Toothpaste for herpes: can this product be used in the fight against colds on the lips?

STD

More than 90% of people around the world are infected with herpes. Once the virus enters the body of a healthy person, it will remain there forever.

Many people are unaware of the existence of the infection, and some do not know how to get rid of the constantly appearing symptoms. It is believed that if rashes on the lips do not appear more than four times a year, then there is no cause for concern.

If exacerbations occur more often, and not only on the lips, but also on other parts of the body, it’s worth thinking about. Recently, toothpaste for herpes has begun to be used; we will look at how effective it is below.

The appearance of symptoms on the oral mucosa

• Symptoms of the disease
• Types of herpes Herpes on the lip
• Genital herpes
• Shingles

Symptoms of the disease

Herpes is a common disease that affects the mucous membranes and skin. Most often it is caused by herpes simplex. More than 90% of the population are carriers of the infection. No more than 7% of patients suffer from symptoms of the disease.

General signs of the disease:

• inflammatory process on the mucous membranes;
• lymph nodes increase in size;
• pain in the muscles and head;
• weakened state, lack of sleep, depression;
• rash all over the body.

Bubbles containing liquid inside

The areas where the rash appears become red and inflamed. More characteristic symptoms depend on what type of disease develops.

What are the symptoms of the disease?

Signs of the disease may vary depending on the type of pathology.

The first type is a cold, manifests itself as follows:

• Pinching sensation. In the area where herpes will soon form, a person feels a slight pain, tingling, tingling, and then redness and itching appear.
• Inflammatory process. A small bubble forms at the site of inflammation, causing constant pain. Inside the bubble contains a clear liquid, and subsequently the formation increases.
• Sores develop, the bubble bursts and fluid flows out, along with the virus particles spreading. A person is capable of infecting other people.
• Scab formations appear.

The patient complains of fever and headache, this happens in very rare cases.

Subsequently, the ulcer becomes covered with a crust, the surface dries out and the pain disappears. It is important not to peel off the crust, otherwise blood will bleed and the infection will increase.

The disease goes away on its own in one to two weeks.

This does not mean that everything can be left to chance; qualified assistance will help protect the body from complications.

For more information about herpes type 1, see the video:

Types of herpes

Despite the large number of varieties of viruses, only 8 are dangerous to humans.

These include the following:

• type 1 virus – provokes the appearance of rashes on the lips;
• virus of the second type - causes rashes on the reproductive organs;
• chickenpox – provokes the development of chickenpox in children, with repeated infection, shingles appears;
• Epshane-Barr virus type 4 - the throat begins to hurt, manifests itself in the form of an infectious sore throat;
• virus of the seventh and eighth types is rare, the nature of its origin is still being clarified.

Below we will look at the types of herpes that are especially common in medical practice.

Disease on the genitals

Herpes on the lip

The most common form of the disease. On the face, herpes most often occurs in the lip area. It can appear both after initial infection and throughout life.

Main symptoms:

• redness, itching, burning appears on the lips;
• the appearance of bubbles containing liquid, first transparent and then cloudy in color;
• the appearance of painful wounds after the rupture of the vesicles takes a long time to heal.

In 80% of cases, the causative agent of the disease is herpes of the first and second types.

The disease goes through several stages of development:

1. The first stage lasts for varying amounts of time, from several hours to several days. There is a feeling of discomfort on the lips, small areas of the skin turn red.
2. The second stage is blisters, which last only a few days on the skin.
3. The third stage - an ulcer remains in place of the burst blisters.
4. On the fifth to ninth day, a crust forms on the wound, under which healthy skin grows.

Forming crusts after bursting bubbles

During the healing period, the crusts should not be torn off or injured, this can lead to scars remaining.

Genital herpes

Infection occurs through unprotected sexual intercourse, both vaginal, oral and anal. The incubation period lasts from several days to one month. Doctors divide the disease into primary and secondary genital herpes.

Symptoms may include:

• sensation of pain, itching, problem areas turn red;
• the formation of small bubbles on the genitals, containing liquid inside them;
• the appearance of wounds after the opening of the bubbles;
• in the groin area, the lymph nodes increase in size;
• a slight increase in body temperature is possible, the condition becomes weakened.

Symptoms of the disease on the body

Most patients underestimate the disease. If treatment is left untreated, complications can be very serious.

In its advanced form, the following consequences may occur:

• prostatitis;
• development of malignant tumors in the genital area;
• infertility, in men sperm become inactive;
• immunodeficiency.

Genital herpes is extremely dangerous for those people who suffer from other severe diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus, HIV.

The video in this article explains in more detail how this type of herpes develops.

