Initial infection with the herpes simplex virus type 1, responsible for cold sores (syn. cold sores, nasty cold sores, glacial gangrene), usually occurs without symptoms in early childhood, between the ages of 3 and 5. More than 90% of people have dealt with the virus by adulthood.
About 1% of adults regularly suffer from recurrent infections, always in the same area of the lip border. The virus originally reached the lips through contact with droplets. Bypassing the immune defenses of the stratum corneum, the virus manages to penetrate the cell nucleus and reproduce with the help of its DNA. Up to 50,000 new viruses can arise in the cell before it dies. Strangely, the immune system is unable to finally destroy the viruses because some of them can remain impregnable in the dorsal root ganglia of the affected nerve cells without any symptoms.
Through certain stimuli, such as stress, mechanical stress, UV radiation, feelings of disgust, feverish illnesses or menstrual bleeding, the virus manages to bypass the immune system’s guards and multiply again in the skin cells of the red lip.
Initially, it triggers a slight sensation in the organs, which can be perceived as a feeling of tension, tingling, swelling or even slight itching. If no treatment is given, grouped water blisters develop on a reddish base within the first two days, which are sometimes painful and oozing. Rarely, additional bacterial infections with staphylococcal bacteria occur, which are noticeable due to the formation of honey-yellow crusts. If the course is uncomplicated, the crusts fall off after about 10 days. The skin remains intact.
Herpes, which is usually mild, can be treated with various topical medications approved for this purpose in Germany. These include, for example: B. Acyclovir, lemon balm extract, zinc sulfate in the form of creams or ointments. In oral form, for severe cases in the first few days, for example: B. acyclovir or valacyclovir can be used.
Various home remedies are also tried, such as piercing, applying toothpaste, tea tree oil and rubbing with finely ground black pepper. Application of honey, which has been proven to be effective, has a chance of success. But the above-mentioned topical and over-the-counter homeopathic medicines and remedies are not always reliable in their therapeutic effect. What works for one person does not work for another. Autologous blood therapy can often strengthen the immune system.
A dermatological examination of cold sores should always be performed to confirm the initial diagnosis. It is not uncommon for blisters around the mouth to be misinterpreted as cold sores for years, even though they are actually a staph bacterial infection. Once the skin on the lips has healed, there is no reason to stop the kissing experience.
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