While people infected with herpes are asymptomatic the majority of the time, there will be times when they have outbreaks. Such attacks usually appear as blisters around the genitals and anus. After the blisters burst, they leave ulcerated spots for a few weeks. There is no cure for herpes, but many treatments are available for easing outbreaks.
Vaccine
Currently there is no vaccine for herpes, but scientists believe they are a few years from having one that will protect people who are not yet infected. People who already have herpes will not be helped by a vaccine. Drug company GlaxoSmithKline began phase three clinical testing for a herpes vaccine called Herpevac in 2002. Testing is still ongoing, but earlier clinical trials have had promising results in protecting women from being infected with herpes.
Home Treatment
Proper home treatment is important to limiting the severity of a herpes outbreak. Making sure the infected region is kept clean and dry stops the ulcers from becoming infected. Frequent warm showers with gentle drying is the best way to keep the area clean. Some doctors recommend not using towels but drying the infected site with a hair dryer on a low setting. Most creams and ointments have little effect on an outbreak. Doctors also recommend wearing loose underwear during an outbreak.
Medication
The FDA has approved three drugs for herpes. The first is acyclovir, an antiviral that comes in a pill form. It has been proven effective in reducing the number of blisters and ulcers in an outbreak. Valacyclovir is a newer and more effective drug that has acyclovir as an active ingredient. The body absorbs valacyclovir better than acyclovir, so fewer doses are required per day. The final drug is called famciclovir. It works by preventing the herpes virus from replicating. It also is better absorbed than acyclovir.
Lysine
Some doctors claim that lysine, an amino acid found in fruits and vegetables, is helpful in reducing outbreaks of herpes. While some studies support these claims, other clinical trials have been conducted that prove lysine has no positive effect on herpes outbreaks. Unfortunately, there is no data about the proper dosage of lysine, so buying supplements to stop outbreaks isn't recommended. There are also health risks from taking too much lysine, such as preventing the body from properly synthesizing other vitamins and minerals.
Diet
Another alternative treatment of herpes is limiting intake of the amino acid arginine. There is some speculation that the herpes virus needs arginine to survive and that eliminating it from your diet will also eliminate viral outbreaks. There are a multitude of foods rich in arginine such as nuts, chocolate, wheat flours, caffeine and oats. Vitamins and minerals such a zinc, Vitamin B and Vitamin C also are thought to have some effect in limiting herpes outbreaks.
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