How To Heal A Herpes Outbreak Quickly
This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 94% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 125,951 times.
Herpes is caused by a virus called herpes simplex. Once the virus enters ones body, it will always remain there by hiding in the nerve roots. When ones immunity is lowered, it will result in outbreak. Sores usually take about 1-2 weeks to heal, but there are some things that you can do to speed the healing process. Things like allowing your sores to be exposed to air, talking to your doctor about medications, and using ointments may help speed healing time. There are also some things that you can do to reduce and prevent outbreaks, such as reducing prolonged exposure to sunlight, reducing friction during sex, and managing stress.
Why Cold Sores Come Back
Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes simplex.
Once you have the virus, it stays in your skin for the rest of your life. Sometimes it causes a cold sore.
Most people are exposed to the virus when theyre young after close skin to skin contact, such as kissing, with someone who has a cold sore.
It does not usually cause any symptoms until youre older. You will not know if its in your skin unless you get a cold sore.
Page last reviewed: 20 July 2020 Next review due: 20 July 2023
What Foods Trigger Herpes Outbreaks
Should I Supplement Daily With Lysine?What should you do if you have frequent herpes outbreaks?
What foods are high in Lysine?
Most Vegetables and fruits
What foods are high in Arginine?
All nuts and nut products
Dried beans including soybeans and tofu
Protein shakes, multivitamins and body building supplements that contain arginine
The above food recommendations are meant to point you in the right direction towards managing your outbreaks and living a vibrant, healthy life. As discussed, there are many known triggers when it comes to herpes and certain foods. Each person with herpes is unique in their body and what things trigger a herpes outbreak. For those who are sensitive to foods, I highly recommend a Paleo style diet.
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Is It Safe To Breastfeed If I Have Genital Herpes
Yes- as long as there is no open lesion on 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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Lysine May Help With Herpes
Herpes blisters filled with secretions that appear on and around the lips is an annoying symptom of the presence of the HSV-1 herpes virus in the body. HSV-1 becomes active during periods of decreased immunity and also as a result of chronic stress.
Lysine can be effective in preventing the formation of herpes, as well as in reducing it. Its properties and action in this aspect are based on hindering the replication and multiplication of the virus. Therefore, lysine eliminates the cause of the appearance of herpes to some extent. The HSV-1 virus uses another amino acid, arginine, for replication, and lysine blocks the virus access to it. One of the studies showed the positive properties of lysine at a dose of 1000 mg daily taken orally. Another one proved the effect of lysine as a cream on the skin.
The studies conducted so far include small groups of participants about 30 people, and the results do not always indicate the effectiveness of lysine. It is important to keep this in mind and not to take lysine as a sure way to get rid of herpes.
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What Can I Do If I Have Herpes Simplex 2
Many people who find out they have herpes feel depressed knowing theyâll always have the virus and can give it to others. But you arent alone. Herpes is one of the most common STIs, both in the U.S. and worldwide. If you have herpes, you should:
- Learn all you can about it. Information will help you to manage your disease and feel better about yourself.
- Talk about your illness with your doctor.
If you have herpes, you can still:
- Have sex if you use a condom or dental dam , and you tell your partner about your illness. Some couples, who have sexual relations only with each other, may choose not to use condoms even though one partner has herpes. Because each situation is different, you should ask your doctor if this is the right choice for you in your relationship.
- Have children. People with herpes can still give birth to healthy babies. If you have herpes and plan to have children, discuss your illness with your healthcare provider.
If you have herpes, you should also get checked for HIV and other STIs .
Other Foods And Beverages To Eliminate
Caffeine and alcohol can also impair immunity and spark herpes outbreaks, says Gordon. Food cravings may indicate possible allergens, which may also cause flare-ups, she notes. Gordon suggests an elimination diet in which you avoid the worst foods for two months. When you no longer have herpes symptoms, you can reintroduce them one by one into your diet to see which might affect your herpes outbreaks.
- Caffeine and alcohol can also impair immunity and spark herpes outbreaks, says Gordon.
- Food cravings may indicate possible allergens, which may also cause flare-ups, she notes.
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Foods That Fight Genital Herpes
Unfortunately, no single food can fight genital herpes and prevent outbreaks on its own. Instead, your immune system as a whole works to keep herpes outbreaks at bay.
Your primary objective, then, should be maintaining a healthy immune system.
Many factors contribute to a healthy immune system sleep, exercise, dietary supplementation, stress level and a healthy diet curated with the herpes virus in mind is an excellent place to begin.
