A Quick Look At The 6 Best At
- Best herpestest subscription:LetsGetChecked
- Best convenient herpestest:MyLAB Box
- Best affordable herpes test:HealthLabs
- Best test for early herpes detection:Priority STD
- Best herpes test for quick results: STDcheck
MNT chooses at-home tests that meet the following criteria where possible:
- Laboratories: Where possible, MNT will choose companies that process test samples in labs. This means they follow state and federal regulations.
- Budget: MNT chooses at-home tests that suit a wide range of budgets.
- Privacy: MNT includes companies that offer robust and transparent privacy measures, such as data protection and discreet packaging.
- Test result speed: MNT selects companies that inform customers when they will receive their test results and whether they will receive them via email, app, or phone.
- Further support: MNT will indicate whether a company offers further support, such as a follow-up phone consultation with a doctor to discuss test results.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
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Follow Up With Your Doctor As Directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Genital Herpes
The most common symptoms are blisters that appear on your genital area, thighs, or buttocks. The blisters will open, leak fluid, and then dry up . Usually these sores will go away without leaving a scar. Other symptoms may include any of the following:
- Redness, burning, itching, or tingling in your genital area
- Fever or chills
- Headache, body weakness, or muscle pains
- Swollen lymph nodes in your groin
- Sore throat or loss of appetite
- Pain when you urinate
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How To Get Rid Of Genital Herpes Outbreaks Quickly & Safely
There is no cure for genital herpes, but there are many over-the-counter treatment optionsas well as supplements, herbs, topical treatments, and even dietary changesthat may help clear up outbreaks faster.
In this article, Ill talk about the early warning signs of genital herpes, outline some medicines and at-home treatments for outbreaks, and information on howto heal herpes sores faster.
Ill help you understand what is safe and backed by reliable evidence.
And Ill tell you when to talk to your doctor.
What Triggers A Cold Sore
After you have been infected with HSV-1, the virus never goes away. It remains dormant in a group of nerve cells in your face called the trigeminal ganglion.
When the virus is triggered, or activated, it wakes up and travels through your nerves to your lips, where a cold sore develops. After an outbreak, the virus goes back to sleep in your body.
What triggers a cold sore in one person might not cause an outbreak in another person. Some people with HSV-1 never develop a cold sore.
A cold sore can be activated by a variety of factors, including:
- Hormonal changes during menstruation or pregnancy
- Fever and illness, such as cold or flu
- Damaged, dry or cracked lips
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How To Get Rid Of A Cold Sore
Healthcare providers use oral and topical cold sore treatments to ease your pain, slow the growth and spread of the virus, and speed up healing.
There are three ways to use antivirals to fight cold sores, explained Dr. Brodell. One is to treat the virus at the first sign of recurrence using a course of oral or topical medication.
The second is âsuppressive therapy,â meaning you take oral antiviral medicine every day to prevent outbreaks. âLetâs say youâre having outbreaks once a month, every time you get a menstrual cycle or every time you feel stress,â said Dr. Brodell. âYou can give that person a vacation from having their outbreaks with suppressive therapy.â
This daily oral antiviral therapy âis the most effective treatmentâ to prevent outbreaks, Benjamin Barankin, MD, a Toronto-based dermatologist and medical director of the Toronto Dermatology Centre, told Health.
A third option is âintermittent suppressive therapyâ for people who can predict their outbreaks. You might get a lip full of blisters every time you go on vacation to sunny Florida, for example. You know youâre headed for trouble next time you visit, but you donât want it to ruin your getaway.
Treatment The First Time You Have Genital Herpes
You may be prescribed:
- antiviral medicine to stop the symptoms getting worse you need to start taking this within 5 days of the symptoms appearing
- cream for the pain
If you have had symptoms for more than 5 days before you go to a sexual health clinic, you can still get tested to find out the cause.
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A Pharmacist Can Help With Cold Sores
A pharmacist can recommend:
- creams to ease pain and irritation
- antiviral creams to speed up healing time
- cold sore patches to protect the skin while it heals
You can buy electronic devices from pharmacies that treat cold sores with light or lasers.
Some people find these helpful, but there have not been many studies to confirm if they work.
If you regularly get cold sores, use antiviral creams as soon as you recognise the early tingling feeling. They do not always work after blisters appear.
