How to Live with Herpes (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

There are two types of herpes virus: HSV-1 and HSV-2. The HSV virus appears as genital blisters (HSV-2) or blisters in the mouth (HSV-1, also known as herpes simplex). Currently, there is no cure for herpes. However, you can control the herpes virus by taking your medication regularly, treating your blisters, and communicating with other people.

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Method 1 of 2: Living with Genital Herpes

Step 1. Take antiviral medication

Although there is no cure for genital herpes, antiviral medications can speed up the treatment of blisters that appear and reduce their severity. You also prevent the transmission of the virus to others.

If you experience symptoms of genital herpes, you need to get a diagnosis immediately and start treatment. That way, the disease wouldn't be too severe from the start.
Generic brands of genital herpes medications are Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir.
Your doctor may recommend taking medication either if you have blisters or on a daily basis, when the blisters don't appear.

Step 2. Talk to your partner

You need to communicate with your partner about genital herpes. You need to be a good and responsible person. In addition, you also reduce the potential for problems to occur in the future.

Don't blame your partner for anything. Remember that the herpes virus can lie dormant in your body for a long time. It's hard to know exactly who infected you.
Talk to your partner about herpes and the best way to keep your partner from getting infected and the blisters don't come back.

Step 3. Prevent herpes transmission to your partner

You need to take active steps to prevent your partner from getting genital herpes, either when the virus is dormant or when blisters are developing. There are several ways to reduce the risk of transmitting herpes to you or your partner:

If possible, avoid sexual contact. Or, limit it to only one person who is herpes-free.
Avoid sex if herpes blisters develop on you or your partner.
Wear a latex condom every time you have sex or have genital contact.
If you are pregnant and have genital herpes, make sure your doctor knows about your illness. Thus, the doctor can help prevent transmission to your child.

Step 4. Be aware of the social stigma associated with herpes

There is a social stigma associated with genital herpes. This stigma can lead to shame, stress, anxiety, or depression. You can return to your normal life by overcoming these social stigmas and negative feelings.

Many people feel embarrassed at first being diagnosed with genital herpes. You may be wondering if after this there are still people who want to have sex with you. This initial feeling is normal. You need to know that genital herpes is a common disease and you don't have to feel this way.
Call a counselor, doctor, or a friend if you need help dealing with negative feelings.

Step 5. Join a genital herpes support group

This way, you will get support from other people who understand your condition. You will be helped in overcoming every aspect of this virus.

Step 6. Watch for symptoms of inflammation and treat them properly

If you see symptoms of your herpes virus inflamed, treat it properly. Thus, the duration of inflammation will be reduced and will not be too severe.

Symptoms of herpes sores include: herpetic blisters, fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and headache.
Call your doctor for prescription drugs that can reduce and cure symptoms that appear.

Step 7. Crack and clean any blisters that appear

If you have a blister that appears on your skin, break it open and wash it off immediately. This way, your blisters will heal faster and won't spread.

Open the blisters while bathing using a clean towel soaked in warm, soapy water. Clean the towel with warm, soapy water in the washing machine before reusing it.
Clean the blister area with 70% alcohol on the first and second day of inflammation to kill the virus and sterilize the blister area. You can also use warm, soapy water if the alcohol is too painful.
Cover the blister area with a sterile bandage or cotton swab to prevent the blister fluid from spreading.
Do not burst internal blisters. Consult your doctor if you have symptoms of blisters on the body.

Step 8. Live a healthy lifestyle

Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and practice good hygiene. Thus, your immune system will be strong and healthy. Make sure your general health is good to reduce the frequency with which the virus becomes inflamed.

For some people, alcohol, caffeine, rice, or even beans, can trigger inflammation symptoms. Keep a diary of your diet to determine which foods trigger inflammation.
Limit stress in your life to reduce the chances of inflammation symptoms.

Step 9. Keep it clean

If you are clean, inflammation will appear less and less. You can reduce the frequency of inflammation if you shower frequently, change clothes, and wash your hands. In addition, blisters that are emerging will heal faster.

