These locations may include:. There are also a few additional herpes outbreak symptoms which are only associated with genital infections, such as:. After the initial outbreak is over, the symptoms are likely to return. Most people with herpes have several outbreaks each year. However, over time, those outbreaks may become less frequent, especially if you take antiviral medication for herpes.
For example, sores may last for only about a week and feel less painful than during the first outbreak. The symptoms of herpes can be painful and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are a few things you can easily do at home to help ease these symptoms, including:.
Taking proper care of your skin and overall health while experiencing an outbreak can help to prevent complications like infection and assist in faster healing for your sores.
While there is no cure for herpes, there are treatment options available for people with frequent outbreaks. If you want to minimize your outbreaks, make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
They can take a swab from a sore or do a blood test to confirm if the herpes virus is the cause of your outbreaks. Herpes treatment involves taking antiviral medicine. There are antiviral creams and ointments which may be applied to provide relief for burning, itching, or tingling associated with herpes blisters.
During an outbreak, a shot of intravenous medication or oral pills may be recommended to help shorten the duration of symptoms. For those with frequent outbreaks, doctors may prescribe a daily antiviral medication, also known as suppressive therapy.
These medications can make outbreaks less severe and less frequent while also reducing the risk of transmission to others. Some of the prescription antiviral medicines used to treat both oral and genital herpes are:. To request herpes treatment from Nurx, get started here. Herpes Simplex , MedlinePlus, October Types of Herpes There are two types of herpes , both of which stem from the herpes simplex virus HSV : Herpes simplex virus type 1 HSV-1 : This form of the virus usually causes oral herpes.
The main symptom of HSV-1 is cold sores. Herpes simplex virus type 2 HSV-2 : This form of the virus usually causes genital herpes. The main symptom of HSV-2 is genital sores. Even without treatment, most herpes outbreaks go away on their own. There are treatments available, however, which have been proven to shorten and even prevent future outbreaks. These antiviral medications work by preventing the virus from making copies of itself and spreading through your cells to cause an outbreak.
If you suffer from oral herpes, a healthcare provider may recommend a topical cream or ointment that you should apply at the first sign of an outbreak.
If you experience recurrent genital herpes outbreaks, you may be offered oral herpes treatments which are pills you take by mouth. Examples of antiviral drugs include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. These are all standard options proven to help decrease the severity and length of outbreaks from herpes CDC, Many people on antiviral therapy report experiencing no herpes symptoms at all CDC, Using medication within the first 24 hours of symptoms can shorten outbreaks by several hours or days, ultimately reducing any discomfort in the long run Albrecht, There is some evidence that low-level laser therapy may help shorten the length of a herpes outbreak.
The procedure is typically performed by a dermatologist. LLLT uses mild lasers to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation and pain. One study found that using an LLLT device three minutes a day for two days was enough to reduce healing time by 2—3 days Cauthen, As we mentioned, following you first herpes infection, the virus lies dormant in your nerves.
Your immune system usually keeps it at bay. But your immune system can only deal with so much at once. Different types of stress can also trigger outbreaks. Psychological stress, especially the stress caused by extreme emotional upset, can lead to an outbreak Yan, Things that cause physical stress can also contribute.
Sunlight is a common trigger of oral herpes outbreaks, while friction from tight clothing or sex, and even hormone changes associated with menstruation, are common triggers of genital herpes outbreaks Lautenschlager, Speak to a healthcare provider about your options and which treatments might be effective for preventing or shortening your outbreaks.
Last updated February 5, Written by Linnea Zielinski. Most cases of herpes as asymptomatic, meaning people that are infected with the virus may not develop the cold sores or genital sores that most people associate with a herpes infection. Many people infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 have no symptoms at all, meaning you might not notice anything after being infected.
An initial herpes outbreak usually lasts for two to three weeks and involves a range of different symptoms. Most people start to become aware that they might have herpes after a tingling sensation starts to develop in the area affected by the virus. For oral herpes, this is the start of the development of oral cold sores; for genital herpes, the sores develop on the genitals, thighs and buttocks. For more information on spotting an outbreak, check out our guide on Herpes or Ingrown Hair?
How to Tell The Difference. The blisters eventually open into sores, then dry out and heal. Most herpes outbreaks do not leave any permanent scarring. During your first herpes outbreak, you might also experience flu or cold-like symptoms. For more information, see our guide to Jock Itch vs.
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