What causes herpes

Herpes is a very common skin disease. Small translucent or yellow-white blisters will appear on the patient's skin surface, and they often appear in patches. There is a lot of fluid in the blisters. Smallpox and chickenpox that we encounter in daily life also have such symptoms. In addition, herpes is also a viral skin disease that often appears on the upper lip or face. Let’s look at the common causes of herpes.

Pathological causes of herpes:

1. Spinosis: Due to the degeneration of bridges between epidermal cells (desmosomes and tension filaments, etc.), the cells lose their close connection and become loose, thus forming cracks, blisters or ulcers in the epidermis. Acantholysis can be caused by autoimmune factors, such as pemphigus. Acantholysis caused by genetic factors is seen in chronic familial benign eczema and keratosis follicularis.

2. Basal cell liquefaction and basement membrane lesions: Basal cell liquefaction refers to the cavitation or fragmentation of epidermal basal cells. In severe cases, the basal cell layer disappears, and the spinous cells are in direct contact with the dermis. Immunity, genetics, and drug allergies are often the causes of basal cell liquefaction, which is seen in hereditary epidermolysis carcinoma, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, erythema multiforme, drug eruption, and ulcerative lichen planus. Basement membrane lesions refer to the deposition of autoantibodies or congenital pathological defects in the basement membrane, which are caused by autoimmunity and genetics. Watery dysentery diseases caused by basement membrane lesions include pemphigoid herpes, herpes gestationis, cicatricial pemphigoid, dermatitis herpetiformis, linear epidermolysis bullosa, acquired epidermolysis carcinomatosa, congenital epidermolysis bullosa, and incontinence pigmenti.

3. Balloon degeneration and reticular degeneration: Due to intracellular edema, the volume of epidermal cells increases, forming a balloon shape. The cells swell and rupture, and the adjacent remaining cell membranes connect into multiple reticular septa, finally forming multilocular ulcers, which are more common in viral infectious skin diseases.

4. Spongioedema: Due to the increase of intercellular fluid, the intercellular gap widens and forms blisters, which are seen in eczema, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, etc.

5. Vasculitis: It is mostly caused by immune complex type allergic reaction, and ulcers are formed due to inflammation and necrosis of tissues, such as allergic vasculitis. Behcet's disease, acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis, etc.

6. Granular degeneration of the epidermis: also known as epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, seen in ichthyosis.

7. Epidermal necrosis and exfoliation: Drugs and Staphylococcus aureus infection cause epidermal necrosis and exfoliation, which are seen in large cancer epidermolytic drug eruptions and Staphylococcus aureus scald syndrome.

Warm reminder: If herpes is caused by a virus, it is contagious, especially people with low immunity are easily infected. Therefore, patients should take isolation measures, keep their skin clean, it is best to take a bath every day, and be careful not to damage the affected area.