Amino acids are nitrogen-containing molecules that serve as building blocks for proteins, which are the basis for a vast array of enzymes, hormones, antibodies and structural elements in your body. Amino acids also function as substrates or...
Herpes is a skin infection usually acquired through direct contact with the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1, or HSV--1; it is the most common cause of cold sores and facial herpes. Genital herpes is caused by a subset of the virus called Herpes...
The herpes simplex viruses, HSV-I and HSV-II, penetrate the body through breaks in the skin and then enter nerve cells. Once in the nerve cell, they are transported along its axon to the nucleus, where they will reside all life long. After the...
A herpes lesion on the face, also referred to as a cold sore or fever blister, is a painful fluid-filled blister caused by the herpes simplex virus-1, or HSV-1. Although most commonly associated with the lips, these blisters can form anywhere on...
Herpes Simplex Virus, Type 1, HSV-1, is one of two herpes simplex infections that can infect humans. The other is Herpes Simplex Virus, Type 2, HSV-2. A general rule of thumb is that HSV-1 causes viral outbreaks above the waist, while HSV-2...
L-arginine and L-lysine are amino acids that coexist in many protein-rich foods, such as tuna, watercress, nuts and soy. Your body uses amino acids to manufacture structural proteins, hormones, enzymes, antibodies and other important molecules....
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), alpha hydroxy acid, made from fruit acids, exfoliates the skin by sloughing off dead skin cells. The level of exfoliation depends on the amount of alpha hydroxy acid in the product as well...
With age, many people develop fine lines that radiate outward from the lip contour. Excessive sun exposure and smoking can increase the severity of these wrinkles, which can be difficult to conceal with cosmetics. Many dermatologists use the...
Pimples and cold sores are two types of lesions that can blight your complexion. Pimples, also known as acne vulgaris or "zits," are caused by a conflagration of excess oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. But a cold sore, which goes by the more...
Facial skin blisters may be caused by a variety of different conditions and organisms. They can occur at any age in healthy people, but the majority of facial blisters happen to people that have chronic health problems, especially those that...
Warts are the thickened skin area that forms due to the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is also responsible for cold sores and genital herpes. There are more than 100 types of HPV and some warts, like plantar warts on the foot, are difficult to...
Herpes is a family of viruses that can infect humans and cause skin lesions, rashes or sores. Of the 25 or so known strains of the virus, eight can cause disease in people. The type of the sore, the severity and whether the virus will cause...
Available in a variety of forms and formulations, cold-sore medications can quicken the pace of healing of cold sores or fever blisters caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). Orofacial herpes is a widespread malady that is more a health irritant...
An estimated 200,000 to 500,000 are infected with type 2 herpes each year, while the number of people who acquire type 1 herpes is even higher, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Type 1 herpes generally appears in the facial areas....
Herpes is caused by an infection of the herpes simplex virus, or HSV. There are two forms of herpes: oral herpes, more commonly known as cold sores, and genital herpes. There is no cure for herpes and once you contract HSV, the virus will lay...
Amino acid supplements can be taken to try certain conditions, such as herpes. Lysine does not make herpes worse. In fact, because of the way that the herpes virus replicates, lysine may be able to help attenuate, or prevent outbreaks, of herpes....
Neuralgia, or nerve pain, can be caused by number of different factors. Pressure on a nerve, infection, and nerve trauma are just a few of the things that can cause pain to travel along the length of a nerve path. Every organ and muscle in the...
The facial nerve is the seventh of 12 nerves that exit directly through openings in the skull. These are known as cranial nerves. The facial nerve has several functions. It supplies motor impulses to the muscles of facial expression, allows the...
Facial numbness can be located on one or both sides of the face, and can range from mild sensation loss to complete paralysis of the affected area. The causes of facial numbness vary greatly, with Bell's palsy being one major cause. According to...
Oral herpes, commonly known as a cold sore, is an infection caused most often by herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1. It is estimated that up to 85 percent of Americans age 60 or older have become infected with HSV-1, with most of them carrying...
Some diseases occur naturally in the body, such as arthritis and cancer. Others occur as the result of an infection caused by some outside organism such as a virus or bacterium. Due to medical advances, many infectious diseases that once were...
Most adults who experience facial paralysis automatically think stroke. Although stroke does cause facial paralysis in most patients it's not the only source. Many other less serious conditions cause temporary facial paralysis. In some cases the...
People who suffer from cold sores know very well that a painful tingling on their lips is an early indication of the recurrence of a cold sore. The cause of a cold sore is the herpes simplex virus type 1, which remains in the body after the...
Although very common, cold sores -- those ugly and sometimes painful blisters around the mouth -- can be embarrassing. Caused by the herpes simplex virus 1, cold sores are highly contagious. When you have one, you can't share drinks or kiss and...
Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are common outbreaks that usually appear on the lips. Sometimes they can show up on the nostrils, chin or fingers, according to MayoClinic.com. They are not the same as canker sores, which usually appear...
Lysine is a type of amino acid your body needs to maintain proper growth and energy production. Unfortunately, your body can't generate lysine by itself. Instead, you need to consume lysine-rich foods, such as meat, fish or nuts, or supplements to...
Herpesviridae is the name given to a family of viruses, eight of which are known to infect human beings. Other strains of herpes viruses can infect horses, cattle, cats, pigs, chickens, turtles, fish and even oysters, according to the Los Alamos...
Cranial nerves are nerves that emerge directly from the brain as opposed to the spinal cord. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves with motor and sensory functions. Problems with cranial nerves may affect a motor nerve, called a cranial nerve...
Ocular herpes is a recurrent infection of the eye caused by one of eight herpes viruses that commonly infect people. According to the National Eye Institute, approximately 50,000 new or recurring cases occur each year in the United States. If left...
