Treatments That Heal Herpes Sores Faster

Treatments to heal herpes sores faster include antiviral drugs, like Valtrex (valacyclovir) and Zovirax (acyclovir). Home remedies such as reducing stress and using a cold compress may help as well. And over-the-counter treatments, like hydrocortisone cream, can help to reduce pain from herpes sores.

Herpes is not curable, but it is treatable. Antiviral medications not only heal herpes sores faster than other options, but they also work to prevent recurrences of oral herpes (cold sores) and genital herpes. When herpes is treated properly, the risk of infecting others is greatly reduced.

Home Remedies

At-home treatments for herpes are used to relieve pain. They do nothing to alter the course of the infection but can make you more comfortable as the herpes sores begin to heal.

There are several things you can do if you have an outbreak of oral or genital herpes:

• Use a cold compress or ice pack: To reduce pain, place a cloth-covered ice pack on the sores for 15 minutes several times daily. Keep the ice pack moving to prevent frostbite.
• Do not touch or scratch: Avoid touching and rubbing the sores. Doing so can spread the infection to other areas of the skin.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes: Avoid irritation from clothes or underwear. Wear breathable underwear and avoid nylon or other synthetic fibers.
• Keep the sores clean: Herpes sores can become infected with bacteria when touched with unwashed hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom and before applying medications.
• Practice self-care: Rest as much as possible and eat a healthy diet to boost overall wellness and immune health.
• Avoid acidic foods: Foods with a high acid content may aggravate herpes lesions.
• Reduce stress: Stress can increase your sensitivity to pain during a herpes outbreak.
• Use a bath for pain relief: Use a sitz bath for general pain relief or for relief from pain when urinating. Some women find urinating in a shallow tub to be soothing when they have sores. Avoid using bath additives or soaps which can be irritating.

To reduce the risk of spreading herpes when you're having an outbreak, avoid kissing and sharing objects that come into contact with saliva, like drinking straws, utensils, makeup, and towels.

It’s important to note that oral herpes can be spread to the genitals and that genital herpes can be spread to the mouth. To reduce the risk of infection, use condoms and dental dams during oral sex. Better yet, avoid sex altogether if you are having an active herpes outbreak (or feel an outbreak coming on).

Over-the-Counter Therapies

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available to help reduce pain and speed recovery from a herpes outbreak. One OTC drug called Abreva (docosanol) has antiviral properties.

OTC medications commonly used to treat herpes include:

• Topical pain relievers: These medications, when applied to the skin, have a numbing effect. These include creams or ointments containing lidocaine (such as Aspercreme and Anbesol), camphor and phenol (Campho-phenique), and benzocaine (Orajel and Carmex Cold Sore).
• Oral pain relievers: Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an oral painkiller that can ease the pain of a herpes outbreak. OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) can also relieve pain while reducing redness and swelling.
• 1% hydrocortisone cream: This is a low-dose topical steroid that can reduce inflammation and ease redness and burning caused by a herpes outbreak. Hydrocortisone cream is often used in combination with a prescription antiviral drug to treat genital herpes.
• Abreva 10% docosanol cream: This is the only OTC antiviral drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of cold sores. It is a topical cream applied to the skin five times daily at the first signs of an outbreak (such as tingling, itching, or bumps). Research has shown that early treatment can reduce the duration of an outbreak by one to two days. Abreva is not approved for the treatment of genital herpes.
• Lysine ointment: Lysine is an amino acid that some people believe has antiviral effects. There are numerous lysine-based ointments available for the treatment of cold sores, including Quantum Leap Lip Care and Lip Clear Lysine Plus. Evidence supporting their use is weak.
• FemiClear: This is an OTC ointment used to treat genital herpes. It contains natural ingredients, including lemongrass and willow bark, and claims to kill 99.9% of herpes viruses. There is currently no evidence that FemiClear alters the course of herpes infection in any way.
  

Prescription Herpes Medicine

Antiviral drugs can be used to block the herpes virus’s ability to make copies of itself, bringing the infection under control faster. Most cases of oral herpes are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), while genital herpes is commonly caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2).

Antivirals include oral tablets that are taken by mouth and some topical creams that are applied to the skin. Antivirals can also help to prevent future outbreaks.

Indications for Treatment

Not every herpes outbreak requires antiviral treatment. Mild outbreaks can often clear on their own without consequence, including the occasional cold sore.

The decision to treat is ultimately based on whether this is a first outbreak or a recurrence. The frequency and severity of your recurrences are also considered.

This is especially true for herpes infections in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with advanced HIV. In these individuals, herpes can sometimes spread (disseminate) to other organs. In such cases, antiviral drugs are injected directly into the bloodstream, or intravenously.

