Herpes Treatment

Herpes is a medical condition caused by the herpes simplex virus. Herpes is a common virus with no cure, but treatment can help you manage your symptoms and live a normal life. Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta provides compassionate and professional herpes treatment for clients throughout the Alpharetta and Atlanta Metro area.

Symptoms of herpes include initial itching, tingling or burning, and then the formation of sores or blisters. Full symptoms can last from two to six weeks, on average. There are two variants of herpes:

• Oral herpes (HSV-1) affects the mouth, lips, tongue, and surrounding area.
• Genital herpes (HSV-2) affects the genital area and is usually sexually transmitted.

The herpes virus is passed through person-to-person contact, such as kissing or sex. It is most contagious shortly after symptoms appear until they heal. Many people with the herpes virus experience reoccurring symptoms, with each outbreak lasting from 8-10 days. Treatment and lifestyle modifications are both recommended to control symptoms and prevent spreading the virus.

Advanced Treatment for Herpes

There is no cure for herpes, but antiviral medications can reduce the severity of symptoms, and other care can help prevent outbreaks and spread the virus to others. Both oral and topical medications may be recommended, depending on the severity of your symptoms and the frequency of your outbreaks. Some long-term medication regimens may be warranted to keep outbreaks to a minimum.

You should always wash your hands thoroughly after touching any portion of your body affected by the herpes virus. Avoid touching and kissing or sex while any symptoms are present. Some triggers can cause outbreaks, such as stress, fatigue, illness, sun exposure or skin friction. Avoiding your triggers can also help you keep herpes under control.

Contracting the herpes virus is no cause for shame or avoiding a diagnosis. Rather, a diagnosis and treatment plan can help you live your best life and keep herpes symptoms under control and outbreaks to a minimum. Contact Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta and ask for a consultation to discuss herpes treatment with one of our skilled and caring dermatologists.