What Can I Do To Stop Discomfort And Speed Up Healing Self
People with genital herpes have reported to us that these ideas have helped them to treat their genital herpes. They have not been through a medical trial:
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How Is Genital Herpes Treated
No cure exists at this time. Antiviral drugs including acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir can be prescribed to shorten and prevent outbreaks. The antiviral medicines may be taken at the beginning of symptoms or daily to help prevent frequent outbreaks.
Over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or topical preparations, can be used to relieve discomfort.
Avoid Spreading The Virus
The following may reduce the risk of spreading the herpes simplex virus:
Oral herpes
If you have sores on your face:
-
Do not kiss anyone
-
Do not have oral sex
-
Do not share items such as silverware, cups, towels, and lip balms
If you have tingling, burning, itching, or tenderness where you had a herpes sore, keep that area of your body away from others.
You can prevent spreading the sores to other parts of your body by:
-
Washing your hands after touching a cold sore.
-
Using a cotton-tip swab to apply herpes medicine to a cold sore also helps.
Genital herpes
When you have sores or symptoms do not have sex with uninfected partners.
-
If you do not have sores or symptoms, use a latex condom to lower the risk of spreading the virus. You should know that even with a condom, it is possible to spread the virus if it lies on nearby skin that the condom does not cover.
-
If you are pregnant tell your doctor if you or your partner has genital herpes. You may need to take medicine at the end of your pregnancy to prevent passing the virus to your baby.
Related AAD resources
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Herpes Symptoms And Signs
In order to diagnose herpes, a health care provider can swab an area of visibly active herpes infection or, if symptoms arent active, a blood test can be given that measures the number of herpes antibodies present in the body. The antibodies dont indicate herpes itself, but rather show the immune systems response to the presence of the virus in the body. Its important to note that sometimes a swab can give false negative results since herpes lesions need to be large enough to yield enough detectable virus and if the outbreak is already healing it also may not be detected in a swab.
The most common herpes symptoms include:
- Developing either a single cold sore or cluster of multiple cold sores that form on the lips, inside the mouth, or on the genitals, buttocks and upper thighs.
- Sores can sometimes be severe, painful and rupture and cause fluid to be secreted out.
- Some herpes canker sores develop a thin, white coating and burn when touched while they healing.
- Around herpes cold sores, its common to feel pain, tenderness and other symptoms of a rash, such as redness or signs of swelling.
- Some people are able to tell before an outbreak if one is going to occur because they feel tingling, itchy sensations near the affected area.
- Some people develop other symptoms during herpes outbreaks that are similar to those caused by a cold or the flu. This may include fatigue, irritability, aches or a slight fever.
Ways To Manage Herpes Symptoms
While there is no cure for herpes, and no guaranteed method of preventing the recurrence of herpes outbreaks, the following treatments can help relieve pain and discomfort.
Practice good hygiene. Keep your body clean, wash your hands frequently and try to avoid touching the sores.
Take salt baths. This method can clean, dry and ease the pain of blisters and sores. Mix a few tablespoons of salt in a shallow bath.
Cool the affected area. Applying ice directly to the sores or drying the area with a blow dryer on the cool setting can offer some relief.
Wear loose-fitting clothing. Loose clothing reduces discomfort and promotes healing of the sores. Wear cotton, rather than synthetic underwear.
Wear sun block. Keeping your skin protected can help prevent the recurrence of HSV-1.
Urinate in a cool bath or shower. If you experience painful urination, this process dilutes the urine and prevents burning the sores.
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water each day.
Practice abstinence when you are experiencing symptoms of herpes. Help prevent the spread of herpes by avoiding sexual activity when you are experiencing any symptoms, including tingling, itching or tenderness at the site of infection.
Take over-the-counter medicines. Reduce fever and tenderness by taking acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen.
Stay stress-free. Lowering stress can boost the immune system and possibly reduce your symptoms.
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Best Zinc Supplement: Thorne Zinc Picolinate
- daily allowance of zinc, larger bottles are expensive
These zinc capsules are gluten, dairy, and soy-free.
Thorne claims that these supplements may support immune and reproductive health. Each capsule contains 30 mg of zinc.
The company recommends taking one capsule per day.
It is important to note that 30 mg of zinc is more than double the daily recommended value, which the National Institutes of Health states is 811 mg for adults.
