If there are small blisters on the corner of the mouth, it will not only cause discomfort, but also affect the mood. Be careful that you may get “cold sores”. At least 1/4 of people in Taiwan have had cold sores. Cold sores are itchy and painful, and they often occur repeatedly, especially when staying up late and stressful, which leads to a weakened immune system.
Causes and symptoms of cold sores?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The incubation period is regarding 2 to 10 days. The herpes virus can produce lesions on the skin and mucous membranes anywhere in the human body. Common herpes viruses are divided into type 1 and type 2. Type 1 herpes virus mostly infects near the lips, while type 2 herpes virus is more common to cause genital herpes.
After the herpes virus enters the skin, it will begin to replicate and cause blisters and ulcers. At the same time, it will hide in the sensory ganglia along the sensory nerves of the skin and become a latent infection. When the patient’s immunity declines, or because of some unknown factors, the herpes virus will break out of the latent state, become active once more, and return to the skin along the sensory nerve to begin rapid replication, causing symptoms such as blisters and ulcers once more.
Pan Qiyue, director of the Department of Dermatology at the Zhongxing Hospital of United Medicine, said that once infected with the herpes virus, it will be latent and recurring for life. and around the nostrils. When the face is exposed to excessive sunlight, or there is excessive pulling and friction on the skin of the face, such as excessive blowing of the nose during a cold, cold sores may also be induced around the nostrils.
Cold sores are hard to cure!How to treat?
Herpes simplex virus infection is not lifelong immunity, and there is still no vaccine to prevent it. In patients with multiple recurrences of herpes simplex infection, cancer or low immunity, oral antiviral therapy can be considered if there are no contraindications, but most patients are clinically with mild symptoms of local skin or mucosal lesions , you can consider using topical antiviral ointment to shorten the course of the disease and improve symptoms.
Du Weiting, chief physician of the Department of Dermatology of Chengda University Hospital, said that if cold sores have symptoms or recurring attacks, oral antiviral drugs are usually recommended for treatment. As long as the dose is adjusted according to renal function, the safety of such drugs is quite high. In the early stage of herpes Or when the blisters are not yet present, the severity of the blisters and the duration of the disease can be reduced.
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do 3Things to Prevent Cold Sores care 1Be careful to leave scars
Wang Xiangya, a specialist in plastic surgery, said that if the infected cold sore is not kept clean and plucked with hands, it may cause the skin to break, which will cause local infection and leave scars around the lips. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain cleanliness when dealing with wounds.
The doctor also reminds that cold sores may appear when the immune system is weakened, or staying up late or stressed Exposure to the sun can prevent cold sores from coming to your door.
◎ Image source/Provided by Dazhi Image/shutterstock
◎ Source/TVBS News
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