Herpes simplex virus is a widespread infection throughout the world. Many people are familiar with the unpleasant tingling sensation when a bubble pops up on the lip, which itches, hurts and interferes with life. Here's what you need to know about him.
Many people constantly face “cold lips”. Especially in the autumn-winter period. What virus causes this problem, what is its peculiarity and how to treat it, says the doctor.
Elizaveta Kazachkina, family doctor at GMS Clinic.
Pain during contouring - myth or reality?
Thanks to unscrupulous players in the beauty market, potential clients have the impression that lip correction using fillers is a pleasant and painless procedure. But in reality this is absolutely not the case. Even the use of special anesthetic gels does not relieve pain. Subcutaneous manipulation with a needle is, to put it mildly, unpleasant, especially on such a sensitive area as the lips. Even those who have a fairly high pain threshold experience discomfort.
Manufacturers of lidocaine fillers claim that their solutions can reduce sensitivity by 35–40%. Cosmetologists also talk about positive experiences and slight swelling. But stories about serious complications that arise specifically from lidocaine-containing drugs are regularly covered in the media. Although we are mostly talking about overdoses or violations of sanitary standards.
An initial consultation with your doctor before the procedure is a wise thing to do. It is necessary to discuss with a specialist the selection of the drug, execution technique and contraindications. The doctor will take into account the individual characteristics of your body. This will help reduce the risk of side effects and eliminate allergic reactions.
How does herpes manifest?
In medicine, it is customary to distinguish 5 stages of the development of herpes simplex: 1. The first stage occurs when blisters appear. It manifests itself as burning and itching in the lip area, and its swelling. 2. The second stage begins with the appearance of bubbles. At first small, they grow and fill with clear liquid. After a couple of days the liquid becomes cloudy. 3. The third stage of the disease is characterized by rupture of the vesicles. In place of the burst blisters, ulcers with swelling form. This stage is dangerous due to the development of complications. The person at this moment is very contagious. 4. In the fourth stage, the ulcers become covered with a dense crust. 5. At the fifth stage, the crusts dry out and fall off. The symptoms go away. The person becomes no longer contagious.
Unpleasant complications after contouring - swelling and hematomas
From a medical point of view, slight swelling on the lips where the needle was pricked is quite natural. Microtrauma is caused to the vessels, hence the swelling. But it is still worth minimizing possible complications. Use the services of only professional cosmetologists, and follow all doctor’s recommendations. If a lip contouring session has already been performed and the result is not entirely successful, do not delay and immediately seek help from specialists. Attempts at self-medication will only worsen the situation.
Severe swelling is one of the side effects of filler, which is based on hyaluronic acid . Such preparations quite actively sublimate water. This situation is not considered a complication; the swelling subsides within 8–10 days. There are exceptions, but in cases of introducing a large volume of gel. Contrary to popular belief, it is not always possible to get rid of swelling with lymphatic drainage massage. We recommend reading how to remove lip filler without harm to your health.
What is the herpes virus and why does it appear on the face?
The causative agent of herpes simplex (lichen blisters) enters the body through the respiratory tract, then penetrates the cells of the trigeminal nerve located on the face and remains there for the rest of its life. Most people at an early age, before about 18 months, have already come into contact with this microorganism and are its carriers.
A strong immune system is not afraid of the virus - it successfully suppresses it and the pathogen continues to be hidden (latent) in the tissues. But when immunity decreases, for example, caused by a cold, the microorganism is activated and the disease “crawls out.” Sometimes herpetic rashes can appear due to stress, hormonal imbalance, or simply during the off-season. But in any case, the cause of the rash is a decrease in immunity.
When herpes worsens, blisters filled with transparent contents appear on the lips, wings of the nose and other parts of the face. After some time, they burst, and ulcers appear in their place, and then crusts.
Herpes
This process may be accompanied by itching, pain, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes. After about 10 days, uncomplicated herpes goes away on its own. Sometimes, when a secondary infection occurs or the immune system is very weak, doctors have to prescribe antibiotics.
Lip contouring: consequences in the form of inflammation
Inflammation cannot be called a direct side effect. Non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan (hyaluronic acid) is completely biologically compatible, but despite this, after its administration the body activates its standard protective reaction. As a rule, biological processes return to normal within a few days and inflammation goes away on its own. But in some cases, redness remains. There are two possible options:
- Along with the puncture, an infection entered the body . But this is not always the cosmetologist’s mistake. The viruses could have been developing for several days, and the injection triggered their launch.
- Autoimmune diseases reacted to the drug injected into the lip area, activating an inflammatory reaction and an increase in connective tissue.
