Fair Complexion: IBD and Cold Sores,

Is there a higher incidence of IBD in people with fair complexion's? I believe fair skinned people are more prone to having immune system problems.

What about cold sores? The herpies simplex I virus is the cause but it seems to me I only notice cold sores on fair skinned folks. Some estimate that 90% of adults have had exposure to HSV-I. Could it be that a higher persentage of fair skinned people have immune systems that cannot control the virus and prevent cold sore outbreaks?

What information has anyone found on these matters?

Thanks

I am very fair-skinned. I have never had cold sores though. I couldn't find any research on the connection of IBD with fair complexion with a quick google search.

not fair skinned, but I get a lot of fever blisters,

I am olive skinned. I get very dark without much time in the sun. It gets warm and my skin gets darker.
I have UC and have always had problems with cold sores or fever blisters.

People with UC are more likely to get cold sores, because the immune system isn't right.

The mixed race thing, it's kind of confusing, but what happens is soem races are more prone to certain diseases. Like african-americans are more prone to sickle cell anemia, and native americans are more likely to get diabetes. However those are recessive genes, so when people from those races have a child, they are more likely to get that gene. Then if they have a child with someone from another race, since the genes are recessive the healthy genes take over. It's really hard to explain.

Nope, I am not fair skinned and I have never had a cold sore - I do like to worry :)

I am fair skinned and had them all my life. Gave them to my daughter (dang me!) who is fair but olive skinned (I know that doesn't make sense). My hubby however, olive skinned and darker, has never caught them and we forget and kiss all the time when I have one.

summerstorm said...
this sounds awful to compare it this way, but it's the same as how mutt dogs have better health and tempremants. The recessive, or bad genes of the purebreds, dont' get passed on.
I am not calling anyone a mutt, please dont' misunderstand that, just using that as a way to explain!

That's exactly what I was gonna say as I was reading it lol.

When I first started Azathioprine I got 2 cold sores in 2 weeks. Usually they are twice a year. But since then, none. And yes, fair skin, though I am skeptical about the correlation.

"Cold sores, sometimes called fever blisters, are groups of small blisters on the lip and around the mouth. The skin around the blisters is often red, swollen, and sore. The blisters may break open, leak a clear fluid, and then scab over after a few days. They usually heal after several days to 2 weeks.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. Both virus types can cause lip and mouth sores and genital herpes.

The herpes simplex virus usually enters the body through a break in the skin around or inside the mouth. It is usually spread when a person touches a cold sore or touches infected fluid-such as from sharing eating utensils or razors, kissing an infected person, or touching that person's saliva. A parent who has a cold sore often spreads the infection to his or her child in this way. Cold sores can also be spread to other areas of the body" - WebMD

One can get them from sharing a cup, drinking from the same straw, etc. My mother would let me sip from her cup as a child and I noticed my kids sneaking my beverages as kids so it spreads easily. I believe they are called fever blister and cold sore because it often takes one's immune system being triggered to start one off (like having the dormant virus in you then you get a cold, or fever, and then, later, you'll often have a sore.

It's starts with a tingling sensation then 2-4 days later a sore or cluster of blisters will form. "Abreva" is a common medicine to put on the area and if you apply it right when you first feel the tingle then you'll greatly shorten the sore and often prevent one from coming on.

Since I've been in remission and on Imuran and Remicade I have yet to get really sick and have not had any mouth ulcers or cold sores. Maybe it's me washing my hands more and the kids older and being sick less.

Mouth ulcers are usually inside on the inner cheek, on tongue or gum and are a real pain (often looks like a white ring with a red sore center (often a crater).

For me, I've not had either since limiting orange juice, vitamin C and other strong acidic fruits. Bought some freshly made mango juice recently and if I just drink a little I'm good (daughter had a bunch the last three days and is having the start of a rash on her face). I asked her if she got into my juice and she wondered how I knew - I know she takes after my mother and I.

We all shared glasses at my mom's house so most of the family has it unfortunately.

Except my wife - the kids drank from her glass often and she never had either and that's where she's getting the thought that only fair skinned ppl get any of that. All because her best friend in high school was a blond haired blue eyed girl who had them a lot.
Wife and kids have olive skin.
Hmm