Can I Use Abreva For Genital Herpes

Who Might Get Herpes Simplex

People of any age can contract herpes simplex. You are more likely to get the virus if you:

• Were assigned female at birth.
• Have had multiple sex partners.
• Started having sex at a young age.
• Have a history of any sexually transmitted infection .
• Have a weakened immune system.
• Dont use condoms for intercourse and dental dams for oral sex.

Who gets HSV-1, commonly known as oral herpes?

Anyone can get HSV-1. Most people contract HSV-1 during childhood. It spreads when an adult who has the virus has close contact with a child, such as when a family member kisses a child.

Who gets HSV-2, commonly known as genital herpes?

Genital herpes affects sexually active teens and adults of all genders and races. It can spread if you have multiple sexual partners and dont use condoms or dental dams.

People assigned female at birth are more at risk. Delicate vaginal tissue can tear, making it easier for the infection to get in. Black people who were AFAB are especially vulnerable, with an estimated 1 in 2 people AFAB between the ages of 14 and 49 infected with HSV-2.

To Use Acyclovir Cream Follow These Steps:

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How To Use Acyclovir Cream

Read the Patient Information Leaflet available from your pharmacist. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Use this medication at the first sign of infection . Wash your hands with soap and water before and after applying this medication. Clean and dry the affected areas before applying the medication. Apply to the affected area and rub in gently, usually 5 times a day for 4 days for cold sores, or as directed by your doctor. Apply enough cream to cover all affected areas .

Apply to skin only. Do not apply this medication in the eyes or nose, inside the mouth, or inside the . If you do get medication in those areas, flush with plenty of water.

Dosage is based on your medical condition, type of infection, and response to treatment. Do not use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. This medication works best when the amount of drug absorbed by the skin stays at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug at evenly spaced intervals. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day.

To prevent washing off the medication, do not bathe, shower, or swim right after applying it.

If applying to genital herpes sores, use a finger cot or rubber gloves to avoid spreading the infection.

Do not apply other skin products unless told to do so by your doctor. Do not cover the area with plastic or waterproof bandages unless told to do so by your doctor.

FAST FACTS

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How To Prevent Cold Sores

Cold sores can have many different triggers, including stress and long periods of sun exposure. Noticing and managing these triggers, when possible, may help reduce the frequency of cold sores.

If sun exposure is a trigger, using a lip balm that contains SPF and a sunscreen on the face may help.

Cold sores are highly contagious. To prevent the spread, a person should not:

• touch the cold sore, unless they are applying medication or a remedy
• kiss or have oral sex, as the virus can spread during these activities

After touching a cold sore, wash the hands thoroughly with soap and water.

A person can typically treat their cold sore at home with over-the-counter medication or home remedies. However, consider seeing a doctor if a cold sore:

• is large or very painful
• is not healing on its own
• keeps coming back

People with weakened immune systems should also speak with a doctor about the need for prescription antiviral medications.

Here, we look at some common questions about cold sore creams.

Is Abreva Ok To Use For Genital Herpes

Asked

5 Apr 2012 by Anonymous

Abreva is not actually indicated for the treatment of genital herpes.

Abreva is an antiviral medication used to treat cold sore infections caused by the herpes simplex virus. Docosanol shortens the healing time and the length of time symptoms are present.

Docosanol topical is used to treat cold sores on the face and lips.

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Customer Reviews On Does Abreva Work To Get Rid Of Cold Sores

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.

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What Can I Put On Genital Herpes Cold Sore

How is genital herpes treated?

• keeping the affected area clean using plain or salt water to prevent blisters or ulcers from becoming infected.
• applying petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, to any blisters or ulcers to reduce the pain when passing urine.
• asking a healthcare provider to recommend painkilling creams.

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Try Taking The Supplement Lysine

In terms of taking supplements to prevent breakouts, I especially recommend L-lysine. This is the primary supplement for herpes, Gade says. L-lysine is an , a building block of protein. When you have an outbreak, it can be taken orally to shorten the outbreak in conjunction with an antiviral medication.

Lysine appears to be useful in reducing the number and the severity of outbreaks. The usual daily dose is between 1 and 3 milligrams.

Some studies suggest that taking lysine regularly may help prevent outbreaks of both and herpes sores. In Gades experience, patients have had no side effects using lysine. In some people, though, there have been reports of the supplement causing and diarrhea.

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Transmission And Prevention Of Herpes Simplex Labialis

When pharmacists counsel patients with HSV-1 infection, it is helpful to explain how the infection was contracted. An explanation of the transmission process can help patients and their families avoid further spread. Patients must understand that HSV-1 is highly contagious. The greatest point of risk is when blisters appear, as blister exudate contains millions of viral particles. But there is a risk of transferring the virus to others during other stages, and those affected must take great care to guard others from the prodromal stage until full healing is clearly achieved.

