How To Prevent Herpes Outbreaks Naturally

How Do People Get Genital Herpes

Infections are transmitted through contact with HSV in herpes lesions, mucosal surfaces, genital secretions, or oral secretions. 5 HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be shed from normal-appearing oral or genital mucosa or skin. 7,8 Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during genital contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. However, receiving oral sex from a person with an oral HSV-1 infection can result in getting a genital HSV-1 infection. 4 Transmission commonly occurs from contact with an infected partner who does not have visible lesions and who may not know that he or she is infected. 7 In persons with asymptomatic HSV-2 infections, genital HSV shedding occurs on 10.2% of days, compared to 20.1% of days among those with symptomatic infections. 8

How To Cope After Diagnosis

Many posters were occupied with the issue of passing on the infection. Yolandayw points out that you can minimise the risk of transmission by postponing sex until all the sores have healed. She also mentioned that condoms should be used. They wont completely prevent transmission but they will help.

Ending on a positive note, many posters emphasised that there was light at the end of the tunnel. Learning of the diagnosis may feel stressful at first, but its a manageable condition and certainly nothing to be ashamed of. Lucy03934 has had genital herpes for 25 years. Shes been married for 18 years and has two sons living proof that there is life after herpes.

Also Check: How Fast Does Valacyclovir Work On Genital Herpes

Herpes Treatment During Pregnancy

If you develop a herpes rash during your pregnancy, talk with your obstetrician right away. Its possible that the virus can affect an unborn baby. It may also be transferred to the newborn during childbirth. See your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms, to have a physical exam and discuss treatment options.

To soothe an outbreak of genital herpes, take your prescribed medication and try sitting in a warm bath. Applying ice to a herpes rash on the face may provide some relief as well. To help prevent outbreaks, take steps to avoid the triggers that lead to one, such as a sunburn or extreme stress.

Also, you dont want to kiss a baby if you have a cold sore because it could lead to a serious infection in the baby early in life.

Recommended Reading: How To Reduce Herpes Outbreaks

Read Also: How To Know If Someone Has Herpes

Types Of Antiviral Drugs

There are three oral antivirals recommended for the treatment of oral or genital herpes:

Preventing genital herpes recurrence is important as it reduces the risk of HIV. According to the CDC, having an active genital herpes infection increases the risk of HIV by 200% to 300%.

Ravensara Oil For Herpes

Ravensara oil has been in use for centuries as a tonic and for fighting infections. Modern studies on this oil have revealed many other medicinal values. Ravensara oil has analgesic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiseptic properties. It can be consumed in oral form or applied on the skin.

You May Like: Can Genital Herpes Cause Other Health Problems

You May Like: Where Can I Get Tested For Herpes

Herpes Myths To Stop Freaking Out About

A surprising number of people you know probably have herpes.

Shocked? You shouldnt be, since the virus is very common. According to the World Health Organization, 3.7 billion people under age 50 have herpes simplex virus type 1 thats 67 percent of the global population in that age bracket. Another 417 million people between ages 15 and 49 worldwide have herpes simplex virus type 2 .

Many people consider HSV-1 more benign, but it turns out theres not much difference between the two types of virus. While its true that HSV-2 is a sexually transmitted disease and can cause genital sores or blisters, type 1 can do the same thing.

One big misconception is that cold sores are caused by HSV-1 and genital herpes are always type 2, but thats not always the case, says Sarah Vensel, a physician assistant in San Francisco. Cold sores are so common theyve been normalized at this point. But genital herpes is sometimes the exact same virus just in a different location.

Not only is herpes incredibly common its also totally manageable. Allow us to set your mind at ease and debunk three widespread herpes myths:

Natural Remedies For Herpes Treat Herpes Naturally In 2022

Are you tired of your herpes outbreaks interfering with your life, finances, and comforts?

When an outbreak occurs, do you dread having to deal with the expensive creams and medications just to get some relief?

Although there are mainstream medications that can heal the sores and relieve the pain, preventing the outbreaks in the first place may be the best way to deal with herpes.

Taking a natural approach to preventing herpes outbreaks may prove to be an effective, safe and fast-acting alternative to mainstream medicines.

With far less side effects than many typical remedies, you can wear your cotton panties without discomfort, have a faster healing period, and reduce your outbreaks.

Dont Miss: What Does Herpes Look Like On The Virgina

Read Also: How To Dry Up Herpes On Lip

Herpes Outbreak Prevention With Famciclovir

Famciclovir is an antiviral agent whose trade name is Famvir and is transformed into penciclovir in the body.