Cold Sore Diet: What Foods To Avoid
What are the worst foods for cold sores? Cold sores can be uncomfortable and even painful. Tingling and itching, blisters, oozing and crusting are some symptoms you experience with cold sores.6 When it comes to food, you will want to avoid foods that will cause further discomfort. Acidic foods and drinks can irritate the cold sore womb.7 You may want to avoid items like citrus fruits, tomatoes, juices, and foods with vinegar like salad dressing until your outbreak heals. Stay away from spicy foods, carbonated drinks or any other causes of irritation.
Be careful about foods with L-arginine. Arginine is an essential amino acids that helps your body build protein.8 Foods with arginine include certain types of meat, whole grains, beans and dairy products. According to research, too much arginine may potentially trigger the herpes virus and cause cold sores. 9, 10 Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about foods with arginine.
We hope you found this article about food and sores helpful. Learn more about eating for lip health today.
1. Cold sore Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20371017. Accessed 1/5/2021. Referenced text is highlighted in source PDF.
2. Cold sore Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cold-sore/symptoms-causes/syc-20371017. Accessed 1/5/2021. Referenced text is highlighted in source PDF.
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Upgrade Your Eating Habits
Are you eating a standard American diet, or SAD? That means eating lots of meat, fast foods, and processed foods and few fresh fruits and vegetables. Such habits not only work against living comfortably with herpes, they also raise your risk for many diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Consider upgrading your eating habits through a few, not-so-hard-to-make changes.
Eat more veggies. Try to prepare home-cooked food more often. Eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed, says LeeAnn Weintraub, RD, MPH, a registered dietitian based in Los Angeles. She considers these three tips to be the first steps anyone who wants to eat more healthfully should follow.
Know More About Foods High In Lysine Benefits And Side Effects
Lysine is an amino acid found in some foods. Some of the high lysine foods include meat, cheese, yogurt, beans, milks, yeast and some more animal proteins. More you consume these, more Lysine you obtain in your diet. Though the kind of treatment a food item undergoes decides the proportion of Lysine in it, like heating the food kills Lysine contents greatly. Lysine rich foods thus can be concluded as animal proteins which are not prepared by harsh methods.
These high lysine foods are nutritious and beneficial for us. Lysin foods help in creation of collagen and absorption of calcium. Consuming high lysine foods can also help in reducing herpes simplex infection. List of Lysine foods which are for vegan and vegetarian lifestyle include lentils, seeds, eggs, beans, soy and more such. The daily recommended intake for lysine is 30mg per kg of body. An average 150 lbs person must consume 2100 mg lysine per day.
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May Improve Calcium Absorption And Retention
Lysine may help your body hold on to calcium .
Its believed that lysine increases calcium absorption in your gut and helps your kidneys to hold on to the mineral .
A study in 30 women, 15 healthy and 15 with osteoporosis, found that supplementing with calcium and lysine reduced the loss of calcium in the urine.
The women given 3 grams of calcium alone had a progressive increase in calcium in their urine. However, the women who also received 400 mg of lysine lost less calcium through their urine .
Lysine appears to protect your bones and may also play a part in controlling whereto calcium is transported in your body.
For example, it has been shown to prevent the buildup of calcium in blood vessels in rats. This kind of buildup is a risk factor for heart disease .
Furthermore, one test-tube study found that cells that were grown without lysine had an increased movement of calcium out of the cell. This increase did not occur in the cells that had lysine present .
Summary Lysine may help you absorb more calcium and reduce the loss of calcium in your urine. It could even reduce the risk of calcium buildup in your blood vessels.
Worst Foods To Eat If You Have Herpes
The herpes simplex virus is incurable â once youre infected, it stays with you for life. That may be a downer, but many people turn to lifestyle changes to help manage the condition and prevent outbreaks of the two types of herpes â one that brings on cold sores and one that results in genital blisters. Staying away from certain foods or limiting your intake of them is a good cautionary step, but talk to your doctor about preventing herpes and managing outbreaks. She may suggest medications and supplements to deal with the condition.
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Is It Possible To Cure Herpes
Unfortunately, herpes has no cure as the virus invades your immune system once you are infected with the virus, you have it for life. This is the same for whether you have oral or genital herpes.
