Your doctor can determine if you have HSV-1 or HSV-2 by reviewing your medical history, discussing your symptoms, and doing a physical exam. Additionally, they may do a cell culture test. Identifying the infection is important for treating outbreaks and preventing transmission. [2] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Acyclovir Valacyclovir Famciclovir Topical penciclovir Topical docosanol (Abreva)
Avoid wearing things like tight jeans, leather pants, nylons or pantyhose or underwear.
While condoms are good at blocking the herpes virus, they aren’t 100% effective. A safer bet is just to avoid sex altogether until the outbreak dies down. If you sense that a herpes outbreak is coming, avoid having sex with your partner.
If you vigorously scrub your body dry with a towel, you could tear open herpes sores.
You can place the washcloth in your freezer for 1-3 minutes to get it cooler, if you’d like. Put used washcloths in your dirty laundry and get a fresh cloth each time. Don’t use the the washcloths for anything else before you wash them because the virus is contagious.
Say, for example, that you shook someone’s hand after touching your sores. If that person rubbed their mouth, they’d contract herpes.
You could also transmit herpes if you, for example, were to chew on a pen, handed the pen to a friend, and they then put the pen in their mouth.
The herpes virus is extremely contagious, so even giving someone a quick peck on the cheek could lead to them contracting herpes.
If the itching persists through the course of a day, try applying the cold compress once an hour.
Flare-ups caused by sunlight are rarely an issue for individuals with genital herpes.
After you’ve finished washing the area, do not apply a bandage to the area. Being exposed to the open air will help dry up the sores. Also don’t apply any petroleum jelly or antibacterial cream to the herpes sores.
You can purchase these medications at any pharmacy or drugstore. If you have a herpes sore on your mouth, you can get pain relief from a mouth rinse that contains an anesthetic, such as lidocaine 2% viscous solution.
Getting 7–9 hours of sleep each night Eating a healthy diet Exercising at least 2–3 times a week Using a lip balm that contains a sunscreen
Practicing yoga or meditating Listening to soothing music or taking a bath Creating a weekly schedule to avoid being stressed by school or work deadlines Talking to a close friend or therapist about your stressors
Practicing yoga or meditating Listening to soothing music or taking a bath Creating a weekly schedule to avoid being stressed by school or work deadlines Talking to a close friend or therapist about your stressors
Look for lemon balm tea or essential oil at a local health store or in the organic aisle of a larger supermarket. Lemon balm is also a common ingredients in antiviral ointments that you can apply directly to your herpes sores to decrease the pain and help the sores heal.
