How to Stop Herpes Outbreaks

Medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Last Updated: January 21, 2022 References Approved

Herpes outbreaks are caused by 1 of 2 viruses: herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which causes oral herpes or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), which causes genital herpes. Since herpes is viral and not bacterial, it cannot be cleared up with antibiotics. The virus remains dormant in your nerves and is likely to flare up during times of stress or illness. Herpes—regardless of virus type and the location of sores or bumps on your body—is highly contagious during an outbreak. However, there are a few steps you can take to make outbreaks less uncomfortable and prevent them from occurring.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Seeking Medical Treatment

1
Visit your doctor for 3 or more herpes outbreaks in a year. If you experience a genital or oral herpes outbreak more than 3 times a year, it’s time to see a doctor. Your doctor can do diagnostic tests to determine the type of herpes that you have and provide treatments that may help to suppress and reduce the frequency of your outbreaks.^{[1]
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- Your doctor can determine if you have HSV-1 or HSV-2 by reviewing your medical history, discussing your symptoms, and doing a physical exam. Additionally, they may do a cell culture test. Identifying the infection is important for treating outbreaks and preventing transmission.^{[2]
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2
Ask your doctor about antiviral medications. This is usually the first line of treatment for herpes whether you have only had 1 outbreak or recurrent episodes. Taking these medications intermittently can help to shorten the duration and severity of an outbreak, while taking a medication daily can help to suppress outbreaks and reduce their frequency by 70 to 80%. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for using the medication. Some common antiviral medications that your doctor may prescribe include:^{[3]
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- Acyclovir
- Valacyclovir
- Famciclovir
- Topical penciclovir
- Topical docosanol (Abreva)
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3
Request information to cope and prevent transmission to others. Your doctor can offer you valuable information to help you cope with the infection. This knowledge may also reduce the chances of transmitting herpes to your sexual partners. Ask your doctor for any brochures or other resources that can help you to manage the infection and protect others from contracting it.^{[4]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Dealing with Genital Herpes Outbreaks

1
Wear loose-fitting, breathable pants and underwear. If you’re having a genital herpes flare-up, wear loose-fitting underwear made from a breathable fabric (like cotton). Also wear loose pants that won’t chafe and rub against your sores and bumps. Wearing looser underwear and pants will also expose genital herpes sores to air and speed up the healing process. It’ll also decrease pain caused by chafing.^{[5]
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- Avoid wearing things like tight jeans, leather pants, nylons or pantyhose or underwear.
2
Wear a condom during vaginal, oral, or anal intercourse. If you’re concerned about passing the herpes virus on to a sexual partner during an outbreak, wearing a condom is an effective way to prevent the virus from spreading. Put the condom on before any intercourse begins, and leave it on until all genital, anal, and oral contact has wrapped up.^{[6]
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- While condoms are good at blocking the herpes virus, they aren’t 100% effective. A safer bet is just to avoid sex altogether until the outbreak dies down.
- If you sense that a herpes outbreak is coming, avoid having sex with your partner.
3
Take a warm bath or shower to soothe the afflicted area. The heat from the warm water will also render the herpes virus inactive and help stop the spread of the outbreak. When you’re finished in the shower or tub, air dry yourself with the aid of a hair dryer set to the lowest heat setting. If you find that urinating is very painful when you're having a genital outbreak, try urinating while in a warm bath.^{[7]
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- If you vigorously scrub your body dry with a towel, you could tear open herpes sores.
4
Use a cool compress for 15-20 minutes 2-3 times per day for pain relief. Soak a clean washcloth in cool water, then wring out any excess liquid. Place the washcloth over your herpes sores and leave it in place for 15-20 seconds. Then, remove the cloth and pat the area dry. Repeat up to 2-3 times per day until your outbreak heals to help with pain.
- You can place the washcloth in your freezer for 1-3 minutes to get it cooler, if you'd like.
- Put used washcloths in your dirty laundry and get a fresh cloth each time. Don't use the the washcloths for anything else before you wash them because the virus is contagious.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Preventing Oral Herpes Outbreaks