This medicine is very effective against genital herpes and beneficial in immunosuppressed patients.

Famvir suppressive therapy consists of two daily doses of 250 mg each for a period of time determined by your doctor.

This medicine can damage the kidneys. This is why your doctor will order tests to check your creatinine during treatment.

Less common adverse effects are skin redness, flatulence, fatigue, mood swings, hallucinations, anxiety, and restlessness.

Dont Miss: How To Get Rid Of Herpes Blisters Fast

Is Genital Herpes Related To Shingles

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus , which causes chickenpox earlier in life. The natural history of varicella zoster infection is similar to genital herpes infection in that VZV also becomes latent in the sensory nerve roots. Later in life the virus may exit, causing shingles.

Recurrences in shingles cause blister lesions in a single area of skin called a dermatome. Shingles is not a sexually transmitted infection and is independent from genital herpes.

You May Like: Why Do I Keep Getting Outbreaks Of Herpes

Is Herpes Simplex Related To Herpes Zoster

Herpes simplex and the varicella-zoster virus are related, but they arent the same. VZV causes chickenpox and shingles.

Like HSV-1 and HSV-2, shingles can cause a painful, blistering rash. The shingles rash usually shows up on the back, side, abdomen , neck and face. It is often only on half of your body, following the pattern of your nerves. See your healthcare provider if you have a new rash and suspect you may have shingles.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Herpes simplex is a virus. Once you have herpes, its a lifelong condition. A herpes infection can lead to outbreaks , but youll also have times when you have no symptoms. The main sign of herpes is sores that appear on the infected skin. Some people choose not to treat herpes, especially if symptoms are mild. Others take antiviral medications to reduce the severity and frequency of outbreaks.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/17/2022.

References

Facts And Statistics About Herpes

• According to the World Health Organization, an estimated two-thirds of the global population under 50 years old are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 .
• Estimates for HSV-1 prevalence in the U.S. among people aged 049 years are 178 million women and 142 million men .
• In total, about 75 percent or more of the American adult population has the HSV-1 virus that usually causes oral herpes , and about 20 percent to 30 percent have HSV-2 that usually causes genital herpes.
• Men and women are affected by HSV-1 about equally. Roughly 6 million women in the U.S. become infected with HSV-1 each year, along with 5 million men.
• Slightly more women than men are affected by genital herpes, whether from HSV-1 or HSV-2. Middle-aged women are most likely to acquire genital herpes.
• Transmission of HSV most often occurs without symptoms, so its estimated that 85 percent of people with genital herpes dont know it. Many dont have any symptoms at all after the initial infection, and only about 15 percent ever receive a HSV-2 infection diagnosis in their lifetimes.
• Most primary oral/facial HSV infections are caused by HSV-1 however, facial infection by HSV-2 is increasingly becoming common.
• Less children are becoming infected with HSV-1 than in the past in high-income countries, mostly due to better hygiene and living conditions.
• After someone comes into contact with an active herpes outbreak on another person, the incubation period takes about one week.

You May Like: How To Get Rid Of Oral Herpes Outbreak Fast

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.

Dont Miss: Are There Dating Sites For Herpes

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.

Recommended Reading: How Can You Not Spread Herpes

Don’t Miss: Is Doxycycline Used For Herpes

What Are The Different Types Of Herpes

There are two types of herpes simplex virus: HSV I and HSV II. HSV I commonly causes oral herpes, or cold sores. This virus can show up as an upper respiratory tract infection during early childhood. HSV II is the cause of most cases of genital herpes. However, it is possible for HSV I to cause genital herpes and HSV II to cause oral herpes.

Clinicians cannot tell the difference between the two types by physical examination alone, but there are differences between the two viruses. For example, genital herpes caused by HSV II is much more likely to recur. This diagnosis can be helpful in establishing a health care plan.

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.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Herpes Outbreak Fast

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.

What Is Herpes Simplex

Herpes simplex is a virus that causes skin infections. The infection lasts your lifetime, and it causes painful or itchy sores and blisters that come and go. Herpes simplex virus typically doesnt cause severe problems. But it can be dangerous in infants and people with weakened immune systems. There are two types of herpes simplex:

• Herpes simplex 1 tends to affect your mouth or face. It causes cold sores. HSV-1 spreads through contact with saliva .
• Herpes simplex 2 is a sexually transmitted disease . It causes sores on skin that comes in contact with the genitals of an infected person.

