The herpes virus does not have a cure but there are many ways to treat the symptoms. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMM) points out that while some treatments are effective in reducing symptoms when applied during the prodrome stage of an outbreak, there is no guarantee that medication will prevent blisters. The prodrome stage of herpes refers to the warning signs that blistering will occur. The American Social Health Association suggests these signs to be tingling, numbness, redness or pain. Few over-the-counter (OTC) topical treatments exist for the treatment of genital herpes but there are several oral herpes treatment options.
Topical Anesthetics
For the treatment of oral herpes, the UMM suggests topical anesthetics to reduce pain caused by the herpes blisters. These include products containing benzocaine, dimethicone, camphor, menthol or phenol as their active ingredients. The topical agents are applied directly to the blisters or painful skin tissues of the mouth.
Topical Healing Agents
Docosanol is an FDA-approved topical treatment used for shortening the time oral herpes last. The UMM indicates the cream is applied five times per day beginning as soon as prodrome symptoms, like tingling or pain appear.
Topical Creams to Avoid
The UMM warns against using creams on genital herpes that have not been prescribed to you. This is especially true for steroid creams like hydrocortisone cream. These agents can cause an increase in herpes outbreaks and cause the virus to be resistant to other medications.
