What Helps Herpes Heal Faster

Act Quickly And Apply Abreva

Herpes virus treatment

The best way to help a cold sore heal faster is by applying Abreva® Cream as soon as you feel that familiar tingle. Abreva® starts to work immediately and shortens the duration of pain, itching, burning, and tingling. Its the only nonprescription cold sore medicine approved by the FDA to shorten healing time. When applied at the first sign, Abreva® is clinically proven to heal a cold sore in as little as 2½ days*. Simply put, its your best defense for fighting off a cold sore.

*Median healing time 4.1 days. 25% of users healed in 2.5 days.

Support And Advice For Genital Herpes

If you have just found out you have genital herpes, you may feel shocked and may have a lot of questions. It may help you to gather as much information as you can about herpes. This can help you to make fully informed decisions about your treatment, safe sex and preventing further recurrences. Talking to a counsellor about your concerns may also help.

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Prescriptions Used To Suppress Outbreaks

Suppressive therapy medications are available to prevent future herpes outbreaks and reduce the likelihood of giving herpes to your partners. For example, suppressive medication like aciclovir can be taken twice a day for six to 12 months to reduce herpes outbreaks.

The choice to use suppressive therapy prescriptions must be discussed with your doctor. Every medication causes its own side effects and symptoms to consider.

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What Are The Complications Of Genital Herpes

Genital herpes may cause painful genital ulcers that can be severe and persistent in persons with suppressed immune systems, such as HIV-infected persons. 5 Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can also cause rare but serious complications such as aseptic meningitis . 5 Development of extragenital lesions may occur during the course of infection. 5

When Treatments For Genital Herpes Are Given

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Initial treatment. If you have symptoms such as sores when you’re first diagnosed with genital herpes, your doctor will usually give you a brief course of antiviral therapy to relieve them or prevent them from getting worse. Your doctor may keep you on the drugs longer if the sores don’t heal in that time.

After the first treatment, work with your doctor to come up with the best way to take antiviral therapies. There are two options:

Intermittent treatment. Your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug for you to keep on hand in case you have another flare-up this is called intermittent therapy. You can take the pills for two to five days as soon as you notice sores or when you feel an outbreak coming on. Sores will heal and disappear on their own, but taking the drugs can make the symptoms less severe and make them go away faster.
Suppressive treatment. If you have outbreaks often, you may want to consider taking an antiviral drug every day. Doctors call this suppressive therapy. For someone who has more than six outbreaks a year, suppressive therapy can reduce the number of outbreaks by 70% to 80%. Many people who take the antiviral drugs daily have no outbreaks at all.

There is no set number of outbreaks per year that doctors use to decide when someone should start suppressive therapy. Rather, more important factors are how often the outbreaks happen and if they are severe enough to interfere with your life.

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Compeed Cold Sore Patches

Compeed Cold Sore Patches are nifty little patches that act as a virus shield to prevent its spread, and to reduce scabbing. It also contains hydrocolloid to accelerate healing.

These patches also conceal the redness and soreness of a cold sore, which users say makes them feel more confident. Wearing a patch also acts as a barrier to stop you from touching the sore and spreading the virus.

These are available to buy at Superdrug | £6.19.

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Can Genital Herpes Be Cured Naturally

This question is quite frequent and there is a lot of discussion as to whether or not a purely natural treatment can eliminate the virus from the body once and for all.

Natural or alternative medicine includes treatments based on home remedies, acupuncture, ozone therapy and the use of natural ointments.

Several herbs and essential oils with antiviral properties are known to help fight the herpes simplex virus, but they do not completely eliminate it from our body.

One of the most commonly used natural ointments to treat genital herpes is Tea Tree Ointment, which is obtained by processing the oil extract from this tree which has well-known antibiotic and antiviral properties. The ointment does not eliminate the virus and its cost is about 40 USD.

