Healthy Health List (heheli.com)

Oral herpes, an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus, is estimated to be present in 50 to 80 percent of the American adult population. 20 percent, over 50 million people, are infected with genital herpes, also caused by the herpes simplex virus, and the majority of these cases may be unaware they even have it.

There is no cure for herpes to date. Supporting your immune system should be your first goal. A weakened immune system is more prone to outbreaks.

The virus can be dangerous in newborn babies or in people with weak immune systems. Most people have outbreaks several times a year.

1. Avoid excessive heat or sunlight.
2. Keep the sore area clean and dry.
3. Place cool or lukewarm cloths on the sore area for short periods of time.
4. Do not use perfumed soaps, sprays, feminine deodorants, or douches.
5. Take aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain.
6. Avoiding direct contact with an open lesion will lower the risk of infection.
7. Sun protection using high protection factor sunscreens and other measures is important.
8. Undecylenic acid (Castor oil derivative) is also proven to have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.

If it was not possible to avoid infection, maintenance of these herpes virus health tips will be desirable:

• Hygiene is important. Avoid touching the sores.
• Wash your hands after contact with any genital herpes sores.
• Keep genital area dry and clean.
• Taking a very warm bath with Epsom salt is helpful. Used to wash the infected area salt baths can clean, soothe and dry the blisters. Use 1 teaspoon of salt in 600ml of water or a handful in a shallow bath.
• The area should be kept dry most of the time. If toweling off after bathing is uncomfortable, try using a hair dryer. Then put on cotton underwear. Cotton absorbs moisture better than synthetic fabric does.
• Choose cotton underwear, rather than synthetic materials.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Do apply a soothing ice pack to the area during the prodromal warning stage. Ice can stop the movement of the virus from the nerve to the skin.
• Pain relievers, cool compresses or a hair dryer on low can sometimes be helpful in drying the blisters
• Wearing sun block helps prevent sun-triggered recurrence of HSV-1.
• Avoid sexual contact from the time you first feel any symptoms of a genital herpes flare up until the genital herpes sores are completely healed, that is, the scab has fallen off and new skin has formed where the genital herpes sore was.
• Boost your immune system. Take echinacea, goldenseal and vitamin C daily.
• Get plenty of rest and reduce stress.
• Antiviral therapy is available for initial, recurrent, suppressive and now prevention of transmission of genital herpes.
• Caffeine has been shown to have some anti-herpes virus properties although those infected with HSV-1 may not realize any benefits from consuming caffeinated beverages
• The herpes virus resides in the nerve endings located at the base of the spine. Not surprisingly, they are activated by stress and nervous conditions. Reducing stress is therefore crucial to avoiding outbreaks.
• Foods recommended avoiding if suffering from genital herpes or oral herpes, which have more arginine than lysine: wheat, oats, chocolate, peanuts, gelatin, coconut, and white flour.

Also can be interesting that Herpes virus likely trigger for pregnancy hypertension. Look also what can cause a member of the herpes virus family.

Until an effective herpes vaccine or cure for HSV infection is found, the prevailing approach to treatment continues to be suppressive antiviral therapy.

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