Can lip herpes be cured permanently?
The annoying lip herpes is mostly caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of people who have contracted lip herpes caused by the herpes simplex virus type 2. In both cases it is a virus that remains in the body for a lifetime after initial infection.
It lies dormant in the nerve nodes and can be reactivated at any time if the immune system is weakened. The virus thus remains in latency in the nerve cells. Although lip herpes can be treated, it never heals completely.
The antiviral agents used in the treatment of lip herpes can inhibit the growth of the virus but cannot kill it completely. A permanent cure is therefore not possible. There are two different approaches in general lip herpes therapy.
On the one hand, preference is given to drugs that lead to a rapid reduction in symptoms (blisters, itching, redness), on the other hand, it seems much more sensible to protect the infected person from an outbreak of cold sores. Since the immune system seems to play a decisive role in the outbreak of cold sores, this can be achieved with the help of drugs that strengthen the immune system. However, even today, the main focus of therapy is still limited to accelerating the healing of an existing cold sore.
Externally applied creams and ointments based on the virustatic (proliferation-inhibiting) agent acyclovir can only alleviate the symptoms during an outbreak. They alleviate the pain, reduce possible fever and accelerate the drying of the fluid-filled blisters. Other important active ingredients in lip herpes therapy are Valaciclovir, Famciclovir and Penciclovir.
They can be taken in the form of tablets and also act by inhibiting the reproduction of the virus. In addition, these preparations should be able to significantly prolong the time between two outbreaks of lip herpes and thus keep those affected free of symptoms for a long time. Common side effects of drugs used in herpes therapy are symptoms of the digestive tract (diarrhoea and nausea).
In addition, some users report the occurrence of circulatory problems, dizziness and/or headaches. The use of drugs based on Aciclovir, Valaciclovir, Famciclovir and Penciclovir is now controversial in expert circles, as they no longer have any effect on many patients. This fact can be explained by the fact that the relevant viruses have developed resistance to the active ingredients over time.
Many people who suffer from lip herpes often spend a long time looking for a cream that helps them well. Which cream ultimately helps best depends on various factors, such as the individual course of the cold sore and subjective feelings. Therefore, this question cannot be answered universally.
However, there are creams that are very popular with many people. The cream Lomaherpan®, which contains lemon balm, is very popular with many affected people. It is applied several times a day at the first signs of cold sores.
The natural active ingredient is particularly suitable for uncomplicated lip herpes. Creams containing the antiviral active ingredient acyclovir are also popular. Examples include Zovirax® cream, Aciclobeta® cream and Aciclovir Heumann.
A very good drying cream is Virudermin®, which contains zinc sulfate.In the true sense of the word, this is not a cream, but a paste that should be applied very thinly at the first signs of herpes. Many affected people find this paste very effective and praise above all the natural ingredients. Zovirax® is a popular cream that is used to treat cold sores.
It is distributed by the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies and can be purchased in pharmacies as well as in online stores and online pharmacies. The cream contains the active ingredient Aciclovir, which has an antiviral effect. Aciclovir fights herpes viruses by inhibiting their growth, thus helping to speed up the healing process in the case of recurring lip herpes.
It relieves itching and pain and promotes rapid crust formation in cold sores. The cream should be used at the first signs of a cold sore episode to maximize the success of treatment. The first signs may be a burning, itching, a feeling of tension, redness, swelling or blisters.
Zovirax should also be used during the blistering phase. Unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor, Zovirax should be applied thinly to the affected areas of skin five times a day at four-hour intervals. The cream can be applied with a clean finger or cotton swab.
During application it is important to make sure that not only the already visible skin changes, but also the adjacent skin is covered with the cream. LomaProtect® is a care stick for the lips, which is used to care for the lips during the bubble-free intervals. Lip herpes is a chronic infection characterized by the alternation of symptom-free and symptomatic phases.
In symptom-free phases, LomaProtect is used to care for and protect the lips. The care stick, which is similar to conventional lip care sticks, contains castor oil, balm leaf extract, as well as UV-B and UV-A protection. The UV protection prevents sun-conditioned damage and stress of the lips.
Thus likewise a symptomatic herpes phase is to be prevented. Lemon balm leaf extract also protects the lips and provides care during the symptom-free phase. The pencil can be used as often as desired during the day.
However, it is not suitable for treatment during a symptomatic herpes phase. In many forums you can read recommendations for the use of zinc ointment for lip herpes. Experts also often recommend the use of zinc ointment for lip herpes.
Ointments with zinc additives have drying properties, which is why they are used for various skin diseases. Some people affected subjectively perceive the drying effect of zinc ointment as a progress in treatment, as it dries out the herpes blisters. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
However, zinc ointment is not effective against the herpes virus itself, which is why it can only lead to a limited progress in treatment. The use of zinc ointment should ultimately be considered on the basis of subjective perception. However, zinc ointment is highly recommended especially for the prodromal phase of lip herpes.
This is the phase in which the first signs of cold sores are already felt but no blisters are yet present. Particularly in the case of uncomplicated lip herpes, the use of Zinc Ointment is often even more sensible than a comparable acyclovir ointment, as resistance of the virus to acyclovir is now also known. In the blister stage, drying mixtures such as zinc paste or zinc sulfate hydrogel can also be used.
Lip herpes is an annoying and constant companion of many people. Those affected often try out many different medications, care sticks and lip creams until they find products that work for them. Which medications work best against lip herpes?