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Boosting Your Immune System

Another way to potentially speed up healing for herpes outbreaks and reduce the frequency of future outbreaks is to strengthen your bodys natural immunity. When your immune system is strong, it will be more capable of suppressing the virus.

Some of the recommended ways to boost your immunity include:

Minimize stress.
Eat a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.
Exercise regularly.
Get an adequate amount of sleep every night.
Drink in moderation and avoid smoking.

What Is Genital Herpes

An All Natural OTC Topical Product for Genital Herpes Outbreak Symptoms

Genital herpes is a dermatological condition transmitted sexually. The disease gets characterized by the appearance of sores and blisters on the skin of the genital region. The sores abscesses into scabs in the later stages of genital herpes. Read further to know how to treat genital herpes with natural treatments.

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How To Get Rid Of Genital Herpes Fast: Is It Possible

The herpes simplex virus type 2, better known as genital herpes, is a sexually transmitted infection without a known cure. Although its not yet possible to permanently get rid of genital herpes, a number of techniques are proven to speed up the recovery of an outbreak and reduce unwanted symptoms.

You may recognize a genital herpes outbreak by the appearance of blisters and lesions. Most people experience their first outbreak two to 12 days after initial exposure to the virus. After the blisters break, it may take up to four weeks for herpes ulcers to heal.

After the first outbreak, recurring outbreaks are common but dont last nearly as long. Sores tend to heal within three to seven days in recurring outbreaks, and the number of outbreak periods may even decrease over time.

Orange And Red Vegetables

Orange and red vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals that can strengthen the immune system and promote overall health. Theyre also rich in antioxidants, which are often touted as playing a key role in wound healing.

For this reason, youll often find orange and red vegetables like carrots, pumpkins and red bell peppers featured on lists of the best foods for treating herpes outbreaks.

The reality is that while orange and red vegetables often are rich in nutrients, theres no proof that they play any role in treating herpes. Theres also little substantial proof that antioxidants play a key role in wound healingright now, studies claim that the science is in its infancy.

Like most home remedies and alternative treatments, this tactic isnt completely devoid of any merit. Nutrient-rich vegetables are good for your immune system, making a herpes diet rich in healthy foods a good lifestyle choice if you have HSV-1 or HSV-2.

However, you shouldnt rely on carrots or pumpkin puree to speed up the healing process for herpes sores. Instead, make a healthy, balanced diet a normal part of your lifestyle, but make sure you’re treating your herpes with stuff prescribed to you by your doctor.

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Here Are 6 Effective Natural Remedies For Cold Sores On Lips

1. Aloe Vera:

The anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties of aloe vera make it an effective ointment for cold sores on lips. According to a study, aloe vera gel significantly represses the growth of the HSV virus and suggested it is a useful topical treatment for oral HSV-1 infections without any significant toxicity.

Apply Aloe Vera gel directly on cold sore several times a day.

2. Turmeric and honey:

It is well known now that turmeric possesses antifungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties. Curcumin compound present in turmeric is an effective antiviral agent against the herpes simplex type 1 virus. There is one research that results, Curcumin diminishes HSV-1 infectivity and slows HSV-1 replication.

Both honey and turmeric have antibacterial and healing qualities, which makes it the best treatment for cold sores on lips. Honey provides a protective layer that stops bacteria to make it worse by drying and cracking. Make sure the honey you use is raw because only raw honey has anti-viral properties.

Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in 1 teaspoon of honey to make a paste and apply it to the cold sore. Apply it more often to minimize the effect of the outbreak.

3. Black tea:

There is a compound named tannins in tea that has suppressed effects on the herpes virus. The concentration of tannins compound varies between different tea groups. Black teas are assumed to have the maximum concentration of tannins and green tea with the lowest concentration.

4. L-lysine:

What Causes Genital Herpes

Eight species of viruses in the herpesvirus family are currently known to infect humans, but only two of them cause genital herpes. The most common cause is herpes simplex virus type 2.