1
Wash your hands after you touch your herpes sores. If you touch your sores, you’ll have the herpes virus on your hands, from where it can easily be transmitted to another person. So, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching the sores. Make sure to do this before touching any other part of your own body or someone else’s body.^{[8]
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- Say, for example, that you shook someone’s hand after touching your sores. If that person rubbed their mouth, they’d contract herpes.
2
Don’t share any personal oral items with a friend or partner. Viruses can be easily transmitted via, for example, your toothbrush. If you and your partner are in the habit of sharing a toothbrush, stop sharing it until the outbreak dies down. Also avoid drinking out of the same cup or water bottle as anyone else during a herpes outbreak.^{[9]
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- You could also transmit herpes if you, for example, were to chew on a pen, handed the pen to a friend, and they then put the pen in their mouth.
3
Avoid kissing anyone until after the flare-up has ended. If you’re concerned about spreading oral herpes to a partner, friend, or family member, avoid kissing them on the mouth or cheek until the outbreak dies down.^{[10]
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- The herpes virus is extremely contagious, so even giving someone a quick peck on the cheek could lead to them contracting herpes.
4
Hold a wet washcloth against the outbreak to help with pain. Hold a washcloth under the faucet until the cloth is soaking wet with cold water. Lightly ring out the washcloth, and hold it against your herpes outbreak for 10–15 minutes. This will help with the pain and itching that commonly accompany a herpes outbreak.^{[11]
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- If the itching persists through the course of a day, try applying the cold compress once an hour.
5
Keep affected areas of skin out of direct sunlight to prevent flare-ups. Sun rays can agitate your skin and, if you have oral herpes, can lead to a painful outbreak.^{[12]
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Research source} So, if you are going to be outdoors for more than 15-20 minutes, plan to put on a sun-blocking lip balm. You can purchase lip balm with an SPF of at least 30 at most drugstores or pharmacies.
- Flare-ups caused by sunlight are rarely an issue for individuals with genital herpes.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Clearing up Herpes Outbreaks

1
Wash the outbreak with soap and water to help heal the sores. Soap and warm water are great at keeping the outbreak clean and helping it clear up quickly. Try washing your herpes bumps 1–2 times a day to help heal the sores and stop the outbreak. To avoid scratching or breaking open the sores, lightly pat the area dry with a clean towel.^{[13]
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- After you’ve finished washing the area, do not apply a bandage to the area. Being exposed to the open air will help dry up the sores.
- Also don’t apply any petroleum jelly or antibacterial cream to the herpes sores.
2
Take an over-the-counter NSAID to relieve pain or swelling from sores. Herpes flare-ups are painful, and over-the-counter pain meds are generally an effective way to decrease the amount of pain you feel. Try taking an NSAID like ibuprofen, aspirin, or aspirin when you experience an outbreak. Read the packaging carefully before taking the medication, and don’t exceed the recommended daily dosage.^{[14]
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- You can purchase these medications at any pharmacy or drugstore.
- If you have a herpes sore on your mouth, you can get pain relief from a mouth rinse that contains an anesthetic, such as lidocaine 2% viscous solution.
3
Keep in good health to avoid an illness-related flare-up. The most effective way to prevent future herpes outbreaks is to keep your immune system healthy and strong, since outbreaks are most likely to occur when your immune system is compromised. This means that the less you find yourself getting sick (even with the common cold or the flu), the fewer herpes flare-ups you’ll experience. Keep your immune system healthy by:^{[15]
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- Getting 7–9 hours of sleep each night
- Eating a healthy diet
- Exercising at least 2–3 times a week
- Using a lip balm that contains a sunscreen
4
Manage stress to prevent herpes virus flare-ups. Similarly to when you have a compromised immune system, herpes flare-ups are more likely to occur when you’re going through a high-stress situation. So, to prevent the virus from flaring up and causing an outbreak, try to keep your stress levels under control during your day-to-day life. While this may seem like a big change to make, it'll make a real difference in stopping herpes outbreaks!^{[16]
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Go to source} You can manage stress by:
- Practicing yoga or meditating
- Listening to soothing music or taking a bath
- Creating a weekly schedule to avoid being stressed by school or work deadlines
- Talking to a close friend or therapist about your stressors
5
Drink teas made from lemon balm to stop an outbreak. Lemon balm has antiviral properties that can stop a herpes outbreak, whether it’s located on your mouth or genitals. Drink a few cups of lemon-balm tea as soon as you notice a herpes outbreak. For a more direct approach, apply 3-4 drops of lemon balm essential oil directly to the sores. Massage the oil in with a cotton swab.Lemon balm essential oil will help the sores heal with a minimal amount of scarring.^{[17]
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- Look for lemon balm tea or essential oil at a local health store or in the organic aisle of a larger supermarket.
- Lemon balm is also a common ingredients in antiviral ointments that you can apply directly to your herpes sores to decrease the pain and help the sores heal.

Warnings

If it's your first herpes outbreak, you need to see your doctor because it's best to take a round of antiviral drugs for 7-10 days to help clear it. If your outbreak doesn't clear or comes back soon after, your doctor can help you find the right treatment for you.

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