Treat cold sores and herpes
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Treat cold sores and herpes

Treat cold sores and herpes

Cold sores are painful, contagious blisters around the mouth that anyone can catch. Genital herpes is caused by a closely-related virus. You may

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Dr Morton's Prescription© for cold sores and herpes

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How cold sores spread

The herpes virus lives in the nerve root that supplies the affected area of skin and in the skin itself, and bursts out to the surface to cause a painful blistering eruption in response to ultra violet 'UV' light or various other triggers such as being run down. The herpes simplex virus (HSV) is caught through any sort of intimate contact. It is highly contagious and can be transmitted even when someone does not have an obvious sore. It is therefore important to practise safe sex and use a condom.

A first infection with the genital herpes virus is often a very unpleasant event. You may feel 'fluey' with headache and mild fever before the outbreak of a blistery, incredibly painful area which will vary in size from a penny to a match box. It can appear on the buttock or genitals. This is not due to the soreness itself but caused by irritation of the nerves that go to the bladder.

Some people have a 'primary attack' and never, or at least very rarely, have another. A second and subsequent attack is never as bad as the first, and it can be nipped in the bud by taking a course of Aciclovir tablets.

Rarely, HSV can affect the eye.

Symptoms

When you should contact a doctor

As a first infection with the genital herpes virus is often such an unpleasant event you may well wish to contact a doctor. The NHS provides good sexual health clinics throughout the UK which you may visit on a confidential basis if you do not wish to speak to your own GP. You can email or phone a doctor at Dr Morton's - the medical helpline© for more information, reassurance or confidential advice on what best to do.

Treatments available

Aciclovir prescribed in the form of tablets and cream is the medicine that can both prevent cold sores and treat herpes.

If you find that you regularly experience cold sores, for example whenever you go on holiday in the sun, or skiing or are otherwise exposed to UV light, you may need Dr Morton's Prescription© for cold sores and herpes . It contains sufficient Aciclovir tablets to be taken twice daily for 5 days before travel and a tube of Aciclovir cream to be applied if an outbreak nevertheless occurs.

If you have had a primary attack of genital herpes before and are concerned that there may be a recurrence, for example when you go on holiday, you may need Dr Morton's Prescription© for cold sores and herpes . The prescription contains sufficient tablets to deal with either a primary attack or a recurrence as well as a tube of Aciclovir cream for direct application to the affected area.

Please note that Aciclovir only has a licence for herpes prevention in people whose immune systems are compromised, but it is routinely prescribed by doctors for people who are very prone to herpes breakouts under stressful circumstances or sunlight. Ask for more information if you need it.

Other treatments

Certain diets may help reduce the frequency of attacks. Diets rich in the essential amino acid lysine (chicken and turkey, fish, dairy products and eggs are good sources) may help prevent an outbreak. By contrast, foods particularly rich in the amino acid arginine, such as chocolate or nuts may trigger an attack.

This page was last updated on 30/05/2017


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