Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Preventing Herpes
• Part 2 of 4: Using medicines
• Part 3 of 4: Using folk remedies
• Part 4 of 4: Causes of Herpes
• Tips
• Warnings

Herpes, or "cold", is an unpleasant phenomenon. It can be painful, itchy, and awkward. This is the last thing I would like to face. Fortunately, this article tells you how to deal with herpes if it does appear. Even better: here are the ways to deal with herpes and how to prevent its occurrence.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Preventing Herpes

1. 1 Avoid what causes cold sores. There are a myriad of things that cause cold sores, so it's best to be extremely vigilant during the cold season. Even stress and not getting enough sleep can cause cold sores, so try to get enough sleep.
   • If you get a cold, flu, or have a fever, your risk of getting cold sores increases because your immune system is weakened. Be sure to take in enough essential vitamins.
   • Menstruation, pregnancy, and hormonal changes can also cause cold sores. Of course, there is nothing women can do to prevent this, but be prepared for a possible breakout when that time of the month comes.
   • Stress can trigger cold sores, so do your best to relax. Take time to meditate every day, breathe deeply, or simply sip on a cup of tea - choose the option that works for you.
   • Fatigue is also one of the causes of cold sores, so get enough sleep. Take a nap if needed. Caffeine can help fight fatigue, but it is powerless for herpes. Herpes is the way your body tries to tell you that it lacks sleep. So sleep!
   • Excessive sun exposure can cause irritation, leading to cold sores. If the area of ​​your lips is often exposed to the sun, then try to cool them as often as possible for a few minutes. Find a lipstick or lip balm with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher, and use it often throughout the day.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Marsha Durkin, RN

   
   
   Registered Nurse Marsha Derkin is a Registered Nurse and Laboratory Information Specialist at the Mercy Hospital and Medical Center in Illinois. Received a degree in nursing from Olney Central College in 1987.

   Marsha Durkin, RN
   Registered Nurse

   Marsha Derkin, Registered Nurse, advises against opening herpes blisters: “The bladder closes it and promotes healing, like a kind of plaster. Opening the bubble will open the wound and make it more painful, and the leaked fluid can spread herpes. "

2. 2 Detect cold sores before they appear on the surface of the lips. Recognize the signs of cold sores before they appear on the surface of the lips. There are many signs, although of course just one of the symptoms doesn't mean you have herpes. It just means that you need to be extremely vigilant.
   • Tenderness, tingling, burning, itching, numbness, and pain around your lips may mean that cold sores are starting to form.
   • Fever and other cold and flu symptoms are often accompanied by cold sores.
   • Drooling and increased salivation can mean a cold sore is on the way.
3. 3 Start fighting cold sores right away. The prodromal period of herpes lasts from 6 to 48 hours, that is, the period when the herpes is not yet visible on the surface of the skin. During this time, you can use the methods below to help prevent cold sores. It is better to start treating herpes at this time, rather than wait until it becomes noticeable and ugly.
   • Apply ice or cold compress. Repeat this procedure every hour or as often as possible.
   • Pour boiling water over a tea bag, wait for it to cool, and place the bag over the affected area. Herpes thrives in warm environments, so be sure to cool the tea bag before applying the compress.
4. 4 Always protect your lips from sunlight. Apply lip balm with a sun protection factor of at least 15. Apply it often throughout the day.
5. 5 Watch your health! Although colds are not the cause of herpes, they still affect the exacerbation of this disease. If you have a fever, cold, or flu, your immune system weakens and can no longer fight other diseases successfully.
   • Get enough vitamins you need. Eat a wide variety of vegetables, as well as salmon fish, nuts, and fruits.
   • Drink white and green tea. They are rich in antioxidants that improve immunity and remove toxins from the body.
   • Drink plenty of water.
   • Get enough sleep.

