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III. Herpes Treatment:Tend Skin will help herpes sores heal more quickly. A drug called acyclovir is effective in treating herpes simplex. It must be taken by mouth. There is a cream form, which is basically a waste of money because it only shortens an outbreak from 14 days to 12-13 days and it is expensive. For the first attack of herpes simplex, acyclovir needs to be taken for 7-10 days. For recurrent attacks, acyclovir works best when taken as soon as you feel burning, or tingling in the area. Acyclovir only shortens the outbreaks - it does not prevent new outbreaks from occurring unless taken continuously. Acyclovir should not be taken if you are pregnant, unless approved by your obstetrician. The area should be washed twice a day with a mild soap, such as Dove or Dial. Apply Bacitracin ointment to the area once or twice a day to prevent bacterial infection. Some authorities recommend using L-Lysine 500 mg (an amino acid) found in the vitamin section at the drugstore. As soon as you feel burning or tingling in the area, take 3-4 tablets a day for the first 2 days and then 2 tablets a day until the blisters dry up. Also apply Herpecin-L to the blister every half hour for the first few days. This treatment can reduce healing time from 14 days to about 7 days. These products are available at most drugstores. Make sure you have food in your stomach when taking this amino acid tablet. Taking one tablet daily of L-Lysine has been known to prevent fever blisters in some people. Whether you have oral herpes or genital herpes you can spread the disease to others, even when you do not have symptoms. Herpes can spread from the mouth or other infected area to any area of close contact on another individual. If you have a herpes infection you should alert anyone with whom you are going to have close contact. In some states this is the law. Many people are spreading herpes because they do not know they have the disease and there is no law against this form of spread. Chances are you contracted your herpes infection from someone who does not even know they have the disease. For more information call the herpes hotline at 800-230-6039. |