skin. If you have eczema and get a cold sore, see your doctor right away to avoid a serious condition called eczema herpeticum. This painful rash covers large areas of skin.
Eyes. HSV keratitis, an infection in your cornea, can cause blindness.
Brain or spinal cord. The virus can cause dangerous inflammation called meningitis or encephalitis, especially in people who have weakened immune systems.

Cold Sore Prevention

To lower your risk of another outbreak:

Get plenty of rest. A lack of sleep weakens your immune system, so you get sick more easily.
Wear lip balm with sunscreen. Look for SPF on the label.
Talk with your doctor. If you get sores often, they might have you take an antiviral medicine every day.

To keep from spreading the virus, when you have cold sores, don't:

Kiss anyone
Share eating utensils, glasses, towels, lipstick or lip balm, or razors
Have oral sex

Keep in mind that you can spread the virus even without symptoms.

How to quickly cure herpes on the lips

Symptoms of the herpes virus
Causes of colds on the lips
Diagnosis of infection
How to treat herpes on the lips
Is a cold on the lip dangerous?
Relapse prevention

Image by Julia Zavalishina on Shutterstock

A cold on the lips is otherwise called "herpes simplex" or "vesicular lichen". The name "herpes" comes from the Greek language and translates as "creeping disease". nine0017

This is a widespread disease that refers to a viral infection. In the beginning, inflammation appears on the skin or mucous membranes of the mouth, then a vial filled with liquid. When treated, it turns into a drying wound.

Herpes virus symptoms

The causative agent of the disease is the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It manifests itself as a rash in the form of multiple small bubbles that are located close to each other and filled with a clear liquid. After a few days, it becomes cloudy, and a dry crust of a dirty yellow color appears on the site of the affected area, which disappears after 5-7 days. nine0017

Most often, rashes appear in the corners of the mouth or on the lips. In certain cases, a herpetic infection affects the oral mucosa, wings of the nose, and the genital area. The lesion has uneven edges and reaches 1–1.5 centimeters in diameter; edema may be observed on the tissues adjacent to the site.

If a cold has “crawled out” on the lip, it causes serious discomfort, which is aggravated by eating, talking, and hygiene procedures. The affected area is regularly exposed to friction and mechanical stress, which is accompanied by a feeling of pain and burning. The bubbles break open, forming erosion, which can lead to infection of the wound and slows down the healing of the skin. nine0017

In some people, against the background of rashes, general well-being worsens: the temperature rises to subfebrile (37–38 degrees), muscle pain appears, and appetite decreases.

Causes of colds on the lips

When rashes appear, the question arises: how to get rid of a cold on the lip? To do this, you need to know for what reasons a rash appears. Herpes is viral in nature. Specialists have identified two HSV serotypes. With the first of these, most people are in contact in early childhood. According to statistics, more than 9 people are infected with herpes of the first type, which causes the appearance of blisters on the lips.7% of the world's population. The pathogen enters the body through the respiratory tract and remains in the cells of the trigeminal nerve (the main sensory nerve of the face). The first herpes on the lips in most people appears already in childhood.

With the second serotype of herpes simplex, patients usually encounter in adolescence or early adulthood. Infection occurs during physical proximity, but the virus does not manifest itself in any way.

Experts note that in most people, HSV is present in the body without clinical manifestations of infection. More often they occur with a decrease in immunity. The virus can manifest itself after a person has had a cold or other infectious disease, has become cold. In women, rashes may appear at a certain period of the menstrual cycle. In some cases, recurrent, or permanent, herpes on the lips is observed in the autumn-winter period, and in the warm season there are no manifestations of infection. nine0017

Relapses are typical for people with reduced immunity. These are patients who are prone to frequent colds and have chronic diseases.

Diagnosis of infection

If you are often worried about a cold on your lip, the first thing to do is to consult a therapist. Due to the pronounced symptoms of herpes, it is not difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. If rashes appear on the oral mucosa, additional consultation with a specialist will be required. Visually, a herpetic rash in the oral cavity is similar to the manifestations of diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris and erythema multiforme exudative. nine0017

A similar situation occurs if the infection affects the genital area. The doctor prescribes laboratory diagnostics to distinguish herpes simplex from another infection.