Sometimes a herpes infection can affect other parts of your body, such as your eyes or other parts of your skin.

Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of The Herpes Virus For Good

What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor

You may want to ask your healthcare provider:

• What is the best treatment for me?
• What are the side effects of antiviral medications?
• How can I reduce the risk of future outbreaks?
• Whats the best way to prevent getting another STI?
• How can I protect my partner from getting genital herpes?
• Should I look out for signs of complications?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Millions of people are living with the herpes virus that causes genital herpes. Its a common STI. You shouldnt be embarrassed or put off seeking medical care if you develop symptoms. Treatments can ease symptoms, reduce outbreaks and protect sexual partners from infection. Having the virus shouldnt affect your relationships or sexual health. However, you do need to tell your sexual partners that you have the virus. Your healthcare provider can discuss ways to prevent spreading this STI.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 11/23/2020.

References

Apply Hot And Cold Treatment

The application of warm and cool temperature on the painful blisters can help provide relief. The gentle heat stimulates blood circulation in the area, reducing inflammation and promoting healing.

Meanwhile, topical cold helps numb the underlying nerve endings to make you feel less pain, but this only lasts a short while. It also helps bring down swelling.

How to use:

• Take warm showers or soak your body in a warm bath like a sitz bath.
• Apply a cold compress over the affected skin for 10 minutes, every few hours. The simplest way to make your own cold compress is by wrapping a few ice cubes in a soft, clean tea towel.

Note: Dont bathe in hot water as that can be too harsh and drying for your skin. Similarly, dont apply ice directly to your skin as it can cause further damage and even lead to frostbite.

You May Like: How Can You Get Rid Of Herpes In Mouth

How To Get Rid Of Herpes Naturally

Not every person with a herpes infection actually experiences breakouts of cold sores throughout his or her lifetime or even after initially becoming infected. How often someone has a herpes cold sore outbreak, how severe the outbreaks are, how contagious someone is after infection and how long the sores take to heal all depend on someones individual immune response.

1. Boost Nutrient Intake

If youre going to keep the herpes virus from frequently causing outbreaks, the first step in how to get rid of herpes is to improve immune function by boosting nutrient intake. Include these healing foods in your diet to keep the virus dormant as much as possible:

2. Avoid Inflammatory Foods

Certain foods can raise inflammation, weaken immune defenses and make skin irritation even worse. Avoid the following foods as much as possible to limit outbreak severity and duration.

3. Consider Supplements

• Antiviral herbs: These include elderberry, calendula, echinacea, garlic, astragalus and licorice root.
• L-lysine : Can help treat and prevent outbreaks.
• Lemon balm extract: Apply as a topical cream for healing.
• Vitamin C : Vitamin C boosts immune function improving herpes.
• Zinc : Zinc benefits include supporting immune function, keeping viruses dormant and rebuilding skin tissue to speed up healing.
• B-complex : B vitamins help your body deal with stress and can prevent outbreaks.

4. Try Essential Oils

FAST FACTS

Use Caution With Home Remedies

Several popular home remedies supposedly get rid of sores faster or prevent them from coming back. However, applying bleach, alcohol, iodine or starting fluid to the sores may aggravate the condition or delay healing. These remedies are therefore not recommended.

As always, the best option is to talk to your pharmacist, who can tell you about available solutions to treat your cold sores and relieve your symptoms.

You May Like: How To Know If You Have Herpes

Don’t Miss: How Can You Tell If You Got Herpes

How To Prevent The Spread Of Oral Herpes

A cold sore is highly contagious and can spread to other parts of the body or to other people. Herpes transmission can occur through direct contact, such as kissing, or indirect contact from shared items, such as infected drinking glasses, towels, or utensils.

The herpes simplex virus type 1the virus responsible for cold sorescan be spread to the genitals of both men and women through oral sex. If this happens, it becomes a case of genital herpes.

Although the virus can be transmitted from person to person at any time, the most acute infection period is when the sores are visible. Once the sores have crusted over, oral herpes is no longer contagious.

Follow these tips to keep the infection from spreading:

• Wash your hands immediately after touching the sores or before touching another person.
• Abstain from intimate contact until the sores have dried and scabs have formed.
• Do not share utensils, drinking glasses, napkins or other items that may have been in contact with a cold sore.
• Do not touch, rub or scratch sores.
• Do not touch your genitals or eyes after touching a cold sore the cornea is extremely sensitive to infection from the herpes virus.
• Stay away from people for whom a herpes outbreak could have serious consequences .