Can I Put Hydrocortisone On Genital Herpes

Description Of The Selected Studies

A total of 9,450 studies were originally identified, and 4 were included in the final review . All 4 selected studies were RCTs . Hull et al. 2010 was a RCT and topical corticosteroids plus antiviral in the management of RHL was evaluated. A total of 89 patients were recruited. There were cross-overs and there were no losses to follow up. Evans et al. 2002 conducted a trial on 380 participants to evaluate the effect of ME-609 in comparison to placebo. Hull et al. 2009 was a small trial on 39 participants in which valacyclovir and clobetasol gel were compared with placebo. Spruance et al. 2000 conducted a trial on 29 participants where topical corticosteroid with valacyclovir 2gm was compared with antiviral alone. The antiviral used was acyclovir in 2 studies , famciclovir and valacyclovir in each of the other 2 studies . The average number of episodes of the RHL in the participants ranged from 4.5 to 5.6 episodes per year.

Figure 1

The effect of treatment on pain or tenderness in the lesion

Talk To Your Doctor About Suppressive Therapy

Valacyclovir has been shown to lower the risk of herpes transmission to a virus-free partner by 50%. A daily regimen of 500 milligrams of valacyclovir has been effective for partners with a history of recurrent attacks. Its likely that a combination of suppressive valacyclovir and condoms provides greater protection than either method alone.

How Is Genital Herpes Treated

There is no cure for genital herpes, but treatment can help. Self-care can relieve symptoms and help sores heal. Medicine can shorten an outbreak and also relieve symptoms.

Self-care for genital herpes

Dermatologists recommend the following self-care tips for their patients who have an outbreak:

• Keep sores clean and dry.

• Wear loose-fitting cotton underwear.

• If an area feels painful, place a cold compress on it.

• To cleanse and sooth painful sores, reduce itchiness, or decrease tenderness, take an Epsom salts bath. You want to soak for 10 to 20 minutes.

Medicine for genital herpes

To treat genital herpes, your dermatologist may prescribe one of these antiviral medicines:

Taking medicine is recommended for anyone who has a weakened immune system. With a weakened immune system, your body will likely need help to get rid of sores and symptoms. Without medicine, sores may not clear and symptoms can linger. You should continue taking the medicine until all sores have completely healed.

Medicine works best when started within 24 hours of getting a herpes sore.

If one of the medicines listed above fails to bring relief, you may need another medicine. For a severe infection, getting acyclovir through an IV may be necessary. Other antiviral medicines may also be an option.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Herpes

Keeping Herpes Outbreaks To A Minimum

I HAVE HERPES, WHAT NOW?Besides going to your doctor and getting the prescribed therapy, there are a few lifestyle tips that can help make a Herpes outbreak more bearable. I have listed them below.

1) Always keep the affected area clean and dry2) Try to avoid touching the area during an outbreak, but if you do touch it, wash your hands immediately after contact3) During the hot months, avoid excessive heat or sunlight, sometimes these can trigger an outbreak4) As tempting as it might be, do not break open the blisters. This will not shorten the length of time that they stay.5) You may feel as if you have invented some new therapies, but you should not use sprays, feminine deodorants, or douches,6) You should also avoid putting petroleum jelly, alcohol, antibiotic cream or ointment, or cortisone cream or ointment on genital herpes because they will sting and they will not help heal the sores any faster.7) Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Save the fitted clothes for times when you are not having an outbreak.8) You have to figure out what works for you, try a warm bath. Some find it soothing and others think that it hurts.9) When you are finished showering or bathing, use a blow dryer set on low or cool to dry the genital area.

WHEN SHOULD SOMEONE CONSIDER SUPPRESSIVE THERAPY

DAILY SUPRESSIVE MEDICATION ASK YOUR DOCTOR WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU

Valcyclovir HCL 1GM Orally Each Day

Valcyclovir HCL 500MG Orally Each Day if Less Than 9 Outbreaks Each Year

The Path To Nonprescription Status

Hydrocortisone was first marketed as a prescription medication in 1952.1 In 1956, the FDA was petitioned to switch hydrocortisone to nonprescription status. According to the agency, two factors were critical in denying the petition. First, there was insufficient evidence that consumers could safely self-medicate with hydrocortisone. Second, the agency was concerned about percutaneous absorption.

In 1979, the FDA OTC review process was ongoing. The Advisory Panel on Topical Analgesic, Antirheumatic, Otic, Burn, and Sunburn Prevention and Treatment Drug Products began meeting in 1973, and through 70 subsequent meeting days considered hydrocortisone and other ingredients.2 The panel was composed of six physicians and a pharmacist/PhD who was serving as dean of a school of pharmacy.

