Mouth sores and hand blisters/irritations

[troubled375]

I have gotten canker sores (HSV1) once in a while when I was young, but in more recent years (I am in my late 20's) they have become very severe (sometimes engulfing my mouth and tongue). Just in the past week or so, I've felt them my throat, making it painful to swallow. It is obvious my throat has something going on, as the skin is looks pale, "bloodshot" and somewhat swollen. The outside of my mouth (around and on my lips) sometimes breaks out in a rash, sometimes with under the skin blisters, sometimes just bright red. It seems to come at random, and sometimes dries out and sort-of disappears, or gets patchy, and sometimes just very raw/thin/delicate skin. It is very, very itchy. I have used vaseline mostly, sometimes aquaphor, and also cortizone. Either one at any time sometimes makes it better, sometimes makes it worse... doesn't seem to depend on how bad it was in the first place. I first got a bad rash around my mouth when I was a young teen, it came and went... but I think what I've recently developed seems to be a different rash. It's more defined, but seems to be affecting a wider area when red.
As for my hands, I have under the skin blisters throughout, mostly in between my fingers. When I looked it up online, it looks very similar to herpetic whitlow. The top parts of my fingers completely dry out, sometimes leaving cracks in my skin about  a millimeter deep. It is very painful. Sometimes, the skin on my fingers just peels right off - leaving them completely raw. This is also extremely itchy. I wonder if it's both eczema/atopic dermatitis with herpetic whitlow? I have been to several doctors - probably a dozen, and have done allergy testing. No one has provided any solutions... they all leave me with the answer "I don't know". I do have genital herpes, but have always felt I've been very aware and very careful not to let it spread. My fiance and I are always careful, we always wear protection, and we even take showers after having sex. At first, I was so sad to hear the news (it took 2 years to stop crying several times a day for two years - almost 5 years have gone by since), realizing it could pass onto a future child. Just thinking of having it on my mouth and hands as well, makes life seem unbearable. I can't sleep and I can't stop crying.  

[tinalovely111]

You must check to see which types of virus that you are infected. HSV1 or HSV2. However, we can treat or may cure the current situation naturally.

[troubled375]

Better late than never ;) The rash on my face and hands is dishydrotic eczema. It's gotten worse over the years... to where I can barely bend my fingers most of the time. Finding work is hard. I'm now single for almost 3 years. Between herpes and this eczema, damn socializing is hard :/

[gracefromHHP]

It's the fats in soaps that disable the virus.  any type of soap will be fine :)

keep following up with the dermatologist. sounds like you are well on the way to getting better answers over all even though it's taking a long time with the eliminating products/foods and such :(  

I LOVE the red grape shampoo and conditioner by dessert essence!  It smells divine and really makes my hair shine :)

grace

[troubled375]

I do exercise regularly... and don't bother putting money into a gym - I get it for free from the outdoors and weights!

I would really love the opportunity to have a vaginal birth. As a kid, I was so set on having natural birth w/o drugs. I understand doctors will do what they can to make the delivery as safe as possible, vaginal or not... I just can't bear the thought if something were to pass on to my 'future child(ren)'.

I used to be so resilient... such a high tolerance for pain (both physical and mental), and now, I have such a difficult time trying to even think positive. It seems so ridiculous to me (that I can allow myself to be so sad), as I am completely aware that my situation(s) aren't nearly as bad as others - in relation to std's or just anything (not in relation).

I have tried different elimination diets... first dairy, then wheat, etc. For one month at a time I 'deleted' certain food elements, and so far nothing had changed. I've thought about stressful factors, everything... how frustrating! Hopefully the visit I have this week with a dermatologist (specialist) will help. My toiletries are very basic, and ones I have used for years... all natural too. I very rarely wear makeup, and if I do, it's probably eye shadow. As for my hands, the one lotion I use that is remarkable! is from Desert Essence - www.desertessence.com. I use the fragrance free lotion - and it's great! With consistent use (after washing my hands, or in between), my hand's are better within hours... and my hands get so bad, sometimes there is just no skin at all on a few fingers. Unfortunately, the itching is soooo bad, I just don't care sometimes - and ruin my hands all over again. I know it's itching because it's healing... but wow - very difficult to deal with! Thank you for the link.

Years ago I did research canker sores and came across the use and side effects of sodium laurel sulfate (sls). This was way before I had ever seen stores carrying any type of SLS-free products. I even told my dentist about it and she didn't know. I don't remember the name now, but I ordered a toothpaste without it, and immediately saw results. It was amazing. I didn't get any canker sores lasting more than 2-4 days after that. Then a couple years later, I got diagnosed with herpes and the canker sores come and go all the time, not matter what toothpaste I use. I also stay away from mint and cinnamon.