Patients with an outbreak must avoid touching the lesions, since virus on the hands can transfer to towels, dishes, or any other item shared with others. They must ensure that others do not drink from a glass they have used. They must completely avoid kissing and oral/genital sexual activity, and they must always ensure that anything that touches their lips is disinfected or immediately discarded, including eating utensils. Sharing lip balms is absolutely prohibited. Parents can transfer the virus to their children during routine child care, as the virus may be on the hands.

How Are Cold Sores Treated

Cold sores will usually start to heal on their own within a few days. But if they cause pain or make you feel embarrassed, they can be treated. Treatment may include skin creams, ointments, or sometimes pills. Starting treatment right away may get rid of the cold sores only 1 to 2 days faster, but it can also help ease painful blisters or other uncomfortable symptoms.

The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores cant be cured. After you get infected, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. If you get cold sores often, treatment can reduce the number of cold sores you get and how severe they are.

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How Is Herpes Simplex Treated

Some people have few to no herpes outbreaks and choose not to have treatment. But many people prefer to use medications that shorten outbreaks and reduce symptoms.

During an outbreak, you may use an antiviral ointment or cream to help lessen your symptoms and help them go away faster, but it only works if you start it soon after you start an outbreak. Many people with HSV-2 take daily oral medications to keep outbreaks at bay.

Your provider may prescribe a topical medication or oral medication such as:

How Is Herpes Simplex Diagnosed

Healthcare providers may diagnose herpes simplex based on how the sores look. Your provider may take a sample from the sore. Laboratory analysis of the sample can confirm or rule out the herpes virus.

If you dont have sores, your healthcare provider can use a blood test to check for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibody, a marker showing youve been exposed to the virus. The blood test doesnt show an active infection . But it informs your provider whether youve been exposed to the herpes virus in the past. If this is your first infection, you may not test positive for herpes if there hasnt been enough time for your body to develop antibodies. The HSV-1and HSV-2 antibody test may be repeated in eight to 12 weeks.

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What Does Hsv Cause

HSV-1 mainly causes cold sores also known as oral herpes or fever blisters while HSV-2 mainly causes genital herpes.iii

However, both types can cause both conditions. In addition, HSV-1 and HSV-2 may also cause herpetic whitlowiv sores or blisters around your fingertips or HSV keratitis, which is an inflammation of the cornea, the transparent layer covering the front of your eyev.

Does Abreva Work To Get Rid Of Cold Sores

Would recommend it to a friend

Rating snapshot:

Abreva is a product that claims clinical tests can prove that it will increase the rate of healing and get you looking your best again quicker than rival products, but how do we decide if this is the right product?

OverviewIf you have ever had a cold sore then you will know exactly how irritating it is and how long it takes to heal. A cold sore on the lip can last for weeks if left untreated. Abreva is a medically formulated cream that is applied directly onto the affected area and left to soak in and fight the harmful bacteria.

The ClaimAbreva states that their product is the only non-prescription cold sore treatment that is approved by the US Food and Drug Agency and that it will fight cold sores fast and land that knockout blow. Further reading reveals that Abreva feels that their product will reduce the size, redness and soreness of the cold sore within days.

The product is said to offer a reduction in the time spent itching and scratching at that tingling pain that a cold sore radiates into the face. Abreva is claimed to be a safe product that can be used on children as young as 12 years old.

The HypeAbrevas official website shows photographs of models with a cold sore and then a second photo showing reduced redness and size with a caption claiming that the axons picture was taken 24 hours later.

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Is It Safe To Breastfeed If I Have Genital Herpes

Yes as long as there isnt an open lesion on your chest or breast. If you have an active outbreak while breastfeeding, its possible to spread the infection to your nipples through touch. Careful hand-washing can prevent this spread. You shouldnt nurse from a breast that has herpes sores. You can pump breast milk until the sores heal. Dont give your baby expressed breast milk if the pump comes into contact with an open sore.

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Home Remedies And Lifestyle

There are some things that you can do at home to lessen the pain of a cold sore or genital herpes, prevent worsening of your condition, and reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others.

• Apply cold compresses: Place a well-insulated ice pack on your lesions for as long as it makes you feel better. The cold will not worsen or improve the lesion, but it can lessen the pain.
• Dont scratch: Avoid touching and scratching lesions caused by herpes, as this can spread the infection to other areas of your own skin.
• Keep the sores clean: Cold sores and genital herpes infections can become infected with bacteria from your hands or, in the latter case, from urine or feces. Keep the sores and blisters, and the areas around them, clean and dry to avoid an additional infection.
• Reduce stress: Stress can affect how well your immune system can keep your herpes infection in check. Reducing your stress may help prevent excessive herpes recurrences.

Why Do Cold Sores Happen

Several factors can contribute to cold sore outbreaks, including:

• Stress or anxiety
• Illness, especially flu or fever
• Sunlight, wind or cold exposure
• Immune system weakness or changes
• Injury to the skin, such as a scratch, wound or bite
• Hormonal changes, including those associated with menstruation, pregnancy or menopause

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