Trigger
Many patients often ask themselves the question which factors cause the “dormant” herpes viruses to leave the nerve cells and cause acute lip herpes. Most researchers do not agree on this question either. However, psychological factors seem to play a decisive role in the onset of a relapse.Many patients report that particularly stressful situations provoke an outbreak of cold sores.
In addition, the weakening of the immune system plays an important role, as the damaging effects of the viruses can no longer be suppressed. For this reason, many people with primary infections develop lip herpes in the course of flu-like infections or influenza. Furthermore, strong sunlight and a feeling of disgust provokes the outbreak of the disease.
Stress is a typical trigger of a symptomatic phase of lip herpes. Situations in which the immune system is weakened make it easier for the virus to reactivate itself. Stress can also cause such a temporary immune deficiency.
However, this type of immune deficiency should not be confused with severe, immunodeficient diseases such as HIV. Mental and physical stress, however, can also negatively influence the immune system and make it more vulnerable than in phases of less stress. Therefore, lip herpes occurs preferentially in such phases of life.
In stressful times, one should therefore pay particular attention to good lip care, for example with a prophylactic care stick, and start treatment at the first signs of herpes. The first infection just described (primary infection) is usually quite mild. Typical lip herpes symptoms appear much weaker or not at all.
This fact can be explained by the fact that the number of infectious pathogens is still comparatively low at this time. Typical small blisters can develop on the face, especially on the lips. This primary infection is followed by a period in which no symptoms are recognizable.
At this time, the herpes viruses have settled in the neurons and remain there without transmitting their pathogenic influences. The reactivations are more severe than the primary infection for the main number of infected persons. Most patients report the development of a feeling of tension in the area of the lips, which is the first sign of an imminent outbreak of the disease.
Subsequently, the affected areas of the lips begin to itch and burn noticeably. From this moment on, it only takes hours to days until the infection completely breaks out. The blisters are usually visible for about five days to two weeks before they gradually subside.
Lip herpes is not only a cosmetic problem, but unfortunately also causes pain. Often the pain has a burning or stinging character and precedes the blistering. A kind of unpleasant feeling of tension is also often described by those affected.
The intensity of the pain varies greatly and depends strongly on the individual course of the disease. However, painkillers play a rather subordinate role in the treatment of cold sores. Anti-inflammatory painkillers, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, can be used, but they are not as effective as for other diseases.
As soon as the first signs of lip herpes appear, local therapy with a lip herpes cream should be carried out. With early treatment, there is a good chance that the herpes will heal quickly and not cause severe pain. Some people with lip herpes develop severe swelling of the lips when they are going through a symptomatic phase of the disease.
Although the swelling is not necessarily painful, it is perceived as very unpleasant by those affected. The swelling usually occurs at the same time as a blister. Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done about such a swelling.
Cooling is often perceived as very pleasant. Cold washcloths or cooling elements are very well suited for this. However, they should be washed and disinfected hot after use.
There are some precursors that indicate an outbreak of cold sores in advance. Many affected persons notice a feeling of tightness on the lip and the surrounding skin a few days before the typical blister formation. Slight redness, itching or a burning sensation can also be signs of an impending cold sore.
As soon as the disease then breaks out, you will see blisters the size of a pinhead, which stand together in small groups. This is why the vesicles are also called grouped. Unlike other infections, lip herpes usually does not cause general symptoms such as a feeling of illness or fever.
In most people, lip herpes is associated with a chronic recurrent course.The initial infection with the herpes virus often occurs in childhood. This usually goes unnoticed, as it does not necessarily cause symptoms. In some cases, the initial infection is symptomatic, in the sense of an inflammation of the tonsils and throat or an inflammation of the oral cavity.
Afterwards, the virus slumbers in the body of the infected person for a lifetime without necessarily causing symptoms. It is in a so-called latency and hides in the nerve nodes (ganglia). From there, the virus can be reactivated and cause symptomatic cold sores.
Especially in phases when the immune system is weakened, reactivation occurs in this way. Triggers are typically infections, sunlight, stress or other underlying diseases. How often those affected are plagued by such symptomatic phases varies greatly. For some people, the phases are frequent, for others rather rare. However, healing of the virus cannot be achieved.