A person can choose between bottles containing 60 or 180 capsules. They can also choose a bottle that holds National Sanitation Foundation certification for sport, meaning the product has been tested and found to be free of banned substances.
Thorne Zinc Picolinate 30 mg costs $1735.
- the medicinal plant Tripterygium hypoglaucum
- compounds in the oil of cloves and the essential oil of cinnamon and basil
A person can use oils in a diffuser, diluted in a carrier oil, added to a bath, or massaged on the skin.
People should not consume essential oils, as some are toxic and can cause harm.
When using essential oils for aromatherapy, it is also important to consider anyone else in the area. Some essential oils are harmful to pets and pregnant or nursing people.
Using a carrier oil is important, as the essential oil may cause adverse effects if a person applies it directly to the skin. Carrier oils
Some medications can lower the chance of spreading the herpes virus and reduce the severity and frequency of the symptoms.
Prescription Strength Medication: Your Best Bet
If you suffer from cold sores with any frequency, you should reach out to a trustworthy dermatologist. There are ways to treat cold sores without prescriptions, but only your doctor will be able to recommend the best course of treatment for your herpes symptoms. Prescription antivirals can stop a herpes flare up or prevent cold sores from growing and spreading.
Antivirals usually come in the form of oral or topical medications, but they can be administered via IV if herpes symptoms are severe. In cases of severe pain, your doctor may prescribe a topical painkiller like lidocaine to ease burning and stinging. The quicker you seek treatment, the less discomfort youll feel.
Treating cold sores early reduces their length of visibility so that you can regain your confidence. If you have other skin conditions or health issues affecting your immune system, we advise avoiding further complications by getting an antiviral treatment whenever an outbreak begins.
Cold sores and other symptoms of the herpes virus are not often extreme, but they can still cause a number of health problems and make your life difficult. If you suffer from cold sores or other herpes outbreaks, reach out to your New England dermatologist for advice and treatment.
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What Is The Usual Treatment For Genital Herpes
The doctor may prescribe antiviral tablets to speed up healing and reduce the severity of a first episode. Aciclovir is the most commonly used antiviral drug for treating genital herpes. You dont need the tablets if the first episode is mild, or if you have almost recovered before you see the doctor.If you get more episodes later on, you will be less likely to be offered with antiviral tablets as outbreaks clear up without treatment.To prevent a recurrent outbreak with antiviral tablets, you need to start taking them within 24 hours of noticing the beginning of the outbreak. When you start after 24 hours, it is unlikely that the tablets will have much effect. This is why you should have a prescription or tablets ready, so that you can start to take them as soon as possible see dosing information below. Members can ask for our antiviral drug fact sheet see subscription form. And we offer self-help suggestions too.
What Types Of Doctors Treat Cold Sores
Most pediatricians and primary care providers are very familiar with cold sores and their treatment. Most cases do not need the services of a dermatologist . An infectious-disease specialist is often consulted in complicated cases, such as herpes encephalitis or herpes in a person with a weak immune system. The care of an ophthalmologist is important in managing ocular herpes, or herpes keratitis.
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Is There A Way To Prevent Getting Herpes
You can protect yourself and your partner by taking steps to prevent an outbreak of herpes. Some things that you can do include:
-If you already have herpes, dont have sex until the outbreak is completely gone, even with a condom.
-Try to learn the signs of an impending outbreak, such as itching, tingling and burning, and stop having sex as soon as you notice.
-If you wear contact lenses, dont wet your lenses with your saliva. This could spread your herpes infection to your eyes.
-Dont have sex with your partner until your herpes sores are completely healed.
-Always tell your partner if you are infected with the herpes virus before you have sex. Even though it can be embarrassing and difficult, herpes is very common, and telling your partner will help keep the infection from spreading.
How Herpes Is Treated
There is no cure for herpes.
- The health care provider may prescribe antiviral medicine to help speed up the healing process. It also shortens the time when the virus can spread from the herpes sores.
- Pain may be treated with medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin or by applying an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the affected area.
- If sores are in the mouth, avoid foods high in acid, like citrus fruits and juices.
- The infected area should be kept clean and dry.
- Wash hands often and avoid touching the sores to prevent spreading the virus.
- It is important to stay healthy by getting enough rest, having proper nutrition and exercise and managing stress well.
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