Herpes Outbreak Prevention (HSV-1, Labialis)
Because HSV-1 affected nearly 80% of population emphasis will be on herpes labialis outbreak prevention. When a person is infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) it remains infected for life. This is the reason why prevention of infection is very important. If you are already infected, prevention of outbreaks is important because it improves quality of life.
HSV-1 BASIC INFORMATION
What is the basic difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2?
HSV-1 and HSV-2 are both herpes viruses. Either virus can cause an infection orally or genitally. The HSV-1 is better adapted to the mouth and the HSV-2 is better adapted to the genitals. 95% of fever sores around the mouth are caused by the HSV-1 while the rest are caused by HSV-2.
How do you get infected with herpes simplex virus?
HSV-1 is transmitted through sharing drinking utensils, kissing, sharing personal items such as a toothbrush, a razor and a lip balm, and receiving oral sex from someone who has HSV-1. To get infected HSV-1 must get into body through broken skin or a mucous membrane. HSV-1 is carried by fluid from sores and saliva. It is important to know that the HSV-1 is carried in saliva by infected person at any time, even if it doesn’t have symptoms like fever sores.
What are signs and symptoms?
Infection with HSV-1 usually affects the lips and rarely mucous membranes in the mouth, cheeks, nose and eyes. Infection can also cause flu symptoms like fever, decreased energy, muscle pains, difficult breathing and swollen lymph nodes in neck. Most common symptoms are blisters on the lips. They are painful, fluid-filled and red rimmed. They last for one to two weeks. After symptoms pass the virus will lie in the nerves until it is reactivated.
How to treat symptoms?
There is not necessary to treat symptoms. They will go away in one to two weeks but you can make symptoms go away faster and reduce pain with medicines. If you often develop symptoms you should use medicines to treat them.
Which products should you use to treat symptoms?
Share experience
How do you treat fever sores?
Watch how to hide cold sore with patch
What are risks connected with HSV-1?
Eye infection with HSV-1 can be the risk factor. Infection often clears without problem but in some cases the infection causes scarring to the cornea. This can lead to loss of vision. If your eye is affected with HSV-1 visit the doctor to get proper treatment. Newborns also have greater risk of herpes complications. Because of weak immune system herpes can spread to the brain causing encephalitis and meningitis leading to severe injuries. It is important to threat babies quickly if they develop symptoms. Complications with adults are rare. In some rare cases herpes effects brain and central nervous system developing encephalitis and meningitis. Anyway there is greater risk for persons with compromised immune systems.
How do you prevent HSV-1 infection?
The best way to reduce risk of getting infected is not sharing items that come in contact with mouth and avoiding contact with others saliva and fever sores while they have an outbreak.
HERPES OUTBREAK PREVENTION
Being infected with HSV-1 doesn’t mean that you’ll have herpes outbreak. Only 20% infected with HSV-1 actually have occasional herpes outbreaks. Frequency of herpes outbreaks depends on below described factors.
What causes herpes outbreaks?
The most common factors which cause Herpes outbreak are stress, weakened immune system, illness and sunlight. You must be also infected with HSV-1.
How to reduce probability of herpes outbreak?
Stress
First reduce stress. This isn’t an easy task because today our lives are filled with stress. Start a stress management which will help you to take charge of your thoughts, emotions and the way you deal with problems.
Weakened immune system
Strengthen your immune system with enough sleep and rest. It is recommended to sleep at least 8 hour per night. Eat well balanced diet and don’t skip meals. Also eat food with plenty vitamins and antioxidants. You should also use dietary supplements with vitamins and minerals. Drink plenty of water which will keep your body hydrated and will remove toxins from the body. You should also consider having a regular exercise regime.
Ilness
You will reduce risk of illness with strong immune system. The way to build one is described above.
Sunlight
You need to protect your lips from sunlight. It is very high probability that you develop herpes outbreak without protection of your lips if they are exposed to sun for a longer period. You can protect your lips with lip balm or headgear.
Which products should you use to reduce probability of a herpes break out?
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Do you have regular herpes outbreaks?
Which are stages of herpes outbreak?
There are three stages of herpes outbreak
Starting stage (1 to 2 days)
In starting stage your symptoms will include tingling, itching, burning and stinging around the mouth where fever sore will later appear. There will be also redness in this area. Starting stage is short and in this stage you can still prevent fever sore outbreak if you start treatment immediately.
Middle stage (3 to 5 days)
In middle stage fever sore will appear and expand. This is the most painful and itchy stage.
Late stage (3 to 5 days)
In late stage fever sore will eventually reveal into healing skin because new skin begins to form underneath fever sore. A reddish area may still be seen when fever sore disappears for a short period.
What precautions should you take because you are infected with HSV-1?
First of all you should avoid sharing items that come in contact with mouth and avoid physical contact with others when you have an outbreak. This will limit the transmission of the virus to the others.
You should have items for treatment and outbreak prevention at home. Don’t let herpes surprise you.
What should you have at home?