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Although some people infected with the genital herpes virus never have symptoms that they recognize at all, others may experience outbreaks from time to time. These outbreaks often appear as blisters or sores. Although a person's first outbreak may last longer, the blisters generally heal within 7 to 10 days. Some people have frequent outbreaks, while others have them rarely or never. On average, people with genital herpes get about 3 or 4 outbreaks per year. To find out more about how to reduce your number of outbreaks, click here.
Promote Healing
When you have a genital herpes outbreak, in addition to outbreak therapy, there are a few things you can do to relieve some of the pain, prevent other infections, and promote healing:
- Keep your genital herpes sores clean and dry. Take warm baths and, after each bath, dry your sores well.
- Wear loose clothes that don't rub or irritate your sores. Cotton underwear is best, and don't wear pantyhose if you don't have to.
- Apply ice packs to your sores. You may find this relieves some of the swelling and discomfort.
Stay Healthy
It's important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. While the tips below are not proven to prevent herpes outbreaks, many people with genital herpes believe that living a healthy lifestyle reduces the number of outbreaks they have.
- Get 8 or more hours of sleep each night.
- Eat a sensible, well-balanced diet.
- Avoid alcohol, or use it only in moderation.
- Don't smoke or use recreational drugs.
- Exercise when you can, and ask your doctor about a good exercise program.
- Try to minimize stress at work and at home.
Seek Support
Talking with an understanding partner, friend, family member, or counselor about genital herpes can help reduce your anxiety and stress. Remember to keep it in perspective. It's normal to be anxious about genital herpes, but try not to withdraw from friends or intimate relationships because you're embarrassed. Don't risk cutting yourself off from the emotional support you need. Social support is an important factor in ensuring that genital herpes doesn't interfere with your life over the long haul.
You may even want to consider joining a herpes support group. You can find a list of these confidential groups through one of the organizations listed in the links section of this Web site. While no one wants to have genital herpes, millions of people with the disease have successfully taken charge of their lives by finding people they can trust and relying on them for support.
 | You can still have a healthy baby if you have genital herpes. Talk to your healthcare provider. Click here to learn more. |
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