In the late 1980s, the FDA received a citizens petition to allow hydrocortisone 1% to gain nonprescription status. A 1990 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking alerted the nations health care professionals that the agency would allow the stronger concentration to be marketed if correctly labeled.5 This amendment was finalized, and patients were able to benefit from the enhanced efficacy of the 1% products.

Also Check: How To Soothe Genital Herpes Pain

Recurrent Episodes Of Genital Herpes

Recurrences are usually less painful and shorter in duration than the first episode of genital herpes. Over time, episodes usually become less frequent and may eventually stop altogether. Infections caused by HSV1 are less likely to recur in the genital area than infections caused by HSV2.

Recurrences may be triggered by:

• no apparent reason noted.

Complementary And Alternative Medicine

Some people use natural therapies to treat herpes, either on their own or to support standard medical care. The research supporting their use is generally weak, with little evidence that they can reduce either the severity or duration of an outbreak. Even so, many people swear by their effectiveness and consider them a vital part of managing herpes outbreaks.

Complementary and alternative therapies sometimes used to treat herpes include:

• Propolis: This is a sticky substance produced by bees that may help speed the healing of genital herpes. A 2017 study found that people who used propolis ointment experienced better healing by the 10th day of treatment compared to those who used a sham ointment.
• Algae extract: Lab studies suggest that algae extract can inhibit the growth of HSV-2 in test tubes. Whether it can do so in humans has yet to be proven.
• Acupuncture: A 2011 study concluded that acupuncture was mildly effective in reducing pain caused by the herpes zoster virus , the type of herpes virus that causes shingles. While this suggests that acupuncture may be useful in easing genital herpes pain, this has yet to be proven.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Treat Herpes On The Lips

Get Help For Herpes From Your Doctor

If you have a stubborn case of genital herpes or are experiencing many recurrences, you may want to consider seeing your doctor for a prescription of valacyclovir , a drug that reduces frequency of attacks, limits their severity, and speeds healing time. This drug, approved by the FDA in 2001, stays in the body longer than acyclovir , so you have to take only one pill a day to fight off recurrences. If you are having your first attack or your recurrences are frequent, or if you believe them to be frequent, talk to your doctor. If you are pregnant, be sure to tell your doctor that you have herpes, since the virus can infect newborns. A strong link was once suspected between genital herpes and cervical cancer. That link is not as strong as once thought, but its still important for women with herpes to get a yearly Pap test.

Before Using Topical Acyclovir

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to acyclovir, valacyclovir , any other medications, or any of the ingredients in acyclovir cream or ointment. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any condition that affects your immune system such as human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome .
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using acyclovir, call your doctor.

Recommended Reading: Can Mouth Herpes Be Cured

Does Herpes Need To Be Treated

Treating herpes simplex symptoms may not be necessary. Herpes simplex infections clear up even if no treatment is given. But treating genital herpes can be helpful particularly if there are severe symptoms. Some people are affected more than others. See below for the rare occasions when it can be serious.

What Other Information Should I Know

Keep all appointments with your doctor.

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Recommended Reading: What Does Herpes Do To Your Body

What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication

Keep this medication in the container it came in, with the cap on and tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture . Never leave this medication in your car in cold or hot weather.

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDAs Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.

Best For Reducing Redness And Scabs: Orajel Moisturelock Cold Sore Symptom Treatment

• Active ingredients: menthol, allantoin, benzocaine, and white petrolatum
• Dose: apply no more than 34 times per day
• Pro: can mask redness and soften scabs from cold sores
• Con: the manufacturers display a warning about the formula potentially causing methemoglobinemia

This treatment can help reduce the redness, scabs, itching, and dryness due to cold sores. In addition, it can help to heal chapped lips.

The company recommends blending the product into the lips until the green tint disappears. A person should not apply this cream more than 34 times per day.

The label warns that using this product risks a person developing methemoglobinemia, a condition where too little oxygen is in the bodys cells. The company states people should seek immediate medical attention if they experience skin discoloration, headaches, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue.

There is no cure for herpes and, therefore, no cure for cold sores. However, common cold sore treatments can reduce the symptoms and slightly speed up healing.

Effective cold sore creams may include:

A cold sore cream works best if a person applies it as soon as they notice any symptoms.

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Use Protection Between Outbreaks

Although you are most contagious when you have sores, you can spread the virus even when there are no herpes symptoms through viral sheddingsmall amounts of the virus come to the surface of the skin. Shedding can happen at any time. One study found that 70% of cases were contracted when the sexual partner was symptom-free. Latex condoms used between outbreaks for genital-to-genital contact can reduce the risk of transmission. Although condoms dont cover all the potential sites of viral shedding, they are useful against the virus by protecting or covering the mucous membranes most likely to be infected.

Is There A Cure For Herpes Simplex

There is no cure for herpes simplex. Once you have the virus, its a lifelong infection.

What is the outlook for people with herpes simplex?

