Oct 11
24

Question about HSV1?

2 Comments
hsv1
samjrei asked:


A week or two ago I began an aggressive skin treatment schedule to clear up some acne I had around my mouth and on my temples and forehead. I was using a face wash with salicylic acid 2% twice daily and a cream with benezol peroxide in it before bed. My skin became dry and irritated, as would be expected from what I did. I also got two large cold sores right on the corner of my lip-the area closest to the treated area. My question is whether or not this stress on my skin could have caused the outbreak of HSV1, or if it was just a coincidence. I remember getting a cold sore before, 7 years ago, so I know the virus was already in my system. Carmex has proved effective in treating it. Also, is there anything I can do to keep the acne treatments from causing this reaction, that is, if the two are related?

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Posted in HSV 1 by admin 2 Comments

2 Responses to "Question about HSV1?"

  • medicgvd says:
    October 24, 2011 at 6:18 pm
    Reply

    When you think of getting a cold sore you usually assume that you were recently exposed to something that has caused your problem. With cold sores this is not the case. Cold sores are not a sign of a recently acquired herpes simplex infection or another outside stimulus but instead a reactivation of herpes virus particles already living in your body. Cold sores occur when latent herpes simplex virus particles, which have been lying dormant (“asleep”), become reactivated.

    The dormant virus particles come from a previous herpes infection. A person’s initial herpes simplex virus infection, termed “primary herpetic stomatitis,” does not usually take the form of a cold sore and therefore a person may not relate their initial exposure to the herpes virus to the recurrent cold sores that they get.

  • Sonali says:
    October 27, 2011 at 9:25 pm
    Reply

    Cold sore or herpes simplex labialis is a viral infection caused by HSV1. The virus remains dormant ( asleep/ inactive) until an inciting factor awakens it. Any stressful condition can awaken the virus and the cold sore will be formed.
    The soap and the cream should ideally not cause the sore… but if the dryness is too much it can act as a stressful factor and therefore cause the cold sore.
    I suggest if the dryness is too much use the soap only once in the day and the cream only on the acne at night.
    HSV1 activation is seen after chemical peels and microdermabrasions which are normally done for acne.

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