How to Reduce the Time of a Herpes Outbreak

The herpes virus may cause painful sores and blisters around the mouth and around the sexual organs if you have genital herpes. If you get genital herpes, in addition to having tender blisters or sores in your genital area, it may hurt to urinate, you can have a fever, and you may experience flu-like symptoms. Most people have a very painful initial outbreak, but some don't experience any symptoms and may not realize they're infected. Once you have herpes, it remains in your system and you can experience recurrent outbreaks. Symptoms from a recurrence are not usually as bad as they were during the first attack.

The herpes virus multiplies in your nerves and spreads to body fluids like saliva, semen or vaginal fluids. There is no cure for herpes, but you can reduce the amount of time of your outbreaks by taking certain kinds of antiviral medications.

Things You'll Need

• Antiviral medicines for herpes
• Cotton underwear
• Loose clothing

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Instructions

Dealing with Herpes

• 1

  See your doctor right away. The sooner you can start treatment the more likely you can reduce the length and severity of your infection.

• 2

  Use medicines as prescribed by your doctor to relieve the symptoms of herpes and reduce the time you have blisters and sores. These should include antiviral medicines such as Valtrex, Zovirax, or Famvir. These antiviral medicines can reduce the time of a first outbreak, and they decrease the number of days you are contagious.

• 3

  Take antivirals every day if your doctor advises this to help reduce the risk of recurrent outbreaks and reduce how long a recurrent outbreak lasts. These medicines can reduce the number of outbreaks you get each year. In addition, daily therapy can reduce transmission of herpes to partners.

• 4

  If your doctor wants you to take antivirals on an as-needed basis, begin taking them at the first sign you experience any tingling or pain to reduce the intensity and longevity of your outbreak. If you are taking antiviral medicines as needed they must be taken at a higher dosage than when they are taken every day.

• 5

  Take sitz baths (sit in a lukewarm tub of water) during outbreaks to promote healing of genital herpes sores and blisters. Wear cotton underwear and loose clothing and keep the infected area clean and dry.