Herpes (cold sores) on the lips: What you need to know

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Trung Hau - Doctor of Odonto-Stomatology - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Da Nang International General Hospital.

Herpes of the lips is an infectious disease caused by a virus called HSV, which manifests itself mainly around the lips, cheeks and mouth. Lip herpes usually clears up on its own and can be treated at home.

Herpes lips, also known as fever blisters (or fever blisters), are small, clustered blisters on the lips and around the mouth. Herpes lip disease is caused by the Herpes simplex virus (HSV).
There are 2 types, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both viruses can cause sores around the mouth (herpes labialis) and on the genitals (herpes genitals).
The skin around the blister is often red, swollen, and painful. The burned area may rupture, clear fluid oozes out, and then crust over after a few days. However, the wound usually heals on its own within a few days to 2 weeks and can also be treated at home.

In addition to the main symptoms on the lips and around the mouth, there may also be other symptoms such as:
Mouth pain, affecting eating and sleeping problems. Painful site mainly in the herpes area Fever Fever Sore throat Swollen neck glands Drooling in young children. The first time you get the virus, there may be no signs of herpes. However, if present, herpes can spread to all parts of the mouth, and the condition is often more severe in later outbreaks.
Once infected, the HSV virus will stay in the body and will cause relapses for the rest of the patient's life. Recurrent cold sores usually appear on the edge of the lips. The protozoan stage is in the first 6 to 48 hours, when there are no signs of acne. The patient will experience itching, numbness, stinging, heat, tightness, or pain in the infected area.

The herpes virus of the lips usually enters the body directly through a wound on the skin around and inside the mouth. Possibility of infection occurs when a healthy person comes into contact with blisters or fluids from an infected person, such as sharing meals, sharing cleaning utensils or razors, kissing an infected person, or direct contact with saliva. of that person. Similarly, sick parents often pass the virus on to their children this way. Herpes of the lips can also spread to other areas of the body.

Currently, there is no specific cure for herpes simplex virus (HSV). The blisters usually go away on their own in less than 2 weeks. However, drug treatment can reduce the length of the illness and help prevent future flare-ups to some extent.
Herpes lips what to apply or what medicine to take depends on whether the patient is having an onset, recurrence or trying to prevent the risk of disease onset in the near future.
To treat early-onset oral herpes, oral antiviral medications can help relieve pain and reduce healing time.
For the treatment of recurrent herpes, the mainstay of treatment is to reduce the severity and duration of the outbreak, with the following medications:
Topical ointments or creams (available separately). or over-the-counter): Has the effect of reducing pain, itching, shortening the healing time. Oral antivirals (available by prescription only): Use at the first sign of illness (such as heat, itching). This medicine has little effect when the blisters are already swollen. Herpes lips medicine can be used daily to prevent the risk of disease recurrence, especially in those who frequently develop the disease, cause pain, and seriously affect quality of life.
If the immune system is weak and sick, it is necessary to see a doctor to prescribe the right medication and dosage to control symptoms and take a daily dose to prevent the disease from recurring. Although the rate is very rare, sometimes in children and adults with weakened immune systems, antibiotics are sometimes required during severe stages of herpes, to treat bacterial super infections.
The first stage of lip herpes can be very painful, making it difficult to live, eat, and sleep. For children who are sick, there may be fever and lots of cold sores in the mouth, in which case it is important to encourage the child to drink enough water and other fluids to avoid dehydration. In addition, for adults and older children in the early stages of herpes, a prescription for a strong mouthwash is sometimes needed to relieve pain.

Patients with lip herpes may need additional treatment, with additional medications, if their symptoms are to be alleviated.
Specifically, during the onset of the disease, the patient can take vitamin C supplements, lysine and lemon mint to support the body's immune system. Vitamin C can be taken as an oral pill, topical cream, or liquid for herpes. Supplemental lysine is available in pill form, and lemon mint is often available in topical creams. In addition, it is possible to promote a reduction in the duration of the disease with a topical cream containing zinc oxide.

Most cold sores will heal on their own, but patients can also help treat symptoms at home by:
Place a cool wet washcloth over the sores 3 times a day , 20 minutes each time to reduce redness and swelling. Take Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen for pain relief. Aspirin should not be used in patients under 20 years of age because it has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but relatively dangerous condition. Soothe a sore mouth by using a mouthwash containing baking soda. Avoid foods that contain acids (eg, citrus fruits, tangerines, tomatoes). Apply ointment to the cold sore to relieve pain and speed up healing. For children, it is advisable to take them to the doctor and get a prescription, and avoid self-administering any medication.

Patients can reduce the frequency of recurrences with the following tips:
Avoid exposing lips to sunlight for too long. If possible, use sunscreen on your lips at all times (with lip balm) and protect your face from the sun. Avoid intimate contact (such as kissing) with someone who has herpes simplex, or who has cold sores on the mouth or genitals. Avoid foods that can trigger an outbreak. Do not eat nuts, chocolate, or gelatin. Avoid sharing cleaning supplies, including towels, toothbrushes, razors, or other personal items that the sick person may have used. Measures to help prevent the spread of herpes sores in children:
Encourage children to wash their hands often. Do not let children put toys in their mouths. Regularly wash your child's toys with a disinfectant. If a child has a blister that breaks or oozes fluid, it should be kept at home until the blister begins to scab. Keep children out of close contact with each other during cold sores and uncontrolled drooling. Use disposable gloves or cotton swabs to apply ointment to your baby's sores. In any case, maintaining good personal hygiene is the best method to prevent the risk of infection with Herpes of the lips as well as many other diseases caused by viruses.