Herpes lip is a term used to refer to a cold sore occurring on the lips. Caused by the herpes simplex virus, the lips and the genitals are the most common areas of infection. The infection is spread by direct skin contact – a kiss on the lips or oral sex are the most common methods of passing the virus along. Herpes simplex is actually not one virus but two. HSV-1 is the type that is likely to be the cause of a cold sore on the lip; HSV-2 is often considered a sexually transmitted disease and usually causes genital herpes.
This is a horrible condition. It makes your lip look awful, and makes you feel like a social pariah, because the thought does cross your mind (if you are being honest) that putting abag over your head might be a better option than going out in public!
That was at least my thought patterns when it came to having a herpes lip outbreak (cold sores) and so, unsurpriseingly I investigated all of the different methods that people siad they had used to treat the condition, until I found one that actually worked for me.
(If that describes your situation than you should click here and check out what I finally used to get rid of my cold sores (herpes lip) >>)
However, it is possible for genital herpes to be caused by HSV-1 and for herpes lip to be caused by genital herpes. It is also possible for individuals to catch both types of the herpes simplex virus.
Symptoms
Once an individual becomes infected, the virus spreads through the outer layer of the skin. It may take two or three weeks after infection before symptoms begin to appear. The first symptom is usually an unpleasant tingling in the lip. Other symptoms such as headaches, irritability and fever may also occur, but many individuals may not attribute these symptoms to cold sores. Once visible symptoms begin to occur, herpes lip is easy to spot. The infection starts as a small red patch on the lip or in an area immediately adjacent to the lip. Mouth and gum tissue may also become painful and inflamed. The small red patch soon develops into a cluster of fluid-filled lip blisters.
Until all the blisters have scabbed, the infection can still be transmitted to others. Usually the infection will last a week if treated with creams, or two or three if left to heal on its own.
That’s the bad news!
The good news is that after bursting, a raw area will be left behind that will eventually scab over and heal, without leaving a scar. So despite looking horrible, and being very anti-social, there are generally no long term effects to having a cold sore outbreak.
Nevertheless, somthing that makes you want to put a bag on your head is clearly something that any sane person would want to get rid of sooner. And so typically most sufferers will apply topical herpes lip creams like Aciclovir to try to lower the healing time down from two or three weeks without the cream, to about a week with it.
Treatment Options for Herpes Lip…
Recently however, I looked into the treatment options again after many years of blindly applying creams, and was pleased to see that the science of treating cold sores has moved on considerably.
Since the turn of the centory it turns out that a new treatment option for cold sores has emerged, which improves the healing time again down to about 3 days.
Two studies (in 2001 and 2006) found that treating cold sores with a single 5-minute treatment of a certain band of narrowband UV light was significantly better then the creams alone at treating cold sores.
The creams alone healed them in 7 days. Using the light machines for just 5 minutes (and only once!) lowered that healing time down to 3 days.
After I read that, I had to try one of these light machines out, and was pleased to say that, for once, it actually lived up to billing!
I found that outbreaks could usually be avoided totally if I applied the light at the tingle stage, and that even if a cold sore did emerge, that it wouldn’t come with all the puss and lip blisters that I would previously have had. And honestly the number of times that I will actually get a cold sore has definitely gone down.
I certainly wouldn’t be without one of these gadgets now. And I recommend that you check them out if you are looking for a cold sore cure that actually has some science to back up its effectiveness.
Reoccurrence
Unfortunately, after the initial herpes lip outbreak, lifelong reoccurrence can occur. The factors that trigger an outbreak differ from individual to individual. However, doctors believe that stress, fevers, excessive alcohol, sunlight and an unhealthy lifestyle may weaken the immune system and give cold sores a stronger foothold in the body. Consuming a varied diet, taking multi-vitamins and minerals, getting enough sleep, staying active and using sun block may help provide some protection against the virus.
I have also found continueing to apply the light machine has over time definitely decreased the amount of times that I get an outbreak (at a guess I would say by at least 50%, but honestly it may be more). So if you suffer from these then you should definitely consider checking that out.
Getting Medical Attention
Most of the time, herpes lip will clear up on its own. However, if the condition occurs very frequently, does not heal after several weeks or seem to be spreading around the body it could indicate a more serious health condition is compromising the immune system. Those with very severe symptoms or irritation in the eyes should also seek medical attention.
Prevention
By taking preventative measures, sufferers can prevent spreading the virus to others. Most importantly, those with active outbreaks should avoid kissing and engaging in sexual acts. A number of individuals tend to touch their hands to the lip throughout the day; infected individuals should take care to avoid this practice. If the hands do touch the lips, wash hands before they come into contact with any other surfaces. Those with herpes lip, should also avoid sharing drinking glasses, washcloths, utensils and other items with uninfected individuals; after using dishes and other items, clean them thoroughly in hot water.
My experience has been that the light machines are a good cold sore treatment option for herpes lip and a useful preventative measure to stop yourself getting a nasty outbreak.