Did you know that herpes doesn’t affect only the genital area? The truth is, it can occur anywhere on the body. Understanding the nature and symptoms of the condition can help in easy diagnosis and early treatment.
In this blog, Dr Vedant Ghuse, the top skin specialist in Ghatkopar, highlights the symptoms, causes, and treatment of herpes skin rash and the treatment options.
The beginning of a herpes outbreak involves tingling, itching, or burning sensations in the affected area. This is followed by small sores on the skin that can develop around the genitals, mouth, and nose, or anywhere on the body.
The sores can appear in clusters, are fluid-filled, and later become pustules. Before healing, they may break open, ooze fluid, and form a crust.
The first time someone experiences a herpes outbreak, it can be accompanied by other symptoms such as muscle ache, swollen lymph nodes, difficulty urinating, and fever.
Dr Vedant Ghuse, a trusted skin doctor in Chembur, explains that the two types of HSV that cause herpes are HSV1 and HSV2:
HSV1 usually causes oralabial herpes. It thrives in the saliva and is often responsible for symptoms around the nose and mouth. It can spread through the following ways:
HSV 2 is typically the cause of genital herpes and spreads through sexual contact. It can also be passed to an infant during childbirth.
Among the recognizable types of herpes is the cold sore. These blisters filled with fluid appear around or at the lip area. Before they develop, there is usually a sensation such as tingling, itching, or burning. Then, they break, form scabs, and finally get healed within two weeks.
Another location where one can have a herpes infection is his/her finger. The infection results in inflammation, redness, and blistering on one or several fingers. Herpetic whitlow is common among those who are in the health profession, children who bite their fingers, and those who have physical contact with a herpes sore.
On some rare occasions, a person can have sores that affect his/her cheek, chin, nose, neck, or any other part of the face. This happens after direct contact with an active sore. At times, the lesion can be confused with acne, allergic reaction to insects, rash, and bacterial infection.
In certain instances, one can suffer from an eye infection, which includes redness, pain, watering, irritation, and light sensitivity due to the virus having entered the eyes. This can cause serious harm to the cornea and may affect the vision.
Since many conditions may look similar to herpes, it is difficult to self-diagnose. The delay may cause more severe symptoms, increase the chances of infecting others, and result in some complications in those who have a compromised immune system.
A dermatologist can diagnose herpes based on a thorough examination of the affected area of skin and order additional lab tests when needed. With the early diagnosis, you will be able to get appropriate treatment with antiviral medications, which will decrease the severity of the symptoms, accelerate the healing process, and minimise the number of future flare-ups.
In case you experience recurrent blisters, sores, skin lesions, or rashes that do not respond to conventional treatments, seek professional assistance immediately to find out what condition causes the issue and treat it effectively.
Take care of your skin and stay healthy. If you suffer from the appearance of blisters, cold sores, or any changes on the skin, book an appointment with Dr Vedant Ghuse, the top dermatologist near me for skin. Being a highly experienced dermatologist, he will help you to diagnose the condition and provide effective treatment.