If you contract shingles, be sure to cover the lesions with a loose gauze or cloth after you have cleaned the area. You should also cut your fingernails to lower the chances of contracting a bacterial infection from scratching your lesions.

Taking a drug called Famvir or famciclovir can help you to lessen your pain and experience a faster recovery when you suffer a severe shingles attack. You can also obtain pain relief by taking a topical cream that contains capsaicin. Another pain relief option is to apply wet, cool compresses to the affected areas. To relieve your discomfort and itching, try taking a cool starch or colloidal oatmeal bath (not warm or hot which can increase itchiness) or applying a lotion such as calamine.

Keep any affected areas clean by using only water and soap. Domeboro solution, Burow’s or other aluminum acetate solutions can also help to stop the oozing and dry any blisters caused by the shingles virus.

Make sure you avoid any contact with the skin lesions of anyone who is already infected with herpes zoster. As soon as you notice any shingles rashes, be sure to visit your doctor immediately. If you are able to start treatment within 2-3 days of the initial outbreak, you can often reduce the possibility of suffering from postherpetic neuralgia. Most doctors prescribe antiviral medications to help you prevent later problems. If you leave the condition untreated, you may subsequently suffer serious problems that don’t respond to treatment; approximately 40 to 50 percent of individuals with postherpetic neuralgia can’t be treated for their condition.

Fast medical treatment is the most effective solution for treating shingles. The faster you can visit your doctor, the better. You will need to take antiviral drugs within 2 days of the first appearance of the rash, but the sooner the better. This will help you to reduce the duration and severity of your shingles outbreak. If you are able to obtain treatment within the first 24 hours, your outbreak will normally be much less severe, you will suffer fewer complications and you have a lower chance of suffering from PHN.

Although cold sores are very common, most people don’t visit their doctor or pharmacist to obtain treatment. Were you aware that cold sores are one form of herpes? You may also be suffering from a fever or body aches, without realizing that they are another symptom of herpes. Therefore, you may end up with recurring symptoms and inflammation outbreaks. That is why it is so important to obtain a correct diagnosis so you can start a treatment plan. This will help you lead a normal life and better manage your symptoms.

Even if you have herpes, you may not suffer from any symptoms. If your sexual partner has genital herpes, you should also get tested just in case. Additional possible herpes symptoms are sore joints, fever, blister-like sores, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes. Discharge from your genital area is also a symptom of genital herpes.

You can contract herpes without it being sexually transmitted. For example, many young adults or children get cold sores, which can be contracted by a kiss on or near their mouth. If you touch an item such as a glass or towel that has been used by an individual who has herpes, the virus may also be spread to you. However, genital herpes can only be spread by sexual activity. The problem is that infected individuals may end up infecting their partner, even though they may not have any physical herpes symptoms.

It is very important that you learn the most common herpes symptoms and undergo testing if you notice any of them. You may feel very sick or have a high fever, whereas other infected individuals may not experience any bothersome symptoms. However, if you notice any pain or discharge in your genital area or swollen lymph nodes, be sure to talk to your doctor.

If you have been diagnosed with genital herpes, there are many medications available to help you manage symptoms and outbreaks. The three most common are Famvir, Valtrex and Zovirax, although new ones are currently being researched. Zovirax can treat shingles, chicken pox and herpes, although the treatment works better for some individuals with herpes than others. It is an antiviral medication that is safe for pregnant women, which will decrease the possibility of them having active lesions at the time of their baby’s birth.

Famvir is another antiviral medication that can help you to lessen your symptoms, although it can’t cure you of the herpes virus. However, if you have trouble absorbing glucose or suffer from kidney disease, you may not be able to take the drug. Pregnant women can also take Famvir, but it won’t stop genital herpes from spreading so you need to take sexual precautions.

This third option, Valtrex, can treat non-genital and genital herpes infections. It can be prescribed to adults or teenagers who have genital herpes or children with cold sores. Although pregnant women can take Valtrex, anyone with kidney problems, an immune system disease or HIV should talk to their doctor beforehand. This may not be the most suitable treatment option for you.

You don’t have to obtain a prescription if you want to treat your herpes symptoms, since many alternative therapies are also available. For example, you can make follow a diet that is designed to strengthen your immune system or that is high in arginine or lysine or take nutritional supplements. These options can help you to greatly lessen your herpes symptoms.