You’ve been told you have herpes! Yikes. What is herpes anyway? And what should I know and do if I have it?
What the heck is herpes?
The two basic types
What you should know about herpes
What to do if if you have it
Herpes is a highly contagious viral infection, commonly caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). This infection can manifest on the skin or mucous membranes of a person’s body in the form of sores and blisters.
Herpes can be found all over the world, with an estimated two-thirds of adults having encountered this virus.
When left untreated, herpes can lead to painful symptoms such as itchiness, sores, inflammation, and redness. If caught early enough, some antiseptics and antivirals may be prescribed to stop its flare-ups in its tracks. In addition to medical forms of treatment for herpes, there are also lifestyle changes that people can make to help control their outbreaks and keep symptoms at bay.
Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let’s define what we mean when we talk about herpres.
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What is Herpes?
Herpes is a highly contagious viral infection that can affect the skin and mucous membranes of your body. It’s caused by a virus called herpes simplex, and it can show up in the form of painful sores and blisters.
People with herpes can experience periodic outbreaks of sores or blisters, but some people may not have any symptoms at all.
Many adults have had this virus at some point in their lives, and it can be quite unpleasant if left untreated.
Fortunately, though, there are ways to manage the symptoms and flare-ups of herpes – from medical treatments to lifestyle changes – so you can keep yourself healthy and comfortable!
These lifestyle remedies include things like controlling stress levels and maintaining good hygiene practices year round. It is also important for those with genital herpes to abstain from intercourse until they have completed their full course of medication prescribed by their doctor or sought out other alternative treatments available to them.
In some circumstances where the immune system is already weak due to health conditions like HIV/AIDS or chemotherapy, it is even more important for people who experience any sort of rash associated with herpes to visit their doctor right away so that they can get proper diagnosis and treatment.
With many people now being vaccinated against HSV a lot faster than ever before, more people should take steps towards reducing their chances of contracting this virus in the first place and taking proactive measures should they show any signs or symptoms related to it.
Types Of Herpes
It’s important to remember that there are two types of herpes, HSV-1 and HSV-2.
HSV-1 is commonly known as oral herpes
HSV-1, also known as herpes simplex virus type 1, is a highly contagious virus. It most commonly causes painful blisters, known as fever blisters, to form around the lips and mouth.
It can also cause similar blisters on other parts of the body such as the nose, chin and cheeks. These fever blisters are usually red and inflamed with a yellowish crust when they start to heal.
In addition to fever blisters, HSV-1 can also cause oral herpes or gingivostomatitis which results in painful sores inside the mouth including the tongue and gums. These sores may be accompanied by swollen lymph nodes in the neck and jaw area, headaches and even fever.
HSV-1 is easily spread through contact with saliva from an infected person’s ballooned areas or open sores on their face or elsewhere on their body so it important to avoid close contact with someone showing symptoms of this virus.
HSV-1 can be treated using anti viral medications such as Acyclovir, Valacyclovir or Famciclovir taken orally for 7 days although these medications do not cure it but simply shorten the duration of your outbreak by reducing symptom severity and help prevent future outbreaks from happening.
It’s also important to keep your immune system strong so that your body is better able to fight off infection caused by any viruses you may come into contact with all year round.
HSV-2 is often referred to as genital herpes
Herpes Simplex Virus 2, commonly referred to as HSV-2, is a sexually transmitted virus characterized by painful blisters and/or sores. Having been contracted through direct skin or mucous membrane contact, it affects 12% of the population globally. It can cause genital herpes or oral herpes, often referred to as fever blisters.
HSV-2 causes symptoms such as itching and burning sensation in the affected area during a breakout, along with tenderness, pain and discharge.
During the breakout period, a person may experience muscle aches and fatigue. In some cases a fever might be present too.
The only reliable way to diagnose HSV-2 is through culturing the infected material and testing results via lab technician.
Other methods that can be used are blood tests designed to detect antibodies against herpes simplex viruses; however they cannot determine when an infection occurred or which area of the body is affected.
Treatment options for HSV-2 include antiviral medications, topical ointments and immunomodulatory therapies that help reduce inflammation and reactivation of virus cells involved in outbreaks.
We will discuss natural treatment optionsa little later.
5 Things You Should Know About Herpes
Herpes is a highly contagious virus that is spread through close contact with an infected person. This can happen through skin-to-skin contact, such as during sexual activity, or through contact with saliva, such as sharing utensils or kissing. Herpes can also be spread from a mother to her newborn during childbirth.