Types of Antiviral Drugs

There are three oral antivirals recommended for the treatment of oral or genital herpes:

• Famciclovir
  
• Valtrex (valacyclovir)
• Zovirax (acyclovir)

Additionally, three topical antivirals can be used to treat recurrent oral herpes:

• Denavir (penciclovir) cream
• Xerese (acyclovir + hydrocortisone) cream
• Zovirax (acyclovir) cream

Dosage Recommendations

The dosage of antiviral used to treat genital herpes can vary depending on whether this is your first outbreak or a recurrence. The dosage is also adjusted if used to prevent a recurrence.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued the following dosing schedule—in grams (g) and milligrams (mg)—for adults with primary genital herpes.

The CDC issued the following dosing schedule for adults with recurrent genital herpes.

The CDC issued the following dosing schedule for daily suppressive therapy.

Preventing genital herpes recurrence is important as it reduces the risk of HIV. According to the CDC, having an active genital herpes infection increases the risk of HIV by twofold to threefold.

Plans are in place to develop a vaccine, and there have been some promising trials of herpes vaccines. However, no human trials have proven effective enough to bring a vaccine to market.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Some people use natural therapies to treat herpes, either on their own or to support standard medical care. The research supporting their use is generally weak, with little evidence that they can reduce either the severity or duration of an outbreak. Even so, many people swear by their effectiveness and consider them a vital part of managing herpes outbreaks.

Complementary and alternative therapies sometimes used to treat herpes include:

• Propolis: This is a sticky substance produced by bees that may help speed the healing of genital herpes. A 2017 study found that people who used propolis ointment experienced better healing by the tenth day of treatment compared to those who used a placebo ointment.
• Algae extract: Lab studies suggest that algae extract can inhibit the growth of HSV-2 in test tubes. Whether it can do so in humans has yet to be proven.
• Acupuncture: A 2022 review of research on the use of acupuncture to treat symptoms of herpes zoster (shingles) concluded that “acupuncture had a good effect on [herpes zoster], quickly reduced patient pain, [and] shortened the course of the treatment.” While this suggests that acupuncture may be useful in easing genital herpes pain, this has yet to be proven.
  
• Lemon balm: One study involving 66 patients found that using a lemon balm cream on labial herpes sores for two days reduced the severity of symptoms. Another study involving 116 patients using lemon balm two to four times daily for 10 days found that the cream helped improve healing.
• Zinc: In one study involving 46 patients, a 21-day application of a zinc oxide/glycine cream helped reduce symptoms and herpes duration.
• Medical-grade honey: Limited human trials suggest that medical-grade honey applied to the sores at the beginning of an outbreak reduces pain and itching. Medical-grade Manuka honey is available at many pharmacies.
• Aloe vera: In vitro (test tube) studies suggest that aloe vera gel may be helpful as a topical treatment for oral HSV-1 infections. However, human studies confirming this benefit are lacking.
• Tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil: In vitro studies have compared tea tree oil to eucalyptus oil for their antiherpetic effects. Researchers found that both oils were effective but tea tree oil had stronger antiviral activity than eucalyptus oil. Human studies confirming this potential benefit are lacking.
• Chamomile essential oil: In vitro studies suggest that chamomile essential oil may have antiviral properties that may be helpful against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant Herpes simplex virus strains. Newer studies and studies in humans are needed to fully understand this benefit.
• Other essential oils: Oils including thyme oil, lavender oil, Mexican oregano oil, and neem essential oil may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of herpes, but studies are very limited. More research in humans needs to be conducted to fully understand the role of these oils in the treatment of herpes.
• Peganum harmala: Also called Syrian Rue, this extract has shown antiviral activity against the HSV-2 virus in test tube studies.

Possible Dietary Approaches

Several studies suggest that certain foods or certain vitamins and minerals may be helpful in the treatment or prevention of herpes sores. Research on dietary approaches is limited, but preliminary evidence suggests:

• Vitamin C: Studies suggest that vitamin C may provide antiviral benefits against herpes and other illnesses, such as influenza.
• Vitamin B12: Limited research suggests that vitamin B12 may play a role in the management of herpes. One study found that people with higher vitamin B12 levels had lower rates of herpes recurrence than those with low levels of vitamin B12.
• Garlic: Preliminary studies suggest that consuming fresh or cooked garlic or garlic supplements may be helpful in the prevention and treatment of several viral infections, including herpes.
• Zinc: One study involving 20 patients with recurrent herpes treated twice daily with oral zinc supplements (22.5 mg zinc sulphate), for four months over a one-year period, showed a reduction in herpes episodes.
  

Summary

There is no cure for herpes, but you can manage outbreaks with at-home treatments and over-the-counter medications that can help ease pain.

Antiviral drugs directly treat herpes infections and may help reduce the severity or duration of an outbreak. This includes Abreva (docosanol), a topical antiviral available over the counter, and prescription antivirals like Zovirax (acyclovir) and Valtrex (valacyclovir). Antivirals can also be taken daily to prevent outbreaks in people with frequent recurrences.

Complementary and alternative therapies are sometimes used to treat oral or genital herpes, but there is little clinical evidence to support their use.