Cold sore bumps which are also know as fever blisters are actually due to the herpes simplex virus. It is a nuisance and will subside in approximately 10 days without an anti-viral medication. Eczema causes dry, itchy skin rashes and there a number of types such as atopical dermatitis, discoid, nummular and contact dermatitis. Each of these alone is not life-threatening. However, when the two are associated with each other, it can be extremely dangerous. This condition is called Eczema Herpeticum, and has been identified since 1887.

Eczema herpeticum condition occurs when the skin rash becomes infected with the herpes simplex virus. Normally people who contract this virus only get cold sores on the lips and around the mouth area. But when that person also has a recurring skin condition, the sores can erupt anywhere on the body. When this occurs you must seek medical attention as soon as possible. You may feel symptoms such as high fever, rashes with small blisters (these blister may be filled with yellow pus-like liquid), and an overall feeling that of being off.

This condition can be contracted by anyone with eczema. If you have open rashes and come into skin contact with someone with a cold sore or fever blister , you can get this condition. Also, it doesn’t matter how severe your eczema is to be susceptible to contracting this rare skin illness. HSV type 1 is the sole cause of this illness. This can occur in people of all ages, both male and female. Many people who contract this illness are unaware that they have the virus.

The first appearance of the eczema herpeticum happens from five to twelve days after coming into contact with the virus. The initial sign of it is the appearance of many itchy blisters filled with clear watery liquid on the same area as the dermatitis. If left untreated, the condition can become incrementally worse. This includes the spreading of the blisters to areas next to it even if that part of the skin is not affect by dermatitis. The blister can start to bleed and crust over cause extreme pain and discomfort. Eventually, the infection and blisters can spread all over the body, causing high fever and swelling in the lymph nodes. This is a very dangerous stage of the viral infection because bacterial infections can develop due to the large area of damaged, open skin.

Many people with eczema don’t develop blisters but have patches and pimple areas. If you have chronic eczema, be alert to the appearance of multiple blisters filled with liquid. You would notice that the usual dry, flaking and itchy skin and patches is more severe and that you have multiple blisters. There may also be bodily pain and light sensitivity. Cold sores seem to be a problem for many in the summer because of ultraviolet radiation. People forget to put sunscreen on their mouth area and can develop a cold sore on the lip. This is contagious and if you have a history of dermatitis be very cautious. If you are diagnosed with eczema herpeticum you will be put on a high dosage of an anti-viral such as Acyclovir. It also may take a while to diagnose because it can be mistaken to be shingles. Some people have found help by seeing an immunologist when there have been conflicting opinions because this condition is rare. People also say that the itchiness is the worst they have ever experienced. Because I get a cold sore on my lip from the sun at times as well as have a history of nummular eczema I am very cautious, especially during the summer months. Though this is a rare condition, it is important to be alert if you notice your dermatitis is very severe and has blisters with liquid.