According to the World Health Organisation, around two-thirds of people globally have the cold sore virus (HSV-1), while according to the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism 2015, around 15 million people in the UK suffer from eczema.
Inevitably, there is a great deal of confluence here, meaning that if you have one of the illnesses, there is a reasonable-to-strong chance you have the other. However, it is important for all sufferers of eczema who have not yet ever had a cold sore outbreak to be aware of a potential complication of the two conditions: eczema herpeticum.
Eczema herpeticum is a skin infection that develops when the HSV-1 virus infects a large area of skin (rather than just a very small area, as is usually the case with a cold sore outbreak). Those with an existing diagnosis of eczema are susceptible to the virus. As such, eczema sufferers should avoid all contact with a cold sore when they have any appearance of eczema symptoms – this is particularly true of children, who are at a higher risk of the condition.
Eczema herpeticum begins as a faint blistery rash that quickly intensifies and spreads rapidly. In rare cases, if left untreated it may even spread to internal organs and can potentially prove fatal.
Warning Signs
Eczema herpeticum symptoms typically develop between 5 and 12 days following exposure to the cold sore virus. Watch out for the following symptoms:
- An itch rash that develops watery blisters
- A rapid spread of the rash
- Pain associated with the rash
- Flu-like symptoms such as lethargy, fever, and swollen lymph nodes
It is essential that you call your GP or other medical professional if you develop these or any other unusual symptoms. You may then be prescribed an anti-viral medication – in more severe cases this is likely to be administered in hospital intravenously.
It is useful to know that if you have previously had eczema herpeticum, you can still get it two or three more times – however, each occurrence of the condition tends to be milder. The exception is those people who are immuno-compromised.
Herstat Cold Sore Treatment
Herstat has not been designed as a treatment for eczema herpeticum; however, the ointment can be applied at any stage in the outbreak of a normal cold sore outbreak.
It is clinically proven to reduce the duration of a cold sore and assists the healing process right until the point it has disappeared. The Herstat LipCare stick can also work as part of your cold sore treatment plan, by protecting you between outbreaks. Find out more today.