In terms of neutralization, each of the points requires different therapy. In case of infection, you must make an appointment with a doctor to clarify the diagnosis and take pharmacological medications. If an autoimmune disease is to blame, then it is worth undergoing steroid therapy - it effectively reduces the immune response. But only a doctor prescribes the prescription and regimen for taking any medications. Self-medicating the consequences after contouring is extremely dangerous. Instead of reducing inflammation, you can, on the contrary, provoke suppuration and the formation of permanent scars.
Find out which method of correcting scars and stretch marks is optimal for you!
doctor Svetlana Viktorovna Ogorodnikova.
doctor
How does the virus become infected?
The virus can be infected in different ways: airborne droplets, contact (through shared towels, cutlery, through kissing), sexual intercourse, self-expression (when the virus from ulcers enters healthy mucous membranes and infects them). You can become infected through a blood transfusion and a child can receive the virus from the mother in utero. The incubation period (from the moment of contact until the first signs appear) is 2-14 days. A person becomes contagious as soon as sores appear on the lip, and is contagious to others until the scabs fall off .
Photo: One of the most common ways of transmitting herpes is contact.
Fibrosis and compaction - complications after lip contouring
In the first days after the injection of fillers, lumps may appear at the injection site, this is due to the fact that the substance has not yet had time to distribute evenly. Sometimes it happens that a hematoma (bruise) appears due to damage to a vessel. Within a week, it usually resolves, but if the cause of the lump is fibrosis, then the situation is much more complicated and requires your close attention.
Why does fibrosis occur?
The distribution of fillers in the lip occurs gradually, and the effect can last up to 12 months. Immediately after administration of the drug and during the first week, balls are felt under the skin, which dissolve on their own. Clots are nothing more than drops of filler, which is quite natural. Fibrosis is an unpleasant complication when connective tissue grows with the appearance of scar changes.
One of the obvious reasons for the formation of fibrosis is the rejection of a foreign substance by the body . In this case, a well-chosen injection solution can solve this issue. But only a professional cosmetologist can determine the dosage and prescribe the necessary drug that will not aggravate the situation. The doctor will also tell you what care is suitable after lip contouring in your case.
Unobvious reasons for the formation of fibrosis include:
- inexperience of the cosmetologist;
- violation of sanitary norms and rules;
- mechanical damage to the walls of blood vessels;
- counterfeit or low-quality filler;
- violation of the technology and technique of drug administration;
- incorrectly selected dose of the administered substance.
Rehabilitation after lip contouring
Fibrous changes after filler injection can occur anywhere on the face, but a particularly favorite area for localization of compactions is the upper lip. This is due to the fact that the skin here is extremely sensitive, delicate and thin. Swelling may not even arise from the filler, but simply from trauma to the skin with a needle.
Seals on the lips cannot be corrected with makeup. Fibrosis is noticeable to the naked eye, and you won’t be able to hide lumps with lipstick and gloss; rather, on the contrary, you only focus attention on this area. It is possible to get rid of fibrosis in one of two ways: surgical or conservative. In the first case, surgical intervention will be required, and in the second, an external agent with collagenase enzymes. The operation is an extreme measure, which is usually used to extract biogel; most often, gentle methods can be used.
Does the risk of herpes depend on the brand and composition of lip filler?
The arguments found on Internet forums that some fillers are more likely than others to cause an exacerbation of herpes are absolutely incorrect. Herpetic rashes can be caused by any composition, since in this case the provoking factor is the condition of the body.
Why then does herpes not occur after every increase? It’s just that the immune system reacts differently each time. His reaction depends on the woman’s health, time of year, and stress. The reason for success and failure lies precisely in this.
Therefore, if you are prone to herpetic rashes, you need to start taking antiviral drugs prescribed by the doctor at the Aesthetic Medicine Center in advance. This will allow you to avoid the manifestations of herpes, regardless of the weather, the state of the nervous system and other factors. It is competent prevention that is responsible for the minimal number of such complications in patients who contact our Center.
What to do if you have a “cold” on your lips
At the moment, no drugs or treatment methods have been developed that would completely destroy the herpes simplex virus in the human body. But we can give some advice to those suffering from herpes.
- Strictly follow the rules of personal hygiene! Since herpes is contagious, it is necessary to wash your hands with soap and use separate utensils and towels.
- Don't put your hands near your eyes! And do not wet your lenses with saliva! Herpes can affect the mucous membrane of the eye.
- It is not recommended to touch the viral rash or kiss. The virus can be transmitted by wearing one lipstick or smoking one cigarette.
- If you try to remove a blister or scab over a sore, the virus can spread to other parts of the body.
- Avoid oral sex! The virus from the affected lips can cause genital herpes in a partner.
- A young mother must also take certain precautions to protect her baby from contracting herpes. If you have herpetic rashes, you must wash your hands with soap and water every time before touching your child. And under no circumstances should the affected surface come into contact with the child’s skin.
