Stress herpes: emotions that turn into blisters

It has happened to most of us at some point. It is enough to go through a period of worry, excessive pressure or restlessness to notice how a few days later, a vesicle appears on the lip with terrible stinging. Stress herpes is a common condition that shows us, once again, how our emotions can alter health in various ways..

We know that nothing is as common as herpes simplex (HS) outbreaks. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), about 67% of the population suffers from this condition which, once it manifests, remains latent.

The truth is that we increasingly know a little better about the mechanisms that modulate the link between this infection and stress. Below we explain all the keys along with some prevention strategies.

Stress herpes: what it is and how it manifests

Herpes simplex virus (type 1 and type 2) is a common pathogen among the population that It occurs in an infectious form and manifests itself as vesicle outbreaks.. While it is true that its appearance may be due to factors such as nutritional deficiencies, exposure to the sun or as an effect of other diseases, stress is one of its biggest triggers.

It has been known for years that Our emotions, and specifically times of stress, have a great effect on our immune system.. Research work such as those carried out at Ohio State University highlights that this psychobiological mechanism can, under certain conditions, make our wounds heal more slowly, mediate the appearance of some diseases and, of course, reactivate latent herpesviruses.

It should be noted that Stress herpes does not have, at the moment, an effective treatment that cures it completely.. We may experience these “hot flashes” several times a year or not suffer these outbreaks for a long period of time. Everything will depend on the state of our immune system and our coping resources to manage negatively valenced emotions.

Phases of herpes

In general, this orolabial infection have a course of between seven days and a month at most. The first week will occupy the most intense peak of the infection and, later, this phase will begin. In it, the vesicles will form a scab that will heal progressively.

The first few days we will feel itching, burning, tingling and heaviness in the lip when speaking. This phase can last between 1 and 2 days. In the second stage, the classic inflammation in the form of a vesicle already appears. It is the most infectious phase and can present with fever, intense or throbbing mucocutaneous pain, headache, etc. In addition, It is recommended that, during the stress herpes outbreak, we do not kiss or have contact with the skin of other people – especially children.Between the fifth and sixth day the pain will reduce and we will move on to the healing phase. The lesion will form a scab. The last phase of stress herpes consists of the progressive healing of the ulcer and the disappearance of the scab as such. This period can extend over two or four weeks, at most.

Types of herpes

Herpes due to stress can induce the appearance of three types of herpesvirus if, of course, we already have the disease itself latent. We analyze them.

1. Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1)

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) causes a mild illness and rarely brings more serious complications.. It appears with low-grade fever and manifests itself with the classic blisters around the mouth or nose that we already know. They are usually accompanied by neuropathic pain and classic ulceration. Fortunately, we have more and more drugs and treatments such as dressings to relieve their symptoms.

2. Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2)

The herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) appears in the genital area and manifests itself with lesions on the skin and also on the internal mucous membranes.. In these cases, recurrent stress also increases the likelihood that this viral condition will reappear.

It is true that this sexually transmitted disease can manifest and disappear in different outbreaks, but often stress itself and mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, also act as a trigger.

Publications such as the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics highlight that this type of herpes can increase the risk of developing carcinoma of the cervix. Thus, if we suffer from this type of condition, let us try to carry out periodic gynecological check-ups.

3. Shingles

Herpes zoster is a very painful skin disease that arises when the latent varicella-zoster virus is reactivated.. It presents with fluid-filled vesicles, especially on the back, and usually appears in adults; especially after 50 years of age.

Likewise, research such as that published in the journal British Journal of Dermatology highlight that psychological stress can act as a risk factor for the appearance of herpes zoster. Something that could be reduced with appropriate tools to manage emotions and everyday worries.

Why do herpes appear and how are they related to stress?

Many of us have suffered from a herpes outbreak due to stress at some point. We know what it means: pain, fatigue, social exposure of that unsightly blister and so on. Now, the question we can ask ourselves is the following: why do they appear? What’s more, why does stress “awaken” the latent herpes virus?

Let’s clarify some answers about it.

Common causes of herpes

There are many factors that mediate the appearance and reactivation of herpes.. Not only is stress a significant variable in its reappearance, generally, there are other conditions that are interesting to clarify:

By contagion.Viral diseases such as flu or colds.Nutritional deficiencies.Hormonal changes.Menstruation.Very weakened immune system.Exposing ourselves to the sun.Times of great physical exhaustion.Fever.

Neuronal hyperexcitation and stress

Until now, we knew that factors such as psychological stress, sun exposure, fever and changes in hormonal levels led to the reactivation of herpesviruses. However, we did not know well the mechanisms that mediate this process. Well, in a study carried out in collaboration with several universities and published in the magazine eLife elucidate some answers:

In prolonged periods of stress, The immune system releases a very specific type of cytokine: interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β).What the cytokine does IL-1β is to increase the excitation of the neurons associated with herpes, thus favoring their reactivation and development.

Herpes due to stress, cortisol and life adversities

Stress herpes does not appear due to the simple fact of having a specific bad day. This condition develops, above all, in conditions of chronic stress; that is, when worry, anguish or pressure lasts over time. These are situations in which the demands exceed our coping abilities and the brain then reacts by altering our internal homostasis.

In a work published in the Medical Hypotheses highlight how immunomodulation associated with stress favors the reactivation of latent herpes. What happens in these cases is that our body receives a very high dose of catecholamines, cytokines and glucocorticoids. This translates into inflammation that will manifest little by little.

Other works, such as the one disclosed in Journal of Virology, warn that epinephrine and corticosterone can selectively modulate herpes simplex virus infections (1 and 2). These are the typical hormones that are activated in stressful situations.

He American Journal of Epidemiology In 2017, he published an interesting investigation on this topic in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. Men with high levels of mental stress were found to be twice as likely to suffer a shingles outbreak. Women, for their part, were also at greater risk of suffering from it if they had suffered negative events in their lives, such as changes in their relationships, their work, etc.

We must keep in mind that adverse experiences that we do not manage translate into a higher level of cortisol in our body. Bangor University, in the United Kingdom, highlights the complex consequences of the stress hormone on our health. Not only can we suffer from herpes outbreaks, cardiovascular health, for example, is also affected.

Prevention of stress herpes

Stress herpes can be treated and prevented, but not cured forever.. The key to avoiding, as far as possible, its reactivation involves making some changes in our lifestyle habits that we highlight below.

Psychological approach

We already know that among the most significant triggers in the reactivation of the herpesvirus is the psychological factor. Chronic stress and difficulties regulating our emotions can lead to the appearance of this disease, among other effects. The approaches that we should apply as a preventive mechanism would be the following:

Problem-solving strategies will allow us to respond to everyday challenges and concerns.. In this way we prevent them from extending over time. Cognitive restructuring techniques. They are tools to shape a healthier mental approach, deactivating biases, limiting beliefs, etc. Cognitive techniques to regulate emotions. It makes it easier to apply a more rational mental approach that is less conditioned by anguish and stress. Breathing techniques. Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation. Meditation or mindfulness.Art therapies. Art in all its forms, such as dance and painting, are extraordinary channels to channel stressLet’s enjoy leisure and free time. Let’s rely on our social environment at all times.

General Approach to Preventing Stress Herpes

Likewise, we must assume certain habits in daily life that can help keep the virus in a latent state. Let’s see what we can do:

Let’s improve our lifestyle habits starting with food. A strong immune system could prevent…