What Antiviral Medication Exists that Effectively Deals with Genital Herpes and Cold Sores? What Antiviral Medication Exists that Effectively Deals with Genital Herpes and Cold Sores?

Herpes is a very common, highly contagious virus that causes sores and lesions to develop in your mouth and/or genitals. While these sores can be distressing, they aren’t usually cause for serious concern.

It’s a life-long infection that is spread from skin-to-skin contact with someone who is infected. Even brief contact can spread the virus. Herpes can lay dormant for years before you experience symptoms and it’s possible for asymptomatic people to spread herpes. This makes the infection a sneaky one so if you do get it, you may never know when or how you got exposed. 

Genital Herpes 

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection that can be spread through any skin to skin contact during sexual activity. Once you are infected, the virus will remain dormant in your body and can reactivate sexeral ties per year. 

Sometimes the symptoms of genital herpes are so mild you may not know you have it. Even if you aren’t showing symptoms, you can still be highly contagious and spread the virus to others. 

Symptoms of genital herpes include:

  • Pain and itching in and around your genitals
  • Small red bumps or tiny qhite blisters
  • Weeping ulcers
  • Scabs

What Are Cold Sores?

Also known as fever blisters, cold sores are an oral herpes infection that causes small, fluid filled blisters to appear around your mouth. The blisters are often grouped together and once they break, they form a scab that can take a few days to heal. 

Oral herpes is as contagious as genital herpes so if you are infected or showing active signs of infection, try to limit your risk of spreading it. Symptoms can vary, but many people report a tingling and itchy sensation around the lips in the days prior to an outbreak. After this point: 

A small, hard, painful spot appears and blisters emerge

The blisters are usually on or around your mouth, but can also develop on the cheeks and nose or inside the mouth. The blisters will burst and start oozing before they crust over. It can take anywhere from several days to several weeks for cold sores to fully heal.

The symptoms are usually worse during the first outbreak. Many people also report flu-like symptoms during their first episode. 

Cold Sore Symptoms:  

  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Gum pain
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain

Cold sores often clear up without treatment, but you should contact your GP if your symptoms persist for longer than 2 weeks or if the sores spread to your eyes. 

Are Herpes and Cold Sores the Same?

Both conditions are caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV), but different strains affect different parts of the body. HSV-1 is usually the strain responsible for cold sores while HSV-2 is usually the strain that causes genital herpes. It’s possible for either strain to cause sores in both areas of the body, but the strains tend to prefer one environment over the other. 

Are Cold Sores and Canker Sores the Same?

Even though the symptoms and appearance of canker sores and cold sores are similar, they are two different conditions with two different causes. Canker sores aren’t contagious and they aren’t caused by a strain of the herpes virus. 

Cold sores can appear in different parts of your mouth and face, but canker sores only appear on the inside of your mouth. They can be found on your gums, soft palate, tongue, or the inside of your lips and cheeks. The sores typically appear round or oval in shape and are white or yellow with a red border. They can vary in size, with larger sores causing more pain than smaller ones. 

The exact cause of canker sores isn’t known, but suspected causes include mouth injury, food sensitivities, malnutrition, stress, and hormonal fluctuations. Inflammatory and immune system disorders may also contribute. 

Herpes Prevention

Because herpes is a life-long infection, you will likely experience periodic outbreaks for the rest of your life. Recurrence can sometimes be triggered by hormonal changes, tiredness, stress, a viral infection, or prolonged sun and wind exposure. Not all outbreaks can be prevented, but there are a few steps you can take to reduce the likelihood and severity of an outbreak. 

  • Wash your hands after touching a cold sore
  • Don’t rub your eyes after touching a cold sore
  • Don’t touch your genitals after touching a cold sore
  • Manage stress as best as you can
  • Throw away any toothbrushes, lipsticks or lip balms you used during an outbreak
  • Always use suncream
  • Don’t share towels, cosmetics, razors, or toothbrushes

Taking antiviral medications for herpes can also prevent or shorter an outbreak, as well as help make your herpes less contagious. 

What is Antiviral Medication for Herpes and Cold Sores?

There's no cure for cold sores, but antiviral treatment can manage your outbreaks. Antivirals are medications that help your body fight off viral infections and can also prevent you from spreading the virus. 

Since herpes is a virus, prescription antiviral medications can help your immune system fight off an outbreak. Antivirals also reduce the frequency, length and severity of your outbreaks. These medications work by preventing the virus from replicating and spreading, giving your immune system a better chance at fighting off the infection. If taken early enough, may prevent any blisters from forming. 

For both HSV1 and HSV2, you should take antivirals as soon as you start to notice symptoms. This is because the sooner you start treatment, the less advanced the virus will be and sooner your infection will clear up.

Where Can I Buy Online Antiviral Medication for Cold Sores?

At Pharmacy Planet, we offer two of the most popular herpes antiviral medications available in the UK, Aciclovir tablets and Valaciclovir tablets. They can be used for both gential and oral herpes outbreaks and can sometimes even be taken to prevent future outbreaks. Visit our website to buy antiviral medication for cold sores and herpes online in the UK with speedy and discreet delivery.