Shingles

This type of disease most often affects older people, but there are exceptions.

Symptoms depend on the stage of the disease:

1. A few days before symptoms appear on the body, the patient experiences headaches, malaise, and weakness. There may be a slight increase in body temperature. Itching and tingling may appear in other places.
2. At the second stage, the temperature rises to 39 degrees, painful rashes appear on the body. The original color is pink or red. After a while, vesicles form with liquid inside.
3. The bubbles burst, leaving wounds in their place.
4. The final symptom is that the symptoms subside and the healing process begins.

Genital herpes can affect many areas of the body, even the mucous membranes.

Effect of paste on the virus

The herpes virus is one of the most common infections in modern people. It is impossible to protect against it, because it is present in any environment, and is even transmitted by airborne droplets.

Poor environmental conditions, stress and an accelerated pace of life lead to a weakening of the human immune system. As a result, the infection, which is dormant in the body, is activated due to unfavorable factors and manifests itself in the form of a rash and inflammation on the skin.

Most patients are affected by a mild form of herpetic disease, which occurs on the mouth and lips. The causes of the pathology are very different, but sometimes the slightest stress is enough for the virus to manifest itself.

To combat rashes and inflammation, various remedies come to the rescue. Can herpes be treated with toothpaste? People most often hear this method from relatives or friends.

Many people know that in addition to its direct purpose, toothpaste can also be used in the treatment of herpes. However, by anointing the rash with it, you can get rid of the disease. This means that the toothpaste contains substances with the following qualities:

1. Extracts of medicinal plants that can relieve inflammation and have an astringent effect. These include mint, chamomile, oak bark and coniferous trees.
2. Urea, which is used in the production of paste, can cope with dermatological diseases.
3. Fluorine is a dangerous substance for pathogenic microflora. It acts as an oxidizing agent and destroys the walls of bacteria.

Based on the composition of the toothpaste, it can really be useful in treating herpes. Moreover, it is in every home.

Transmission routes

Symptoms of primary herpes

The disease is transmitted in several ways, the most common of which are:

1. Household way. The virus is easily transmitted through dishes, towels, and other common items.
2. Sexually. During unprotected sexual intercourse, the virus is easily transmitted, and the type of sex does not matter. Upon first contact with a sick person, the risk of infection is over 90%.
3. Airborne transmission route. The virus is spread by sneezing or coughing.
4. Vertical transmission path. A child passing through the birth canal of his mother often becomes infected with the virus.

It is impossible to completely protect yourself from infection. The photo below is an example of how infection can occur.

Sexual intercourse is the main route of infection

Ways of infection with herpes virus type 1

There are several reasons for infection:

• Contact directly with the patient, for example, a husband can infect his wife or vice versa, with an ordinary kiss.
• The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets.
• If you use the patient's personal belongings, for example, a towel, toothbrush, bedding.

A newborn can become infected during labor. Infection is also possible inside the womb; during pregnancy, herpes can penetrate the uterus and reach the baby through the placenta.

The infection enters the body through the mucous membrane, overcoming all barriers. Subsequently, it spreads, filling nerve cells, and begins to actively multiply, leaving its particles in the genes. For a long time, while a person’s immunity is strong, herpes does not appear, but waits for the moment when the immune system weakens.

Unfortunately, the virus cannot be completely eliminated from the body, so to protect yourself from infection, you must follow safety precautions.

Toothpaste for herpes: benefits and effects

Surely many people don’t even realize that toothpaste is used against herpes. Traditional healers claim that the remedy gives good results for herpetic infections, and all because it contains the following components:

• fluorine is a substance that destroys pathogenic microorganisms;
• urea - is included in many medications intended for the treatment of skin diseases;
• extract of medicinal plants – has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Important! Treatment of herpes with toothpaste is recommended to begin at an early stage.

After applying the drug to the rash, the pain and itching subsides, swelling and redness subsides. The bubbles with liquid inside dry out almost instantly, and a crust forms on top.

Anti-infection paste

Experts say that the paste can cure such a disease in two to three days. But you need to remember that only external symptoms disappear; in the meantime, the virus will continue to remain in the body. There is no guarantee that a blister will not start to form nearby.

Side effects and contraindications

Persons who are hypersensitive to the components that make up the paste are not recommended to carry out such treatment. In order to find out the body's reaction to the paste, you should conduct a sensitivity test.

Apply it to the bend of your elbow, wait 20 minutes, if nothing appears, you can safely begin treatment. Unpleasant symptoms can appear when the treatment is abused, as well as when a large amount of paste is applied to the problem area.

In this case, the following symptoms may appear:

• burning;
• itching and redness;
• swelling.

There may be a burning sensation after application

If such signs occur, wash off the paste. If symptoms do not subside, seek medical advice.

Reviews about the treatment method

This method of combating the symptoms of herpes is not suitable for everyone. Reviews about the use of this method are varied. Toothpaste helps some people very well, while others are convinced that its use is useless. Based on the reviews of patients, we can draw the following conclusions about the use of the drug in the fight against herpetic eruptions:

• you should not expect a quick effect,
• it is better to combine this method of treating the rash with taking antiviral drugs,
• with massive lesions of the lips, the method is ineffective.

The effect of using this treatment method can be both positive and negative. But if there are no alternative solutions to the problem, it is worth using this method of treating a herpetic rash, taking precautions.

Features of treatment

You can cure herpes with your own toothpaste, but the composition should only contain natural ingredients. Once the desired paste has been selected, you can safely begin treatment.

To do this, follow the following scheme:

• Apply a small amount of paste to your finger, it should be clean;
• lubricate the problem area with a thin layer;
• after ½ hour, rinse everything off with warm water.

You can treat herpes with toothpaste up to four times a day. Please note that the tube should be at room temperature. In order for treatment to be especially effective, it is recommended to start it after consultation with your doctor.

How to choose pasta?

Does toothpaste help with herpes or not? She can really help, but not everyone can. If you use any product for therapy, you may either not achieve an effect or experience severe irritation.

To prevent this from happening, follow some rules:

1. Treatment with whitening paste is prohibited. It contains aggressive components; they do not have a healing effect, but are harmful.
2. Colored pastes and tooth gels. Dyes can cause allergies.
3. For treatment, use white toothpaste, check the expiration date.
4. The paste should contain components of natural origin, the amount of chemicals in them should be minimal.

It is not recommended to use paste with dyes

Remember, toothpaste for herpes can only relieve superficial symptoms. If you want to solve the problem radically, you need to approach it responsibly.

Precautionary measures

If herpes appears on the lips, you can treat it with toothpaste. At the same time, you need to choose the product carefully, having studied all its components. The contents of the tube should not include alcohol, menthol, mint, or bleaching elements. They irritate inflamed skin and mucous membranes, leading to burns.

Some ingredients can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, before applying toothpaste to sensitive areas of the face, you should lubricate the inside of the elbow with it. If after 20 minutes the treated area does not turn red, itch or swell, then you can try to cure herpes on the lip with toothpaste.

Important! If, after treating the blister rash, unpleasant symptoms and discomfort intensify, you should immediately wash off the applied product and consult a doctor.

Prevention of herpes

First of all, prevention is aimed at strengthening the body, as well as increasing immunity. It is important to observe the rules of personal hygiene.

To prevent re-infection, you should follow the basic rules of prevention:

• harden your body;
• nutrition should be complete, with a sufficient amount of vitamins and nutrients;
• play sports, but remember that the load should be moderate;
• spend as much time as possible outdoors;
• Allow enough time for rest and sleep.

Wash your hands after visiting public places. It is not recommended to use other people's personal hygiene products. Only careful attention to your health and body can protect you from such unpleasant diseases.

How to choose pasta

To eliminate discomfort and cope with colds, you need to purchase a paste based on medicinal herbs. It should contain chamomile, menthol, and oak bark.

Under no circumstances should you use a product intended for teeth whitening. Otherwise, the active substances will penetrate deep into the skin and cause a burning sensation and pain. Such a wound will take longer to heal.

It is better to purchase the paste at a pharmacy. This way you can avoid fakes.

When using toothpaste as a treatment for colds on the lips, you should understand that each person's body is different. This method may be ideal for one person, but another will have to turn to another remedy.

Frequently asked questions to the doctor

Routes of infection

Not long ago I gave birth to a daughter, the birth took place in one of the private maternity hospitals. After the examination, I was diagnosed with genital herpes, tell me, could I have contracted it in the maternity hospital?

It is impossible to become infected without being close to a sick person and after communicating with people who do not have rashes on their bodies. Maternity hospital workers regularly undergo medical examinations, which means you are unlikely to have become infected from them. Most likely, the virus was already living in your body, and after labor, the immune system weakened, and it simply began to become more active.

Probability of infection

Can I get herpes from a person who does not have a rash on his body?

Based on the fact that more than 90% of the population are carriers of viruses, it can be transmitted to another person at any time. Even the absence of blisters on your body cannot guarantee that you will not become infected from a given person.

Many children become infected from their mother in the first days of life through a kiss. But for many reasons, the infection may remain in an inactive form. Only provoking factors can lead to activation of the virus and the appearance of symptoms on the body.