For many people, the first herpes outbreak is the most severe. Many outbreaks are less frequent and milder after the first year of infection. Some people may have only one outbreak and never have another again.

Herpes infection doesnt usually pose a serious health risk. The risk of a health complication due to herpes is higher in infants and if you have HIV/AIDS, cancer or an organ transplant.

Recommended Reading: Why Do I Get So Many Herpes Outbreaks

Recommended Reading: Will Herpes Outbreaks Eventually Stop

Why Is This Medication Prescribed

Acyclovir cream is used to treat cold sores on the face or lips. Acyclovir ointment is used to treat first outbreaks of genital herpes and to treat certain types of sores caused by the herpes simplex virus in people with weak immune systems. Acyclovir is in a class of antiviral medications called synthetic nucleoside analogues. It works by stopping the spread of the herpes virus in the body. Acyclovir does not cure cold sores or genital herpes, does not prevent outbreaks of these conditions, and does not stop the spread of these conditions to other people.

Get A Cortisone Injection

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Lastly,consider getting a cortisone injection at your doctors appointment. These may shrink the blister down quickly and help speed up healing once youve started the oral medication, explains Nazarian. It’s worth noting, however, that cortisone shots can have detrimental impacts on your skin, so make sure you do your research before going under the needle.

Hydrocortisone cream, which is available over the counter, can also help relieve the itching and pain often associated with cold sores. The cream won’t prevent cold sores from returning or prevent you from passing the virus to someone else, however.

Recommended Reading: How Long Does Herpes Last For

Do Natural Remedies Help

There are several options that can be tried to ease the pain. A73612 and Donnor52059 suggest dabbing cornstarch directly on the sores. I cant find any scientific studies that have researched this, but I cant see that it would do any harm.

A73612 also recommends squirting water from a bottle over the sores when you pee. This is a time-honoured method that will help to ease the pain.

Yolandayw mentioned taking a simple painkiller such as paracetamol during an outbreak. Feelbroken advised putting Vaseline on the sores. Lidocaine 5%, a local anaesthetic gel that numbs the area, is another option. Some people find it helpful to put on five minutes before passing urine. You need to get it on prescription and it doesnt suit everyone. Some people develop sensitivity to it which makes the symptoms worse.

Yolandayw also advised using ice as a home remedy. Simply wrap the ice in a tea towel and apply for 5-10 minutes. Never put ice directly on the skin as this can cause ice burn. Drinking plenty of water can also be helpful as it reduces the concentration of urine, making it less painful when you have to pee.

D91907 mentioned putting aloe vera gel on the sores. There is some scientific evidence that aloe vera is useful for both genital and oral herpes.

References

Consider These Supplements With Caution

The amino acid lysine healed sores and prevented their recurrence in laboratory studies at UCLA in Los Angeles. Other potential supplements that may fight off herpes attacks include zinc, in topical form or capsules, or the food additive butylated hydroxytoluene , taken as a supplement. But despite mixed studies on their effectiveness, these two are unproven remedies, say most doctors. If you decide to try either, know that high dosages may be dangerous and should be taken only under a doctors supervision.

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Preventing The Spread Of Herpes

Even when you do not have sores, you can pass the virus to someone during sexual or other close contact. To protect others:

• Let any sexual partner know that you have herpes before having sex. Allow them to decide what to do.
• Use latex or polyurethane condoms, and avoid sex during symptomatic outbreaks.
• Do not kiss or have oral sex when you have a sore on the lips or inside the mouth.
• Do not share your towels, toothbrush, or lipstick. Make sure dishes and utensils you use are washed well with detergent before others use them.
• Wash your hands well with soap and water after touching a sore.
• Consider using daily antiviral medicine to limit viral shedding and reduce the risk of passing the virus to your partner.
• You may also want to consider getting your partner tested even if they have never had an outbreak. If you both have the herpes virus, there is no risk for transmission.

Dosage For All Approved Conditions

Generic: Hydrocortisone

• Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg

Brand: Cortef

• Strengths: 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg

Adult dosage

• Typical starting dosage: 20240 mg per day, depending on your condition and how severe it is.
• Dosage adjustments: The starting dosage should be maintained or increased until your body has a good response. If your body responds well, your doctor may slowly start to decrease your dosage.

Child dosage

Your doctor will decide your childs dosage. It will depend on factors such as the condition being treated and how severe it is.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we can not guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.

Hydrocortisone oral tablet is used for short-term or long-term treatment. How long you take it will depend on the condition youre treating.

This drug comes with risks if you dont take it as prescribed by your doctor.

If you stop suddenly: Stopping the drug suddenly may lead to a withdrawal reaction. Symptoms of withdrawal may include fever, muscle and joint pain, and overall discomfort. Your risk is greater if youve taken hydrocortisone for more than a few days.

When its time to stop, your doctor may decrease your dosage slowly to avoid withdrawal.

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