Here are five important things that people should know about herpes:
1) Herpes is a common viral infection
Nearly everyone has come in contact with this virus at some point, even if they don’t realise it!
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that more than 3.7 billion people around the world have HSV-1 and 417 million have HSV-2. That’s two-thirds of all people under 50!
Most people get HSV-1 (oral herpes) when they are kids, usually during childhood. It’s usually spread through contact with saliva or sharing things like toothbrushes or utensils.
Most studies indicate that once you get it, it lives in your body forever and can pop back up from time to time when you get stressed out. It should be noted that there are studies that disagree with this conclusion. More of that in minute.
As we have seen, HSV-2 (genital herpes) can be spread through sexual contact with someone who already has it.
In both cases, if symptoms arise – blisters filled with fluid near your mouth for example – it may not be clear what is happening right away but these blisters should heal within 7 – 10 days after popping up!
It is very important to seek medical advice if you think something might be wrong and remember to always practice safe sex!
2) Herpes can be transmitted even when symptoms are not present
It’s important to know that even when you don’t have any symptoms and the virus isn’t active in your body, it’s possible to pass it on to someone else.
So, people who think they don’t have herpes should be aware that they could be passing it on without knowing it.
To help keep others safe from getting infected, make sure to practice good handwashing and always use protection during sex.
3) Herpes can cause serious health problems
While herpes is often thought of as a minor inconvenience, it can cause serious health problems in some cases.
If your immune system isn’t strong, the virus can lead to more serious outbreak, which can be very uncomfortable and unsightly. It can also make it much easier to get HIV from someone who has it.
That’s why it’s important to be aware of the potential health issues that herpes can cause. Here are a few:
- Fever and headaches
- Painful sores on or around the mouth or genitals
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Itchy skin near blisters or sores
- Eye inflammation
- Brain inflammation (in rare cases)
- HIV transmission
If you have any of these symptoms, go see your doctor as soon as possible. They will be able to give you the best course of treatment to help reduce your risk of getting sicker. Taking good care of yourself and seeing a doctor if needed is key in helping prevent even worse health problems down the road.
4) There is a debate about the cure for herpes
While most in the medical field indicate there is no cure and the disease must be managed for the rest of your life, there is some research that suggest the opposite. This is highly debated, so we encourage you to read the research and come to your own conclusions.
5) Herpes stigma can be harmful
It’s important for everyone to remember that people living with herpes deserve respect like anyone else.
They don’t need to be made fun of or treated any differently than anyone else – we should treat them (and all people) just like we would want to be treated ourselves!
What To Do If You Have Herpes
If you have herpes, there are four important things to do.
1) Tell your healthcare provider about it, so they can help you manage the virus.
2) Avoid any sexual contact until the outbreak has passed.
3) Keep the area where you have had the infection clean and dry – this will help stop the virus from spreading.
4) Finally, don’t share anything – such as towels or razors – with others.
Taking these steps will help protect not only yourself but also anyone else you might come into contact with who might get infected.
Sexual Activity And Herpes
No matter the type of herpes you have, it is important to take steps to protect yourself and your sexual partner from transmission. For instance, abstaining from sex when you are having an outbreak is a great way to prevent the spread of this virus.
Using condoms during intercourse can also help reduce the risk of transmission if you or your partner are affected.
It is also important to practice good hygiene such as washing hands regularly and showering after any sexual activity. If you do find yourself with an outbreak, try not to touch the affected area and avoid sharing personal items like towels or makeup with other people.
Finally, it is important to talk to your partner about any concerns you may have and be honest about your diagnosis. This can help your partner make informed decisions that protect their health and reduce the risk of transmission.
What About A Herpes Cure?
While it is commonly believed that the herpes virus cannot be completely eliminated from the body once an individual is infected, there have been cases where the virus has been eliminated or “cured” in some patients through experimental treatments such as gene editing.
However, it is important to note that these treatments are still in the experimental stage and are not widely available or approved for use as a herpes cure.
Therefore, even though most medical professionals indicate there is no cure for herpes and antiviral medications remain the primary means of managing the virus, there are alternative solutions to try.
Our #1 recommendation is HerpaGreens. This is an all natural solution that addresses the problem at the root.
According the the official website:
HerpaGreens works by disrupting the virus DNA strain by blocking a crucial protein it requires to kickstart transcription. The process whereby the virus takes over a host cell and then replicates itself. By blocking this protein LAD-1, the herpes virus is unmasked and forced into latency, put to sleep and is no longer able to replicate or clone itself.
This is why HerpaGreens is our top recommendation. For more information: