Having a lip sore can be quite unpleasant. This is because it is literally where everyone can see it. This very contagious infection is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus type I (HSV-I). There is no known cure for this infection.
This virus enters your body through a broken mucous membrane. It can take 2-20 days before you can get a blister. The particular area feels itchy, tingly or you can have a burning sensation. A blister then forms and the liquid inside oozes out leaving a painful ulcer.
You can soothe the lip sore by applying petroleum jelly. The ulcer wound heals within 14 days without leaving a scar. The HSV-I then lies dormant in your nerve cell until it is triggered by stress, hormonal change especially during menstruation in women, fatigue, exposure to sunlight, etc.
In the light of this using sunscreen on your lips when going out into the sunlight could highly reduce the risk of triggering the herpes virus.
When suffering from a lip sore, you should avoid kissing, sharing your utensils or your facial towels with anyone. By doing this, you reduce the chances of spreading this infection.
Lip sore can also infect your sexual partner if you have oral sex. This will appear as genital herpes which is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). This infection can infect anywhere below the belt. Once you contract it, use of latex condoms is advised though this is not a 100% guarantee of safe sex. Your partner could touch the infected area that is not covered by the condom hence catching the virus.
To avoid a lip sore, make sure that your immune system is at its peak.
More Stories
Clover Health Stock Is No Longer a Meme Stock
Topical acne treatments: what’s new?
the link between skin health and mental health