ArtVanDelay wrote:

Herpes is caused by a virus. Once you get it, it manifests as something extremely painfull for a couple of
days(like say 3-5) in the lip area and then it goes away and comes back the next year. Ghey thing is that the
virus is always in yourself and it will activate every year or so. You can't get rid of it.

Well, actually, it works differently in all people. Some people may never
have an outbreak. Others could have outbreaks once a month. Some people
get a sore, others get a rash, others may get a tiny little pimple looking
bump.

Anyway, ArtVanDelay: the doctor can take a culture of sorts and look at it
under a microscope. Mine did and that's how I found out I had sebborhia.
(Or, however it's spelled). That can tell you if you have some sort of
excema. The dryness from the Retin-A could be activating something else.

However, along the same lines, the dryness from the Retin-A could bring on a
herpes outbreak if you are so inclined. If the outbreak was a new one, then
I would suggest getting it cultured but if you get a culture done after the
outbreak has been around for a few days, then you will probably get a false
negative (if it is herpes). There are blood tests, however, that will test
for herpes if you want to know for sure. Of course, you could test positive
but that still wouldn't tell you if what you have on your face right now is
actually herpes or not. Have your doctor culture it for other dermatitis.

ar

"da\/e /\/\0053-ST@1|\|" <spam@someone.else> wrote in message > Herpes is
caused by a virus. Once you get it, it manifests as something extremely
painfull for a couple of

arlyn wrote:
Yeah, that was my thought, too. Perhaps the retin-a aggravated or
worsened the condition (that was maybe in hiding). Or maybe it is just
fluke timing that you (AVD) caught the virus, and this is the first
outbreak.
I am sure derms are pretty good at spotting herpes cold sores. So I
would trust his judgement that it could be that..

Why did he take you off the retinA? Can't people who get occasional cold
sores use the stuff on the rest of their face? That stinks, if it was
working for you, I would want to stay on it!

Did he give you anything for the "sore spot" (which may or may not be a
cold sore)? They advertise stuff for them on tv..

Time will tell whether you keep getting it, so I wouldn't worry about
it. It's way better than getting the other kind of herpes.

"kita" <omg8pv4802@sneakemail.com> wrote in message news:bjd1c6$hmulj$1@ID->
Time will tell whether you keep getting it, so I wouldn't worry about
Hi Kita,

The other kind of herpes and oral herpes can be the same herpes.

ar

Hi Kita,

No, you misunderstand. Both type 1 and type 2 can be located in either
location.

ar

"kita" <omg8pv4802@sneakemail.com> wrote in message
news:bjd5ap$gs0u1$1@ID-171610.news.uni-berlin.de...

Hi Kita, he took me off of it because although it seemed to be keeping
me somewhat clear in areas other than my beard area, it wasnt working
*that* great, no better than say BP's I've tried in the past PLUS the
irritation in my beard area is out of control.

Its not just the so-called "cold sore". There's redness, peeling, and
irritation all over my mouth area, and this after weeks of avoiding
that area when applying (and trying every other night). I wonder if
its possible for Retin-A to spread over your face when you sleep (I
tend to sleep with my face in the pillow), causing it to get down to
the irritated area regardless of where I apply.

Whats happening also is that I'm having to slather on powerful
moisterizers (not just my normal Neutrogena Oil-Free for Sensitive
Skin) to combat the peeling and dryness, and my skin is reacting to
the moisterizers by breaking out more. So it's defeating the purpose
of using the Retin-A in the first place.

All of this put together is why he chose to take me off of it. He's
starting me on something else, cant remember the name but its a
gentler retinoid.



kita <omg8pv4802@sneakemail.com> wrote in message news:<bjd1c6$hmulj$1@ID-171610.news.uni-berlin.de>...

ArtVanDelay wrote:
Ahhh, gotcha..
A lot of people don't use retin a every night, they use it every other
night or third night.. If you still have trouble with this new product,
maybe try that..

(Spenco is the most popular moisturizer for retin a users at MUA)

"ArtVanDelay" wrote ...
You haven't eaten anything unusual recently that might have caused the
irritation? Or change laundry detergent? Toothpaste brand?


Rachel
(New Zealand)