The question cannot be answered in a generalized way. The bottom line is that creams from different suppliers differ only slightly because they contain the same ingredients. For early treatment at the first signs of cold sores, a lip cream containing an antiviral agent such as Aciclovir or Foscarnet or Penciclovir is suitable.
The Triapten antiviral cream containing the active ingredient foscarnet or the products Zovirax and Fenistil Pencivir are recommended. The latter contain the active ingredients Aciclovir (Zovirax®) and Penciclovir (Fenistil® Pencivir). However, such antiviral creams cannot be fully recommended for uncomplicated cold sores.They are expensive and resistances to some active ingredients already exist.
Creams containing zinc sulfate are also highly recommended at an early stage, for example Virudermin. For painful accompanying inflammations a cream containing cortisone is recommended. Cortisone is anti-inflammatory and promotes healing.
An example of this is the Fucicort® cream available only on prescription, which also contains a disinfecting active ingredient. If the herpes is already in its blister stage, it is advisable to resort to local therapy which has a drying effect. Fatty ointments, on the other hand, aggravate the herpes.
A good local therapy is Labiosan® zinc paste, which dries out the blisters. A zinc sulfate hydrogel is also highly recommended. If crusts have formed, a nourishing cream such as panthenol cream can be used.
For severe herpes, apart from external therapy, internal therapy with antiviral agents such as Aciclovir, Valaciclovir or Foscarnet is recommended. This therapy can take place in the form of tablets or infusions and must be adapted individually. There are many different products against lip herpes, such as creams, pastes, but also plasters.
These patches are often called patches and cover small herpes blisters. An example of such a product is the herpes patches from Compeed. There are no active antiviral ingredients in this product.
The patch supports wound healing and shields the blister from external stimuli. It relieves itching and pain and dries the blister. Once applied, the patch should only be removed when it slowly dissolves by itself.
A similar product is the patch from Zoviprotect. Patches against cold sores should be used mainly in the healing phase of the herpes and not at the first signs of cold sores. Lip herpes patches are applied to clean and oil-free skin.
After the patch has been applied, oil-free makeup and powder can be applied to slightly conceal the herpes. There are also many – inconsistent – recommendations from homeopaths for the use of homeopathic remedies for lip herpes. These recommendations are not based on scientific knowledge, unlike conventional medicines.
The effect of homeopathic remedies is therefore very controversial. The remedies are recommended on the basis of the symptoms and the condition of the person affected and often include the emotional situation. However, it is expressly discouraged to seek homeopathic treatment if you suffer from recurrent cold sores or a particularly severe symptomatology.
In this case, therapy with an antiviral agent is absolutely necessary. Here is a brief overview of various homeopathic remedies for cold sores: 1. Natrium muriaticum: This remedy is recommended for a sad and vulnerable mood and cold sores.
The blisters are caused by heat or fever. The person sweats a lot and is very thirsty. 2 Rhus toxidodendron: This remedy is recommended for very painful, weeping and burning herpes blisters.
The blisters are caused by feverish infections and physical overexertion. The symptoms are often worst in the evening. Sepia 3: The Sepia remedy is recommended for cracked, dry herpes blisters that tend to crust.
In women, hormone fluctuations are the main trigger of cold sores. In order to treat acute cold sore and relieve the symptoms, it is not necessarily necessary to take expensive medication immediately. In many cases, lip herpes can already be treated by using a few household remedies.
Honey is considered the miracle cure in the fight against the annoying blisters that an acute attack brings. It can simply be applied several times a day to the open areas of the mouth and/or nose. The antibacterial effect of honey has a disinfecting effect on the herpes blisters and also kills the viruses efficiently.
It also relieves possible skin irritations and accelerates the healing process. Another proven household remedy is tea tree oil, which also has an antibacterial effect and is able to kill herpes viruses. Furthermore, tea tree oil has the property that it extracts water from the skin cells and thus dries them out.
The liquid-filled herpes blisters dry out faster by applying tea tree oil and the open areas heal more quickly. Even the sometimes extremely itchy skin can be specifically combated with the help of a simple household remedy.Lemon balm is excellent for soothing the affected skin cells and relieving itching. Toothpaste is also used as an aid in the treatment of cold sores, it quickly dries out the liquid-filled blisters and thus accelerates the healing process.
It should be ensured that neither toothpaste nor melissa oil are able to kill the herpes viruses. For this reason they should only be used in combination with antibacterial substances (e.g. honey or tea tree oil). Cloves are also said to have a soothing effect on cold sores with their antioxidant and antiviral properties.
They are able to significantly reduce the activity of the relevant viruses and, according to studies, even act on those viruses that have already developed resistance to conventional herpes medication. At the first signs of a new outbreak (usually a feeling of tension in the area of the lips), the intake of zinc and vitamin C should prevent the infection from flaring up. Tea tree oil is a frequently mentioned household remedy in connection with lip herpes.
Tea tree oil is of historical importance, as it was already used as an early “antibiotic” in the late 18th century due to its antimicrobial properties. Some sufferers use tea tree oil at the first signs of lip herpes, such as a tingling sensation on the lips or a feeling of tension. The oil is applied to the skin several times a day with a clean cotton swab.
However, the benefits and effectiveness are highly controversial. Tea tree oil can also cause skin irritation and so-called contact dermatitis, so it should be used with caution. Especially undiluted tea tree oil should therefore not be used. You should consult a doctor or pharmacist before using it.