Part 2 of 4: Using medicines

1. 1 Apply a topical cream to combat the pain and symptoms of cold sores. Most topical products treat only the symptoms, not the cause of the disease, always keep this in mind. Try the following topical products:
   • Docosanol (Erazaban) is available without a prescription.
   • Also, acyclovir (ointment or cream) and penciclovir ("Fenistil Pencivir") are often used to treat herpes symptoms.
2. 2 See your doctor for prescribing antiviral drugs. They will help shorten the duration of the illness.There are a huge number of antiviral drugs available, but you will need a doctor's prescription to get them. You can take pills or use creams, but the pills work better and faster.
   • Start acyclovir (Zovirax) while the herpes outbreak is not very bad, and take it 5 times a day for 5 days. Alternatively, you can take valacyclovir (Valtrex) at the first sign of herpes and then 12 hours later.
   • Famciclovir (Famvir) can be prescribed for a single dose.
3. 3 Try lysine. This amino acid, which is part of proteins, helps in the treatment and prevention of the manifestations of herpes. Lysine is taken in tablet form or applied directly to the skin. Ask him at your nutritional supplement pharmacy.
4. 4 Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief. This will not cure herpes, but it will relieve you of the discomfort associated with this condition. Remember that even if herpes doesn't hurt, it doesn't mean you can't infect another person with it, so be careful.

Part 3 of 4: Using folk remedies

1. 1 Apply aloe vera to the affected area. Aloe relieves pain and promotes healing, which is why aloe is very helpful in treating herpes.
2. 2 Cool your skin with an ice cube or a cooling compress. It helps to reduce swelling and redness as well as relieve herpes symptoms. However, this will not necessarily help speed up recovery.
3. 3 Use Visin to remove redness. It will not speed up the healing process, but it may help you feel better, which is why we call it one of the remedies for herpes symptoms.
4. 4 Apply petroleum jelly. This will help speed up the healing process and prevent the infection from spreading.
5. 5 Moisten the affected area with a cotton swab, then dip the cotton swab in salt or baking soda and apply to the cold sore. Leave for a few minutes until the substance has absorbed and removed all moisture, then rinse. Repeat the procedure several times if necessary. You may feel a burning sensation.

Part 4 of 4: Causes of Herpes

1. 1 Herpes is caused by several types of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Although it is called a "cold," it does not arise from the cold. The most common cause is herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It is transmitted through contact with the skin or body fluids of an infected person. Once in the body, the virus remains in it forever. You cannot get rid of it, but you can reduce the frequency of its recurrence.
   • With a relapse, the herpes virus appears on the skin. Bubbles filled with liquid appear on it, which disappear after about a week.
   • Between relapses, HSV-1 "hides" inside nerve cells, and cannot be completely cured of it. About 2/3 of all people are infected with this virus.
   • When the skin starts to itch and redden, this is a manifestation of a virus - and it becomes contagious. It is most contagious when bubbles appear, especially when they burst. When they heal, you can no longer infect anyone through contact with your skin, but you can still transmit the virus to another person through saliva.
2. 2 Take precautions not to spread the herpes simplex virus. It is very important to know the signs of herpes in order not to infect other people with this virus.
   • Never share the same food and drink utensils with others, especially if you have active herpes.
   • Don't share your towels, razor, or toothbrush.
   • Don't give anyone your hygienic lipstick, just lipstick, lip balm, lip gloss, anything lip-related.
   • Don't kiss your partner when your cold sore is active. It is best to blow kisses until you recover.
   • Don't have oral sex.During a recurrence of cold sores, you can pass cold sores from the lips to the genitals and vice versa.

Tips

• Wash your hands often when your cold sore is active (and in general). You can't touch herpes, but if you unknowingly did it, then it's best to wash your hands as soon as possible.
• Find a lipstick or lip balm with a sun protection factor of at least 15 and apply it often.
• Apply lipstick or lip balm with a cotton swab.
• Remember the signs and indicators that a cold sore is on the way (they are listed above) to overcome the cold sore before it appears ugly on the surface of the lips.
• Monitor your immunity: take vitamins, drink white and green tea, and so on. This will help you prevent cold sores from developing.

Warnings

• Salty or acidic foods can be unpleasant when exposed to cold sores. Citrus fruits, for example, are incredibly nibbling.
• Wash and change pillowcases every day during a cold sore flare-up.
• Don't put makeup on herpes. The foundation will only make the problem worse.
• Don't touch herpes with your hands. This will only further irritate the skin and increase the risk of the virus spreading.
• Never use double-cotton swabs, napkins, towels, or washcloths that have come into contact with herpes.
• During an exacerbation, refrain from kissing and oral sex to prevent the spread of the virus.
• Treating herpes with salt can be very nagging.
• If you have herpes, then during washing, water should never get into your eyes. If water containing the virus gets into the eyes, it can cause an infection or corneal ulcer.
• If exacerbations of herpes are very severe or frequent, see your doctor to refer you to a dermatologist at the clinic, or see a paid dermatologist yourself.