How to Get Rid of Herpes Outbreaks Fast

Genital herpes outbreaks clear up on their own even without treatment in approximately a week. However, there are a few steps that infected people can take to shorten the length of their outbreaks and also to minimize the number of total outbreaks. The most important step is to promptly begin treatment with antiviral drugs and to avoid irritating the sores.

Things You'll Need

• Antiviral medications (as prescribed)

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Instructions

Clearing Herpes Fast

• 1

  Take prescription antiviral drugs as prescribed by your doctor. These may include acyclovir, valacyclovir or famciclovir. When started as soon as possible after the development of symptoms, they can somewhat reduce the length of herpes outbreaks, according to the Mayo Clinic and GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of the antiviral Valtrex.

• 2

  Avoid irritation to the affected area during an outbreak. GlaxoSmithKline recommends steps like making sure the area is both clean and dry, wearing loose-fitting clothing, and using ice packs to relieve discomfort in the area. Herpes sores should not be itched, but allowed to heal on their own.

• 3

  Maintain your overall health so that your immune system is more capable of controlling the effects of the virus. GlaxoSmithKline advises: sleeping and eating well; avoiding alcohol, smoking, and other drugs; exercising and reducing stress to limit herpes outbreaks as well as other health risks.