How to treat herpes on the lips

Therapy depends on the phase of the disease. With its exacerbation, topical agents are used that help eliminate the symptoms of herpes and heal the affected tissues. The most famous drugs of this type are Zovirax, Acyclovir, Fenistil pencivir, Panavir. The composition of ointments and creams includes substances: acyclovir, penciclovir and other components that act on the DNA of the virus and block its spread. nine0017

Antiherpetic agents for external use are recommended to be used at the very beginning of the disease. As soon as a characteristic tingling appears and the skin begins to itch, it is worth applying an ointment or cream against herpes to it. Everyone should have such a remedy for colds on the lips in their home first-aid kit. If you start treatment immediately, you can avoid the appearance of bubbles and sores.

In addition to ointments and creams, they produce tablets for herpes on the lips. They are prescribed by a doctor with frequent relapses of the disease. Among the most famous drugs are Acyclovir and Valaciclovir. Medicines are taken within 5-7 days. Such treatment is effective for herpes on the lips, since the viral load on the body is sharply reduced. nine0017

From physiotherapy procedures, a course of laser therapy or light therapy can be prescribed. Such procedures have an anti-inflammatory effect on tissues, contribute to their restoration, and stimulate the immune system.

The modern approach to the treatment of herpes involves the rejection of monotherapy (treatment with one drug) in favor of complex treatment. It is aimed at a medical way to increase immunity. Its strengthening allows achieving stable remission and avoiding clinical manifestations of herpes virus infection. This is the only thing that helps with cold sores in the long run. nine0017

People with frequent rashes are shown the herpes vaccine. It is recommended for those who relapse more than three times a year, elderly patients, HIV-infected.

Is a cold on the lip dangerous?

With a complicated course, the disease leads to serious complications. With the defeat of the mucous membrane of the cheeks, palate, gums, herpetic stomatitis develops. It leads to the destruction of mucous membranes, causes pain. Young children may develop aphthous stomatitis. The mucous membrane of the oral cavity becomes inflamed with the formation of wounds. The process is accompanied by burning pain, fever, swollen lymph nodes, profuse salivation and loss of appetite. nine0017

Herpes during primary infection is a serious danger in early pregnancy. During this period, the child's internal organs and systems are laid, so a herpes infection that has appeared in the mother can interfere with the healthy development of the fetus. Primary infection with herpes during reproductive age is a very rare occurrence. If the expectant mother already had a cold on her lips before pregnancy, the body managed to develop antibodies to the virus. Immune protection is transferred to the fetus, so the rash will not harm his health. nine0017

Relapse Prevention

The only effective way to prevent recurrence of a cold on the lips is to strengthen the immune system. It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle, play sports, not weaken the body with bad habits and avoid factors that can provoke an exacerbation, primarily hypothermia.

How to treat genital herpes on the genitals

04/28/2022

What is genital herpes,

how to find out it's him0027

Genital herpes is a chronic viral infection that can be caused by herpes simplex viruses type I and II. Previously thought to be an infectious disease is caused only by the second type of virus, and the “cold” on the lips is the antics of the type 1 virus, but oral sex has changed our lives. Recently, the proportion of cases of genital herpes caused by HSV type I has been increasing, which is especially noticeable among MSM and young women. Genital herpes caused by type II HSV is characterized by a more severe course and frequent relapses. nine0017

Transmission of the virus occurs through sexual contact with all types of sex, as well as contact with saliva, semen and other body fluids containing the virus.

In most people with no symptoms or with mild clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of genital herpes may not be established. Mild symptoms may go unnoticed or be mistaken for other skin conditions (pimples or ingrown hairs). This is not cool, because if a person does not know that he has herpes, he does not follow enough preventive measures so as not to transmit the virus to his sexual partner. nine0017

With symptomatic genital herpes, one or more blisters/vesicles usually appear in the genital area. The blisters burst and leave painful sores that may take a week or more to heal. Flu-like symptoms, such as fever, body aches, or swollen lymph nodes, may accompany or precede the rash.

Disease diagnosis

The diagnosis is established clinically - in the presence of characteristic changes on the lips, wings of the nose or genitals - but requires confirmation by PCR (detection of the genetic material of the virus in the fluid from the vesicles or discharge of ulcers). With a negative PCR result, serological diagnosis can help - a study of whether there are specific antibodies to type I and type II viruses in the blood. nine0017

If no rash or other symptoms (pain, burning) have ever been present, routine examination is not indicated. True, there are two exceptions: planning pregnancy (it is necessary to check both partners) or a high risk of genital herpes (more than 10 sexual partners in a lifetime, HIV infection or detection / treatment of other sexually transmitted infections beforehand).

