Searching for a Cure for Herpes

While there are many different ways to treat herpes symptoms and even treatments that can suppress herpes symptoms for long periods of time - there is no cure for herpes.

Regardless of what treatments you use or how long symptoms may be suppressed, once you have herpes, you will always have herpes and should be prepared for a herpes outbreak to occur at any time.

The absolute best advice, from someone who has been living with herpes for over 12 years, is find the treatment options that work best for you. This process could take some time through trial and error, but once you find the method that works for you, you will be able to arm yourself with a defense and be prepared.

Doctors often treats herpes with antiviral drugs such as Valtrex, Famvir or Acyclovir, which you can obtain from Walmart for $4. Antiviral medications, while having the ability to suppress the virus are NOT a cure for herpes. They can however, take the edge off. Antivirals can make it possible for you to live with herpes with minimal outbreaks. When the herpes virus is supressed, you will go on living and feeling very normal.

The only true cure is prevention. If you are lucky enough that you don’t have herpes, there are studies currently underway that may introduce vaccines relatively soon. These vaccines will prevent the infection to others.

Aside from prescription medications, there are also a variety of topical treatments available. My personal preference is to use my antiviral medication as suppressive when I feel I'm under a great deal of additional stress in hopes of preventing outbreaks altogether - however, if an outbreak does occur, I continue to take my antiviral medication and treat the actual lesions with a topical ointment. Depending on the severity - I will use Dynamiclear for severe outbreaks and H-Away for mild or onset symptoms.