Bathe at least once a day, and bath twice a day if you have blisters.
Wear clean, loose clothing, and change your underwear every day.
Wash your hands regularly to avoid getting sick. Wash your hands every time you come into contact with herpes blisters.

Method 2 of 2: Living with Oral Herpes

Step 1. Ignore the cold blisters

If a less severe cold blister is inflamed around your lip, leave it alone and don't need to be treated. These cold blisters may go away in one to two weeks without treatment.

Do this only if you feel well and don't seem to be seeing anyone else

Step 2. Take a prescription antiviral medication

Currently, there is no cure for oral herpes. However, you can treat the symptoms more quickly and reduce the severity of future blisters with antiviral medications. These drugs also prevent transmission of the virus to other people.

Commonly used oral herpes medications are Acyclovir, Famciclovir, and Valacyclovir.
Your doctor may prescribe Penciclovir skin medication instead of the pill. These creams have the same healing effect as pills, but they are very expensive.
Doctors can recommend the use of drugs both when there are no blisters (daily) or when there are blisters.

Step 3. Tell your partner

You need to tell your partner about the oral herpes you have. The two of you can then discuss the best way to deal with this virus. Oral herpes is a very common disease and you don't have to worry about being embarrassed.

Talk to your partner about preventing transmission and how to reduce the severity of future symptoms

Step 4. Prevent transmission of oral herpes

Whether your oral herpes is not inflamed or when you have symptoms, you need to prevent transmission to your partner. There are several ways to prevent transmission of oral herpes to yourself and others.

Avoid skin-to-skin contact when the cold blister is inflamed. The fluid released by these blisters can transmit your herpes disease.
If the cold blister is inflamed, don't let other people use the things you use, including cutlery, towels, lipstick, and bed sheets.
Avoid oral sex when the cold blister is inflamed.
Wash your hands regularly, especially after touching your mouth or having contact with other people.

Step 5. Be aware of the social stigma that may arise

Although oral herpes is indeed a common disease, there are still people who experience social stigma associated with oral herpes. This stigma can lead to shame, stress, anxiety, or depression. You can return to your normal life by overcoming these social stigmas and negative feelings.

You will feel embarrassed when you are first diagnosed with oral herpes. This is a normal initial reaction.
You can deal with negative feelings that arise by consulting a counselor, doctor, or friend.

Step 6. Watch for symptoms of inflammation and treat it immediately

If you see cold blisters develop, treat them immediately so they don't last long and become severe.

Symptoms of oral herpes include: itching, burning, or tingling in the area around the mouth and lips; sore throat; fever; difficulty swallowing; or swollen glands.
Call your doctor for a prescription for an antiviral medication that can reduce the severity and heal cold blisters.

Step 7. Gently clean the blister

Clean up any cold blisters that arise as soon as possible. By doing so, you prevent the spread of this virus and speed up the healing of your own inflammatory symptoms.

Use a towel soaked in warm, soapy water and gently wash the blisters. Before reuse, wash the towel in warm water and detergent in the washing machine.
To reduce pain or itching, apply a skin cream, such as tetracaine or lidocaine, to the blisters, after washing.

Step 8. Relieve the pain of cold blisters

Herpes cold blisters are usually very painful. There are various ways to reduce the pain of cold blisters.

If you feel pain, use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce it.
In addition, you can also reduce the pain by placing a warm towel or ice on the sore area.
You can also reduce pain by gargling cold or salt water, or eating ice.
Avoid hot drinks, sour or spicy foods, or acidic foods such as citrus fruits.

Step 9. Prevent blisters from forming

There are several factors that can cause oral herpes blisters. You can prevent blisters from forming in several ways.

Apply sunscreen cream or lipstick (with SPF or zinc oxide) to prevent cold blisters from sun exposure. Your lips will also be moisturized and the chances of cold blisters will decrease.
Do not borrow or lend any cutlery to other people, if you or someone else has oral herpes.
Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and rest. Thus, your immune system will be strong and healthy.
Limit stress in your life. In this way, you will prevent blisters from developing.
Wash your hands regularly to prevent disease transmission. Also wash your hands every time you come into contact with a blister.