An infection doesnt mean symptoms are guaranteed most oral or genital infections dont cause any symptoms. Its very common for people to have come into contact with the virus at some point in their lives and carry the virus without ever having any symptoms. The virus lays dormant in your body after your initial infection and can reactivate several times a year or even months or years later. The time in which the virus reactivates varies from person to person. People do not spontaneously cure themselves of herpes.
Not everyone who has been infected with herpes goes on to show symptoms, or have outbreaks. The severity of outbreaks also varies from person to person and is hard to predict.
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Top 10 Foods Highest In Lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid involved in the creation of collagen and retention of calcium.
Lysine may also help alleviate herpes simplex infections, and reduce the recurrence of cold sores. This is especially true when the ratio of lysine to argnine is high. Excess amounts of the amino acid arginine antagonizes the effects of lysine on the body, and can create a lysine deficiency. Furthermore, lysine needs adequate amounts of vitamin B1, B2, B6, vitamin C, glutamic acid, and iron to be absorbed. . For more see the list of foods highest in lysine and lowest in argnine.
A deficiency of lysine can lead to tiredness, inability to concentrate, irritability, bloodshot eyes, retarded growth, hair loss, anemia and reproductive problems. Further, low lysine levels have been found in people with Parkinson’s, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, asthma, and depression.
High lysine foods include lean beef, chicken, pork, fish, shellfish, tofu, cheese, milk, beans, lentils, and peas. The reference dietary intake for lysine is 30mg per kilogram of body weight or 13.6mg per pound. A person weighing 70kg should consume around 2100mg of lysine per day.
Below is a list of the top 10 foods highest in lysine with the %RDI calculated for someone weighting 70kg . For more high lysine foods see the extended list of lysine-rich foods.
Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.
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What Can I Eat
A cold sore outbreak cannot be stopped once you have it. What you can do is eat food that helps in preventing the outbreaks. Lysine blocks arginine, and stops the virus from replicating. Lysine-rich foods like vegetables, legumes, milk, cheese and fish are helpful in strengthening your immune system and preventing cold sore.
As for foods during an outbreak, cold foods, vegetable juices, and warm soups can satisfy your hunger while preventing the sore from being aggravated.
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What Are The Best And Worst Foods For Cold Sores
Diet plays a role in your lip health and overall health. If you are prone to cold sores, the types of food you eat on a daily basis may impact how you experience symptoms. You may have read about foods for cold sore treatment or foods that cause cold sore outbreaks. However, just because you get cold sores doesnt mean you need to rethink your diet entirely. Cold sores are a result of many different factors, and a single food wont trigger or treat an outbreak. To put it simply: diet is just one part of the lip health equation.
Learn more about foods for cold sores below.
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Expect The First Outbreak To Be The Worst
Remember that although herpes lasts a lifetime, the first outbreak typically causes the most pain, while later outbreaks tend to be much milder.
You will always have herpes, and the sores will come and go, but you can decide not to treat the current outbreak. If its not that unpleasant or uncomfortable, some patients will do that, says Gade.
Foods That Can Aggravate Herpes
Certain foods can cause inflammation, weaken the bodys immune defense system and further aggravate skin irritation. Avoid as much as possible the following foods to reduce the severity and duration of symptoms.
Foods rich in L-arginine
Arginine is an amino acid with opposite action from lysine. In particular, arginine is essential for the reproduction of the virus. It is recommended in periods of high intensity and anxiety to reduce the consumption of foods rich in L-arginine, such as wheat, oat, nuts , pumpkin seeds, chocolate and spirulina. Attention to supplements for athletes, as they are often good sources of arginine.
Sugar
High consumption of sugar suppresses immune function and can aggravate inflammation. Caution is needed as sugar is usually hidden in various foods we consume every day, such as bottled drinks, packaged snacks as well as products such as yogurt, cereals, biscuits, granola and muesli.
Alcohol
High amounts of alcohol suppress immune function and can aggravate symptoms such as fatigue, pain and inflammation of the skin.
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What Is A Herpes Outbreak
A herpes outbreak happens when lesions called blisters or sores start to form on your genitals, bottom or mouth. If you have oral sex, you can also get oral herpes in the mouth. Your first outbreak of genital herpes will generally last longer with more severe symptoms, such as a fever or muscle aches.
Recurrent infections happen because the virus stays dormant in your body. Once triggered, the virus reactivates which leads to an outbreak. Triggers for recurrent infections can include being stressed, being on your period or feeling run down.
You might have an outbreak of herpes a long time after youve had unprotected sex. The virus can stay in your body and not cause symptoms straight away.
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