But if there is even the slightest suspicion that you may have genital herpes, especially when some moderate rashes appear, even those that are not very similar to herpes in description, you should consult a doctor to clarify their cause. nine0017

How to treat genital herpes

What men and women do when rashes appear in intimate areas, what they don’t smear, what candles and where they just don’t insert. In fact, there is nothing more effective than a real antiviral therapy that has been proven to work. This is the basis of the treatment of herpes. The main thing is to understand what and who we are going to treat.

For antiviral treatment, widely known drugs are used: acyclovir, valaciclovir or famciclovir. Further in the article we will focus only on the forms of drugs for oral administration. There is also an ointment of acyclovir, it is even very popular, but in fact, bioavailability, the ability of the active component to penetrate into the site of the fight against the virus, local therapy (ointment) is low. Such therapy will not be effective and may lead to the formation of virus resistance to acyclovir. nine0017

In some cases, the treatment is given intravenously, but often these are severe cases that require hospitalization, so only pills are discussed.

Different clinical situations require us to have a completely different approach to how to treat herpes on the genitals (labia, penis). Of great importance is whether this is a primary episode or a repeated one, and if it is repeated, then how often do relapses occur?

The initial episode can be quite intense and prolonged, with a large lesion and severe ulcerative defects, so treatment is necessary to reduce the duration of the process and accelerate healing. nine0017

Almost all people who have had a symptomatic initial episode of genital herpes experience recurrences later on. Of course, subsequent relapses may be less intense and not as long.

Each episode of exacerbation of genital herpes should be treated with standard courses of antiviral therapy, which in the future can reduce the number of episodes and the intensity of manifestations, and maybe remission will occur for some time. nine0017

Taking medications should be started as early as possible, preferably in the first 24 hours from the appearance of rashes or even in the prodromal phase - when discomfort appears: for example, burning / itching, where rashes should appear, but they are not there yet. Some people know their triggers for genital herpes flare-ups and start taking medication early (eg, before menstruation, climate change, stressful situations), but there are no official recommendations for proactive therapy.

According to WHO and European recommendations, as well as CDC recommendations, if a patient has more than six relapses of a herpes infection per year, this is already an indication for the so-called suppressive / suppressive therapy: taking the drug in one dose daily for a long period (usually at least a year or more reassessing the need for further intake every year). Suppressive therapy reduces relapse rate by 70-80%! And it's safe - there are studies that confirm the safety of long-term use of drugs (for several years in a row). nine0017

But, again, if there are more than six relapses, but less than ten, these are the same dosages, and if there are more than ten relapses, they are completely different.

Genital herpes during pregnancy and

in HIV positive

In some cases, daily antiviral drugs are given to men during conception to prevent transmission of the virus to a partner. And in late pregnancy, antiviral drugs can be prescribed to the mother to prevent infection of the fetus. nine0017

In the treatment of genital herpes in people with positive and negative HIV status, there are also differences in the doses and duration of the drugs. And, in general, many factors can influence the choice of drug, dose, regimen and duration of administration: age, pregnancy (it all depends on the timing of pregnancy and whether it is a primary infection or a repeated one), the effectiveness of previous therapy and other factors, so here you can not do without a specialist who will help sort everything out. Let's go back to the fact that if you are not sure that it is herpes, only a doctor can correctly assess the situation and choose tactics. nine0017

Is vaccination possible

Despite the fact that the effectiveness of long-term use of anti-herpetic drugs is quite high, not all patients can achieve significant improvements, so in Russia one can resort to the last attempt to control the herpes virus - this is vaccination. Why only in Russia? Because there are no registered vaccines against herpes infection types I, II in the world. In Russia, there is and has been used since 1985 a vaccine against herpes viruses of types I and II - it is called Vitagerpavak . The mechanism of action is to enhance the specific immune response of the organism itself against the background of the introduction of virus antigens. The vaccination course includes two series with an interval of six months, and each series consists of 5 doses, 1 dose per week. To our great regret, clinical studies on its testing were carried out only in our country, and the evidence base for its effectiveness is small. But clinical experience shows that it can improve the quality of life in most patients suffering from severe manifestations and / or frequent recurrences of infections caused by herpes simplex viruses. nine0017

It is impossible to cure herpes once and for all, but there are many ways to effectively fight it, reduce the number of relapses, the duration and severity of their course, and improve the quality of life of patients. And which of these methods is suitable for each specific person, the doctor will tell you. In our clinic, we prescribe only informative tests and effective treatment for herpes, and we treat each patient in a friendly and understanding manner.

nine0017

Author:

Infectious disease specialist, parasitologist Konovalova Anastasia Aleksandrovna

Sources:

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/250693/9789241549875-eng.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/herpes.