Cold sores: what they are, their relationship with stress and treatment – Online Psychologists

Discomfort, itching and pain in the lips, nose and chin are some of the symptoms suffered when contracting cold sores, a viral infection from which the 80% of the population is a carrierHow do I cure this infection? How do I avoid getting infected? What is the relationship between it and stress? We will answer these and other questions throughout the article.

It is called cold sore or oral herpes to the infection that occurs both in the lips as in the mouth or the gums caused by the herpes simplex virus.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this virus is divided into simple type 1 (HSV-1) and simple type 2 (HSV-2). The first is the cause of cold sore and the second is a direct cause of the genital herpesbut in both cases, the infections they cause persist throughout life, which is why they recur with some frequency.

HSV-1 infection is extremely contagious, frequent and endemic in nature worldwide and is acquired, in most cases, during childhood.

Cold sores are caused, as we have said, by a infection caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1. The outbreak of this virus causes the formation of fluid-filled blisterscausing discomfort, itching and pain in the lips, nose and chin.

The stage in which the virus is most commonly contracted is during childhood. 80% of the population is a carrier of the virusbut only one 20% suffer from outbreaksThe virus remains latent in the body after an initial infection, but It does not sprout until some factor appears trigger.

Normally the virus is reactivated in a situation where we have the low defensesThe reasons are usually:

HIV-positive patients, those who are in chemotherapy treatment or those who take immunosuppressants are more likely to develop cold sores due to having a weakened immune system. Something similar happens with patients with severe burns or eczema.

The sun, extreme cold or wind can also cause an outbreak. In short, a drop in defenses can reactivate the virus and this manifests itself in the form of fever blisters on lips or nose.

Cold sores are closely linked to stress because when the body suffers stress The immune system releases a specific cytokine: interleukin 1 betaIt is a predetermined reaction of the defenses.

This cytokine excites the neurons harboring the herpes simplex virusAnd when the virus detects this stimulus, it reactivates again.

Interleukin 1 beta is also present in epithelial cells of the skin and eyes and is released When these cells are damaged by the ultraviolet light. Another normal reaction of our immune system.

The link between stress and the reactivation of cold sores causes the painful blister to appear as a result of a sudden alteration of our emotions, whether it is a worry, pressure or concern.

Generally speaking, infection with this virus It is usually asymptomatic or produces mild symptoms that go unnoticed. Some people may develop ulcers at the time of coming into contact with the virus, while others do not show any signs.

When these symptoms become visible, they are observed vesicles or ulcers in the mouth and in the surrounding regions. These blisters are called fevers and, before its appearance, infected people feel a tingling, itching or burning sensation in the area.

It is common for these ulcers to reappear periodically after a first infection, but this depends on each person.

Other possible symptoms that may appear before blisters are visible include:

These symptoms can be triggered due to the menstruation or hormonal changes in the case of women, but also by spending too much time in the sun or suffering periods of stressor coinciding with another infection.

The annoying cold sores are fluid-filled blisters in the area of ​​the lips and mouth that reappear because the virus is never completely eliminated from the body, therefore, Relieving symptoms when you suffer is important.

It is true that There is no treatment that permanently eradicates cold sores.However, there are alternatives to combat the symptoms and overcome this infection in a more bearable way.

Itching, tingling, burning, numbness, swelling, redness, pain, crusting, bleeding, and peeling are annoying, so there are hydrocolloid dressings They adapt to the lip, relieving discomfort. They also reduce the risk of infection and increase the speed of healing.

It is advisable to combine the use of fever patches with the acyclovir ointmentan antiviral drug that effectively attacks cold sores. Go to the pharmacy for advice on how to use it. The ointment is usually used on cold sores. first moments of the outbreakwhen there is still no trace of a blister on the lip. Once the fever blister has appeared, the ointment loses its effectiveness.

In addition to the use of dressings and drugs, other recommendations to relieve symptoms are:

We have already said that the contagion of this virus occurs in most cases during childhood and remains in our body for the rest of our lives. If this is the case, then what we must avoid is developing the triggering factor that reactivates it.

When under certain circumstances this virus is activated, the annoying sores appear on the lips. cold soresTo prevent this from happening you can follow these simple tips:

It should be noted that those people who suffer from cold sores with some recurrence usually recognize a characteristic numbness or tingling in the mouth area a few days before before the first blisters appear.

Cold sores are a fairly common condition. frequent, annoying and very contagiouswhich affects up to 20% of the population at some point, but approximately 80% carry the virus.

Although the virus may appear in the saliva days before the fevers appear, the moment when it is most easily spread is when a person has a active cold sore or visible: the phase in which blisters appear.

He contagion It can happen in the following ways:

This is an extremely virus. contagious that passes from one person to another by direct contact. In addition, people carrying the virus can transmit it to others even if they do not have visible lesions at the time. Therefore, certain precautionary measures must be taken to avoid contagion.

To reduce the possibility of catching cold sores, you can follow these recommendations:

Generally, cold sores are contained with these simple care measures in just a few days. two weeks. If after this time the injuries do not improve or even get worse, it is advisable to see a doctor.

It is also advisable consult a specialist If the episodes are very recurrent or develops very serious injuries. Also, if during an ongoing infection we begin to feel discomfort in our eyes, since it is possible that we have inadvertently touched them without having washed our hands sufficiently.

In case of fever avoid: