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Stages Of A Herpes Outbreak The stages of herpes that develop physically for those who have the condition are, for the most part, the same for all people. The HSV-1 virus and the HSV-2 virus vary slightly in their manifestation areas, but for the most part, even the two different strains of the virus develop identically. This results in the physical characteristics of both oral and genital herpes outbreaks being essentially the same. The early stages of herpes are characterized by redness in the area that first came in contact with the virus. As the redness begins to settle in the area, a pain or itch may develop. In some cases, the area will begin to swell. The swelling can range from being practically unnoticeable, to very severe. It is important to be mindful of this part of an outbreak if you are aware that you carry the virus because medications are often most effective when the outbreak is treated early on. These initial stages of herpes outbreak sometimes go completely unnoticed. Outbreaks will develop increasingly less severely the longer that the virus is in a persons system, and timely treatment of the outbreaks will generally result in reduced frequency and less painful outbreaks in the future. Shortly after the early stages of herpes signs become apparent, small red bumps will begin to develop on the affected area. These bumps quickly grow into full, fluid filled blisters. The fluid that fills the blisters will be clear, whitish, or reddish. In some situations, one larger blister will form. At other times, small series of blisters will develop into small clusters. In the next stages of herpes, the blisters will begin to ooze fluid and ulcerate. They will take on an appearance similar to a cut and be very sensitive and raw to the touch. When this happens, the blisters will be the most painful. In order to manage the pain more effectively, ointments or creams, such as those containing aloe vera can be applied. After opening, the blisters can begin the healing process. This process begins the final stages of herpes outbreak. After the newly open wounds expel their fluids, they will begin to dry out. As they dry, scabs will develop over the raw areas. With the formation of the scabs, the body can now regenerate the new skin necessary to cover over the area of the outbreak. As the new skin is formed, the scabs will fall off the area that the lesions formerly occupied. When they fall off, the healing process has officially been completed. This generalized account of a herpes outbreak is characteristic of the basic stages of herpes. In some more severe cases, early stages of herpes can be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as fevers and headaches. When medical attention is sought soon after the virus is identified and when necessary treatment, whether it is prescriptive or natural, is employed, the severity of these additional symptoms usually declines dramatically or ceases to exist at all. Sheldon Miller is a health researcher who has been studying natural remedies for herpes and other STDs for many years. He is a regular contributor to Herpes Treatment Guide. But overall, once you use the formula to prevent outbreaks, having herpes is not a major problem, and you will be able to get on with life, and have a relationship with regular sex without worry. What is herpes? Herpes is a type of virus, that lies dormant in the human body, and surfaces either rarely, or frequently in different people. There are many types of this virus found in both human beings and animals, but among the six types found in humans, the following are the most common ones: Herpes Simplex Virus-1: The symptoms of HSV-1 herpes simplex infection are cold sores, fever with blisters occurring on the lips, the mouth and even, near the eyes. Herpes Simplex Virus-2: The herpes simplex HSV-2 causes genital herpes. This type of herpes is characterized by fluid released from herpes blisters and sores near the genitals. Herpes Varicella Zoster Virus: This type of herpes virus causes and shingles and chickenpox. The infection in this case causes blisters that not only occur on the abdomen and buttocks, but also on the face, arms and legs. Herpes viral infection is most prevalent when the immune system is weakened, after suffering from illnesses like flu, fever or any physical injury, or conditions such as stress and aging. Herpes can lead to conditions like heart disease, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Types of herpes treatment There is no permanent cure for herpes infections, and one or the other type of herpes strain is always present in the human body. Herpes treatments only help in preventing infections from occurring; however, the body is still vulnerable to attacks. Following are a few prescriptions that can provide relief to herpes patients. Before resorting to any of these, it is advisable to seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner: * Intake of prescription drug medication, such as Valtrex, Zovirax, Famvir, etc. * Externally applied ointments, such as Dynamiclear. * Oxygen therapy and cold sore treatments, like Abreva. * Herbal remedies, such as Andrographis, olive leaf, etc. * Vitamins, minerals and lysine. * Reduce or avoid acidic foods and include alkaline foods in daily diet. * Boost the immune system by exercises, fruits and vegetable juices, and other nutritious foods. * Early use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) like acupuncture is known to be effective in treating herpes zoster (shingles). * Psychotherapy to boost the patient's morale and confidence. Prescription drugs which are the most widely used form of treatment for herpes, have proven ineffective as they can only control the onslaught of the virus, but cannot kill or stop them from reproducing. Instead of increasing the power of the immune system, these drugs are known to weaken it. The need for alternative forms of treatment has led the field of medicine in the direction of experimenting with natural herbs to cure herpes. Use of natural herpes herbs to cure herpes The use of natural herbs in the treatment of herpes is fast gaining popularity, as herbs are not only non-toxic, but also possess anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Natural herbs help fight the infection in multiple aspects and also boost the immune system, so that the body can fight back. Herbal cures for herpes include, both short-term as well as long-term solutions. The healing effect of these herbs is nearly the same as that of allopathic treatments. Most of the herbal cures come without the unpleasant side effects, often experienced with synthetic medications. Some of the herbs that are used in herpes treatment are listed below: * Andrographis (Andrographis paniculata): Andrographis, combined with Echinacea, helps in resisting the spread of the herpes virus with the antibodies and macrophages. This herb is not advised for a pregnant woman or a lactating mother. * Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea): Echinacea, combined with Andrographis, is a powerful antiviral stimulant, that repairs infected tissues to restore the skin and also, reduce the inflammation caused by the virus. They are not advised for those, who have received an organ transplant and are under immunosuppressant medication. * Olive (Olea europaea): Olive leaf has antiviral properties that act against the herpes virus and also, induces viral shedding and stops the viral reproduction. Olive leaf herb causes mild gastrointestinal symptoms. * St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum): St. John's Wort has antiviral properties that help in fighting herpes infection. The herb is known to cause serious interactions with some prescription medicines. * Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng): Korean ginseng extract contains antibodies which help the body in fighting herpes infection. * Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus): Siberian ginseng is effective in the treatment of genital herpes lesions. It is not advised for people with medical conditions, such as pregnancy or breast-feeding, heart conditions, high blood pressure, cancer and some other diseases. * Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis): Lemon balm contains polyphenols that help in the treatment of the herpes virus. It is not advised for pregnant, or breast feeding women and is also known to interfere with sedatives and thyroid medications. * Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Licorice (DGL) extract contains carbenoxolone, which is effective in controlling the herpes virus infection. When taken in large doses, side effects of licorice can include hypertension, hypokalemia and fluid retention. * Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus): Astragalus contains polysaccharides that influence the immune system to fight against the herpes virus. In some cases, this herb can show side effects like fever and thirst. * Reishi Mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum): Reishi extract is used to treat the postherpetic pain caused as a result of herpes lesions. * Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis): Goldenseal is used for treating symptoms of ocular herpes like inflammations of the cornea. * Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): Elderberry contains flavonoids, an antioxidant with immunological properties, that helps in fighting the herpes virus. * Garlic (Allium sativum): Garlic contains allicins, which possess anti-viral properties and help in fighting both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Even though, these natural herbs to cure herpes can be effective in herpes treatment, maintaining cleanliness is essential to prevent the disease. It is also advisable to reduce the intake of caffeine, alcohol, food additives, and tobacco to ensure a strong immune system, thereby rendering you naturally able to withstand the disease. |
The stages of a herpes outbreak |