Herpes blisters might occur all over the body, including the genitals. As facial herpes is very common, the blisters is often associated to and moreover, mistaken for pimples. As some people find it challenging to differentiate herpes blisters from facial pimples, these blisters are sometimes treated similarly to facial pimples. Affected people may also be tempted to pop these blisters, which is medically not recommended.
Why herpes should not be popped?
Herpes blisters is the result of viral infection affecting your immune system. As a result, the blisters occurring across your infected skin are infectious. These blisters are filled with fluid carrying infectious virus. While it might be common to pop acne pimples, popping herpes blisters filled with herpes simplex virus should be avoided.
When herpes blisters are popped, the fluid discharges, spreading another infection on various sections of your skin. This may either result in other fever blisters, which are either red, white or clear, or cause invigorating pain on broken sores. Popping fever blisters is also not recommended as this may pass the disease to other people with weak immune system. The simplex virus continues replicating during each stage of the herpes, which makes it still likely for the others to be infected from the infectious fluid.
The problem will likely be worse when you pop the blisters with unsterile needles or hands. In addition to a viral infection, herpes blisters are also medically considered as an open wound. When you are accessing this wound with any unsterilized devices, you are likely to worsen the infection, as these devices might carry germs that might spread to the infection site. These germs can possibly harm the skin tissues, causing superficial damages resulting in scars, which may stay even after the breakout subsides.
Instead of popping the blisters, taking care of them using right methods can help put the urge aside and at the same time, improve the condition of the affected area.
What can be done to ease the caused pain?
Many people are tempted to pop fever blisters because they possibly have some difficulties differentiating those from pimples and as a result, treat the bumps as acne pimples. In addition, some patients tend to have the urge to pop the fluid-filled blisters as they think this may help ease the caused pain.
Herpes is painful because the virus does not only affect your skin surface, but also the nucleus beneath the skin, close to the nerves. It is not surprising, therefore, that broken blisters that are resulted from popping intensify the pain.
Despite this, there are some remedies you can perform in order to ease herpes-caused pain.
1. Applying cold sore gel or ointment over the affected area
Acylclovir is one of the most common substance used for treating herpes and chickenpox outbreak. Acyclovir-containing ointments will help shooting your skin from both oral and genital herpes outbreaks.
2. Concealing herpes blisters with petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly is a strong barrier that may protect you from herpes outbreak. Some people are really susceptible to herpes virus that they may experience cold sores several times a month. Applying Vaseline over the occurring blisters is really helpful in reducing the pain as well as preventing the virus from spreading all over the body. Daily lip balm containing beeswax is as helpful as petroleum jelly when dealing with cold sore blisters. This can be easily applied in daily basis to help the caused pain from oral herpes outbreak. Vaseline is also important in keeping the blisters moisturized to avoid cracks or tears in addition to pain easing.
The occurrence of cold sores or fever blisters is one of the natural stages of herpes outbreak. As painful it might be, popping these fluid-filled bumps is never recommended as it spreads the contained virus all over the unaffected body skin. Torn or cracked blisters which resulted from popping can also be the entry point of external germs and the virus itself. In severe herpes cases, this spreading virus might not only affect the skin, but also the inner tissues and more seriously the brain (rare cases).
Leave a Reply