Herpes Simplex 1 Topical Treatment

Herpes simplex type 1 causes cold sores or fever blisters to occur on the face. Herpes simplex is a common virus that afflicts most people at least once in their lives. In some less developed countries, 100 percent of children have herpes simplex 1 by their 5th birthdays. There is no cure for herpes simplex type 1, and once infected, the virus can remain latent in the body for years, periodically becoming symptomatic and causing an outbreak of cold sores. Cold sores can then be treated topically with a variety of home remedies or drug therapies to shorten the course of the outbreak and/or prevent the outbreak from occurring at all.

Treatments

• Topical treatments include drug therapy, creams with drying agents and/or home remedies or alternative remedies. Each of these remedies is designed to treat the cold sores resulting form herpes simplex type I, and not the underlying virus itself. The purpose of the remedies is to minimize the appearance of cold sores, shorten the time it takes for cold sores to disappear, and/or prevent further cold sores from appearing.

Topical Drug Treatments

• Acyclovir is the most common drug used to treat cold sores. Acyclovir comes in a cream form that can be applied directly to cold sores. However, this is the least effective method of treatment and acyclovir works better if taken orally or injected.

  Other creams, specifically those containing benzoyl peroxide or other drying agents, can also be applied topically. These creams are available over-the-counter without a prescription and are applied directly to the cold sore to help the blisters disappear faster.

Aloe or Lemon Balm

• Aloe plants are another topical treatment recommended for cold sores. Rubbing juice form an aloe plant on the cold sore can help reduce pain, and it can prevent the cold sore from spreading or blistering if it is used immediately when the cold sore appears.

  Lemon balm cream can also be used to reduce the life cycle of the cold sore, helping sores to disappear in five days instead of the average 10 days. The use of lemon balm at the first sign of a sore can also prevent the development or spread of the sore.

Other Topical Home Remedies

• Holding a tea bag or an ice cube on the sore within 24 hours from the time it first appears can help to ease the pain associated with the sore and/or potentially shorten the amount of time it takes for the cold sore to disappear.

Prevention

• Although topical treatments may help to minimize the appearance of sores, the best treatment for the sores caused by herpes simplex 1 is to simply avoid activating the virus. The virus is typically activated when the immune response is lowered, such as when you become sick with a cold or flu. By washing your hands regularly to avoid such illnesses, you can minimize your risk of triggering a herpes outbreak. Furthermore, the sun may also trigger an outbreak, so you should apply sun screen or zinc oxide when you are going to be outside.