I do question soap though... as they say soap and water can 'kill' the herpes virus, and I'm wondering what in soap does that? I do use unscented Dove soap for sensitive skin, it's filled with chemicals, and I can't give it up, fearing that a natural alternative may not 'kill' anything and leave me with a much bigger problem!

[gracefromHHP]

also if you use whitening toothpastes, tartar control, compete, total or the extreme flavored ones, switch to plain ole regular toothpaste. same goes with chewing gums and mouth washes. cinnamon flavorings and many of the acids in them can cause mouth issues too.

grace

[gracefromHHP]

Oh good for you for eating organic!!!  That's what I love about this time of year - I can get organic locally grown food that I can actually afford at my local farmer's market!!  Fresh picked from the garden organic always looks so much better than shipped from who knows where organic at the grocery I think :)

Finding a good gyn that you like is sometimes harder than it sounds. Sounds like the one you found now is worth sticking with!  Definitely at your next appoint, discuss your genital herpes and ask for a type specific herpes igg blood test since you don't know which type you even have.  I also recommend that your partner get tested too to see what his status is just so you know if you still have to take precautions or not.  You really don't have to treat your ob's with antivirals if they aren't bothersome.  Should you ever become pregnant though be sure to come back and talk to me again - I do recommend them for the last month of pregnancy so that you can increase the odds of having a vaginal birth.

1 out of 10 people have a wheat allergy which is why I suggested it too as a cause. It can cause rashes and mouth sores.  Sometimes the allergy is so bad, just the small amounts of gluten in lipsticks can set someone off ( and who'd have thought there'd be gluten in lipstick anyways? ).    also severe gastroesophogeal reflux as well as sinus issues/nasal allergies can cause mouth issues too.  

http://www.eczemaguide.com/eczema_basics/eczema_like/hand_eczema_hand_dermatitis.html  is a good link to hand eczema problems.  My kids have hand eczema and when it's active - it bugs the **** out of them with itching and then the skin peels. they use a topical steroid which really helps.

About 20% of folks get herpes ob's in more than just near the original location.  I am one of them myself.  Some of us are just so exceptional all around, even our herpes can't follow the "rule" book....he he he

grace

[troubled375]

I was confusing HSV1 with 'herpes simplex', probably thinking they were the same. Now that I am looking that up, I don't think I knew there was HSV1. I was never told what type of genital herpes I had. I was just told that I had genital herpes. Then again, the gynecologist I had been seeing for years made me realize I don't think she is very good. She had never been very thorough, but in my experience trying to find a doctor that is, has been very difficult. I had a medical issue for a short time (not related to herpes) and had seen different gyno's for second/third/fourth opinions, and by the fourth Dr. I had finally gotten the best explanation, solution, and peace of mind. All the other doctors keep prescribing different meds and giving me dead end, very poorly unexplained "answers". Needless to say, I will be going to this other gyno from now on, and my next visit I will ask him about all that.

As for the problem with my hands, I am just nervous because it itches unbearably (as does my mouth), and sometimes I itch it, breaking open the 'blisters' and don't always wash my hands. It seems to spead between my fingers. As I'm sure I also have eczema, washing my hand makes that so much worse as well... only because I have to wash my hands several times a day for my job... after which I use lotion. I've also seen so many dermatologists about it, and they all have not given me productive answers. Most of them prescribe multiple things that make it worse. I have two other visits, with different Dr.'s set up for August, hoping to find some answers.

When I first found out what I had, I did use Valtrex... although the more I read about these pills (not just Valtrex), and accepting how nothing can cure it (which I knew all along)... I just stopped taking it, and haven't in 7 years. At first I very rarely had outbreaks. The doctor said it would come back in the same place every time - and it has not, it has come back in different places. I am very careful and so is my fiancé (we've been together 3 years)... and although it puts a damper on my sex life, I don't feel the OB's are as bad or common enough to go back on meds. I don't take any pills for any reason - headaches, cramps, etc. I try to live a very healthy lifestyle... I quit smoking almost seven years ago (right after I found out what I had), and I eat all natural (at least  85%), if not organic.  

[gracefromHHP]

canker sores are not hsv1.  That said, you can get canker sores and also have hsv1 also. make sense?

Do you have hsv2 genitally? Were you tested with a blood test ever to know if you have hsv1 also?

I'm guessing your main question is - does it sound like your hand and mouth issues are due to hsv1 or hsv2? My answer would be no from what you've posted. The worsening of recurrences and the severity of them from what you describe orally, really doesn't follow the pattern for hsv orally.  Have you seen a gastroenterologist for a work up for reflux and wheat allergies too?    The hands issue sounds way too widespread to be due to herpes also but continue to follow up on it with a dermatologist.  

I really think you can cross herpes off the list of what the heck could be going on with you at this point.  Do you treat your genital herpes at all?

grace