It is also a cause of genital herpes, the herpes simplex virus type 1, well known because it is the main cause of the disease in the parts of the body located above the shoulders such as the face, eyes and mouth.

Sometimes we confuse the causes of genital herpes with the triggers. Stress, prolonged exposure to the sun, and wearing clothes that are too tight on the body are all factors that can cause herpes outbreaks in people infected with the virus, but they are not the real cause.

FAST FACTS

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that causes infected sores or blisters.
Its caused by the herpes simplex virus which can be passed on through close genital contact.
You can reduce your chances of getting genital herpes by using condoms or dental dams during sex.
If you think you have symptoms of genital herpes you should see a healthcare worker, they can take a swab from a blister and test to confirm if its caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Treatment can help with herpes outbreaks, but the virus cannot be cured and will remain in the body. This means that blisters normally come back once in a while.

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What Are The Risk Factors For Herpes

Some risk factors for herpes may include:

-Having unprotected sex

-Having sex with multiple partners

-Kissing someone with a herpes virus that is active

-Abuse of cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs

-Spreading the virus by touching a cold sore and then touching something else

-Having an autoimmune disorder or illness, such as hepatitis or HIV/AIDS

-Poor eating habits that cause nutritional deficiencies

What Not To Do

When you have a cold sore, its very tempting to touch it or pick at it. Try to resist the temptation to do these things, which may inhibit the healing process:

Touch an open sore. Anytime you touch the open blister and dont wash your hands immediately afterward, you risk spreading the virus from your hands to someone else. Also, you could introduce bacteria from your hands into the sore if you poke or prod at it.
Attempt to pop the sore. A cold sore isnt a pimple. If you squeeze it or try to pop it, it wont make it smaller. You may just squeeze viral fluid out and onto your skin. You may unintentionally spread the virus to someone else.
Pick at the scab. You may find yourself picking at the scab without even realizing youre doing it. But try to keep your hands off it as much as you can. The scab will last a few days and then disappear on its own. If you pick at it, it might leave a scar.
Aggressively wash. It would be great if you could just wash a cold sore away, but unfortunately, a vigorous scrubbing will just irritate your already fragile skin.
Have oral sex. If you still have a blister, its best to avoid intimate contact with your partner that involves your mouth. Wait until it clears up before you resume sexual activity.
Eat acidic food. Food thats high in acid, like citrus fruit and tomatoes, can cause a burning sensation when they come into contact with a cold sore. You might want to avoid them and opt for blander fare for a few days.

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Side Effects And Follow

Side effects with these herpes drugs are considered mild, and health experts believe these drugs are safe in the long term. Acyclovir is the oldest of the three, and its safety has been documented in people taking suppressive therapy for several years.

People taking suppressive therapy should see their doctor at least once a year to decide if they should continue. You may find taking the pills every day to be inconvenient, the drugs may not work for you, or you may naturally have fewer outbreaks as time goes on. Your doctor can help you make treatment choices to suit your needs.

Antiviral Medications To Treat Cold Sores

Cold Sores | Oral Herpes | Causes, Signs & Symptoms, Treatment

Abreva is the only over-the-counter topical cream approved by the FDA to treat cold sore outbreaks.

For recurring cold sores or a prolonged cold sore infection, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication like:

Acyclovir : Oral tablets or topical cream

Valacyclovir : Oral tablets

Famciclovir : Oral tablets

Penciclovir : Topical cream

Medicated gels may help to create a clear barrier on top of the cold sore, which can also help you talk, eat, and drink more comfortably.

Benzyl alcohol products like Zilactin may help to dry out the area and reduce the pain of a cold sore. No research has proven its effective like Abreva for shortening or treating cold sore infection.

Make sure all creams or gels are applied without touching the sore directly, as herpes simplex can spread to the fingertips.

As with any medication, follow all directions closely and let your doctor know if you experience any new or unexpected symptoms. In rare cases when a viral infection becomes serious, you may require IV injection of prescription antivirals.

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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.