Herpes On The Face - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Herpes on the face

Content:

• Description of herpes on the face
• Causes of exacerbation of herpes on the face
• Symptoms of herpes on the face
• Treating herpes on the face

Description of herpes on the face

Herpetic lesions of the skin and mucous membranes in the face area is one of the most common types of herpes. The urgency of this disease is explained by the pronounced discomfort and aesthetic troubles that are its consequences. Some cases of herpes on the face are accompanied by severe pain and symptoms of general intoxication.

The clinical features of any herpes infection depend on several factors:

1. The type of pathogen and its type;
2. The immune capabilities of the human body;
3. Type of infection (primary or secondary);
4. Previously transferred concomitant diseases and infections.

A special attitude about herpes on the face belongs to his cases of infection with viruses of the first and third types. Their representatives are the herpes simplex virus and the causative agent of shingles. Other types of herpes infection on the face do not occur. This is due to the characteristics of these pathogens, which need to be briefly discussed, because each of them causes a different lesion of the facial skin.

Herpes simplex is characterized by the ability to penetrate epithelial, nerve and, to a lesser extent, lymphatic cells, without causing a pronounced immune response. This ensures its partial masking and the ability to tightly connect with the genetic material of human tissues, remaining in them for life. At the same time, he may not manifest himself in any way, if the immune system is not weakened.

Features of herpes of the third type are that this virus primarily causes chickenpox in children. Indeed, the primary infection with them occurs precisely in childhood. In this case, a very violent reaction of the immune system occurs in the form of fever and widespread rashes. But this does not prevent viruses from penetrating the large nerve trunks and their ganglia, where they remain forever, until a certain time does not manifest themselves in any way. As soon as provoking factors affect the body, the virus is activated with the development of a detailed clinical picture of herpes zoster on the face.

Causes of exacerbation of herpes on the face

In general, it should be said that these must be factors that contribute to a decrease in the body's immune status, because herpes never affects a person with healthy immunity. This can lead to:

1. Childhood and old age;
2. Poor nutrition;
3. Nervous strain and constant stress;
4. Draft and hypothermia of the face;
5. Unprotected close contact with persons suffering from herpes infection during an active exacerbation of the process;
6. Diseases of the blood system and immunity.

Symptoms of herpes on the face

Herpes on the face, caused by viruses of the first type, is represented mainly by lesions of the lips in the area of their red border and the transition to the skin. In more severe cases, it can spread to the oral mucosa, any part of the face. Clinically, it looks like grouped small watery vesicles filled with a clear liquid. Around these elements, there is a reddening of the skin in the form of a rim, accompanied by severe itching and soreness.

The defeat of the facial area with shingles differs from the above in some features. The rash looks identical to that of herpes simplex. They are characterized by a slightly large size of the bubbles, which eventually burst with the formation of ulcers and become covered with a crust. These rashes are located not chaotically, as with herpes simplex, but in the form of a strip on the face, which corresponds to the course of the nerve. In this case, severe pain occurs, which persists for a long time after the rash disappears.

Treating herpes on the face

It is not possible to rid a person of herpes forever. Any treatment has a temporary effect, eliminating the active manifestations of the disease, and bringing the process into remission. In this case, the virus continues to live in the human body, being in a kind of dormant state. It does not reproduce and is not dangerous to others. The danger for an infected person is only that with a decrease in immunity, the virus will never miss the opportunity to reactivate.

RELATED: List of Best Home Remedies for Herpes

Therefore, treatment and prevention includes:

1. Healthy lifestyle: adequate nutrition, sleep, physical and mental stress;
2. In no case do not squeeze out the bubbles for herpes on the face. They contain millions of new viruses that can spread to healthy skin;
3. Drying rashes with antiseptic solutions: iodine, brilliant green, fucorcin, alcohol, until a crust forms;
4. Moisturizing crusts and dry skin with petroleum jelly or baby cream;
5. Application to rashes of antiviral ointments: herpevir, acyclovir, zovirax, valtrex, oxolinic ointment;
6. Tableted forms of antiviral drugs: acyclovir, zovirax, herpevir, valtrex;
7. Homeopathic remedies: anaferon, enhistol;
8. Interferons; viferon, laferon;
9. Any immunomodulators: vitamin C, imunofan, echinacea-based preparations.

The author of the article: Kuzmina Vera Valerievna | Endocrinologist, nutritionist

Education: Diploma of the Russian State Medical University named after NI Pirogov with a degree in General Medicine (2004). Residency at Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, diploma in Endocrinology (2006).