Knowing the Characteristics of Skin Herpes and How to Overcome It
YOGYAKARTA - The characteristics of skin herpes or herpes zoster can be recognized by the appearance of blisters and rashes on the skin accompanied by pain. For the general public, skin herpes is also often referred to as chicken pox. This disease can generally be treated with antiviral drugs and pain relievers.
The cause of skin herpes is the Varicella zoster virus infection, which is the virus that causes chickenpox. Therefore, this skin herpes is also known as herpes zoster. With the right treatment, skin herpes can generally heal within 2-3 weeks.
Skin Herpes Characteristics and SymptomsSkin herpes can certainly be experienced by anyone, especially for people who have previously experienced chickenpox.
In addition, skin herpes is also at risk of being experienced by people who have a weak immune system, for example due to the side effects of cancer treatment, suffering from autoimmune diseases, taking immunosuppressive drugs, and being elderly or over 50 years old.
When a person is exposed to skin herpes, the following characteristics or symptoms will appear:
Rash on the skin that feels painful on one side of the body, either left or right on the chest, abdomen, back, or face. Fluid-filled blisters that are easy to break. Headache Fatigue Itchy skin Fever Numbness or tingling on the skinWithin a few weeks, these symptoms will generally improve on their own. However, treatment steps must still be applied to people with the above risk factors to relieve symptoms and speed up healing.
What are the Types of Skin Herpes Medication?Basically, skin herpes treatment cannot cure herpes disease completely, but it helps reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the infection. To treat skin herpes, doctors can provide patients with drugs in the form of:
Analgesic drugsThe purpose of giving analgesic drugs is to relieve pain and treat inflammation on the skin due to skin herpes. To relieve pain caused by skin herpes, a doctor can prescribe analgesic drugs such as ibuprofen.
Antiviral drugsAntiviral drugs can be prescribed by a doctor to treat skin herpes, for example acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famcyclovir. In order to be more effective in relieving symptoms, this medication must be given no later than 3 days after the symptoms of skin herpes appear.
Anti-itch medicationItching relief drugs that can be prescribed by a doctor are usually available in the form of ointments or powders to be applied to areas of itchy and painful skin. However, to deal with severe itching complaints on the skin, doctors can also prescribe itching relief drugs in the form of tablets, for example diphenhydramine.
Anticonvulsant drugsThis drug is actually used to treat seizures. However, in skin herpes, anticonvulsant drugs such as gabapentin can be used to treat prolonged pain. In addition, to deal with severe pain due to skin herpes, doctors will also prescribe antidepressants such as amitriptyline.
In addition to using medicines, it can also relieve skin herpes symptoms with self-care at home or using natural herpes remedies, including:
Avoid scratching the skin that is blistering, because it can cause the skin to be injured and infected by bacteria. Use cold compresses on areas of the skin exposed to herpes or apply talcum powder or calamine lotion. Get enough sleep and rest. Consume foods containing vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Do not break the blisters, because the liquid inside contains viruses that can spread to other areas of the body and even be contagious to others.Although generally not dangerous, skin herpes can cause pain that can interfere with activities. If not treated properly, skin herpes symptoms can also get worse. Therefore, if you experience symptoms of skin herpes, immediately go to the doctor to receive the right treatment.
That's an overview of the characteristics of skin herpes and its types of drugs. For more safety, don't hesitate to consult a doctor first. Visit VOI.id for other interesting information.