Any skin infection can be irritating and difficult to live with, but when it’s herpes, you know for sure you are exposed to a virus that might flare up anytime for the rest of your life. Genital herpes and cold sores are not ordinary skin infections that go away after a small course of topical treatment. These are sexually transmitted diseases that stay dormant inside the body, but never quite cease to threat. Fortunately, the available treatments are known to provide relief from the annoying herpes symptoms, especially those that keep coming back. Let’s take a close look at some of the ways you can tackle the herpes virus effectively.
1. For a recurrent outbreak of herpes, which is usually less painful than an initial outbreak, seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Valtrex, a strong antiviral medicine known to shorten the duration of herpes, should be taken within 6 hours after the early symptoms show up. When it comes to male genital herpes, the symptoms may include tingling, itching or burning sensations around the genitals, accompanied by painful urination. For women, there might also be vaginal discharges.
2. Self-help treatments can reduce pain and accelerate healing. You can:
2.1 Put cold, wet tea bags on the lesions to get relief from the burning sensation that often accompany an outbreak.
2.2 Periodically apply a pack of ice to the sores.
2.3 Put on loose-fitting clothes to prevent friction.
2.4 Take bath in warm, salted water.
2.5 Use topical anaesthetics.
2.6 Drink plenty of fluids, particularly water or soft drinks.
3. Genital herpes causes a major setback in sex life. You should not indulge in sexual activities when the lesions are raw and present on the skin. Once you are healed with proper genital herpes treatment, use condoms or other physical barrier methods when having sexual intercourse.