Treatment for Shingles : There are several effective treatments for shingles. Drugs that fight viruses (antivirals), such as acyclovir (Zovirax) or famciclovir (Famvir) can reduce the duration of the rash if started early (within 48 hours of the appearance of the rash). The addition of steroids may also limit the length of time that a patient has pain with shingles. However, the benefit of both of these drugs is limited. In addition to antiviral medication, pain medications may be needed for symptom control. The affected area should be kept covered and dry. However, bathing is permitted and the area can be cleansed with soap and water. An aluminum acetate solution (Burows or Domeboro's solution, available at your pharmacy) can be used to help dry up the blisters and oozing.

Recurrent Herpes : By far the most common manifestation of herpes infections -- what people usually mean when they speak of "herpes" or "cold sores" -- is a recurrence of the virus when it is reactivated from its latent sleep in the nerves below the skin. What this looks like depends on where the virus has been hibernating: Labial herpes: This is the familiar cold sore that appears on the lip margins (labial refers to the lip). When labial herpes reappears, it usually occurs at most a few millimeters away from its previous location(s). Herpetic whitlow: Sometimes, the herpes virus shows up on the fingertip. This is especially common in dental and medical workers who have to put their fingers inside people's mouths, despite the use of gloves. Wrestlers' herpes: This has the picturesque name, "herpes gladiatorum." Gladiators, or nowadays just plain wrestlers, can contract herpes from an opponent who is shedding the virus. This form of herpes can appear all over the body. Wrestlers differ from most other patients with herpes who only develop recurrences in one spot. The reason for this is that although the antibodies in the bloodstream do not prevent the herpes from returning, they do make it hard for the virus to get a foothold anywhere else on the body.

Fever Blisters A small sore situated on the face or in the mouth that causes pain, burning, or itching before bursting and crusting over. The favorite locations are on the lips, chin or cheeks and in the nostrils. Less frequented sites are the gums or roof of the mouth. Fever blisters are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. It lies latent (dormant) in the body and is reawakened (reactivated) by factors such as stress, sunburn, or fever from a wide range of infectious diseases including colds. Recurrences are less common after age 35. Sunscreen (SPF 15 or more) on the lips prevents recurrences of herpes from sunburn. The virus is highly contagious when fever blisters are present. It is spread by kissing. Children become infected by contact with someone who has a fever blister and then they spread the virus by rubbing their cold sore and touching other children. A person with fever blisters should be careful not to touch the blisters and spread the virus to new sites, such as the eyes or genitals. There is no cure for fever blisters. Medications that can relieve some of the pain and discomfort include ointments that numb the blisters, antibiotics that control secondary bacterial infections, and ointments that soften the crests of the sores. Acyclovir, an antiviral drug, prevents the herpes simplex virus from multiplying and, in pill form, has been reported to reduce the symptoms and frequency of recurrence. Fever blisters have plagued people for thousands of years. In ancient Rome, an epidemic of fever blisters prompted Emperor Tiberius to ban kissing in public ceremonies. Today, fever blisters still occur in epidemic proportions. About 100 million episodes of recurrent fever blisters occur yearly in the United States alone. Fever blisters are also called cold sores, labial herpes (herpes labialis, in Latin) and febrile herpes (herpes febrilis, in Latin).

Herpes Treatment : Currently, there is no method to eliminate the herpes virus from its resting place in the nerve cells. Treatments are available, however, to help the infections heal faster and, if taken continually, to suppress most recurrences. OTC topical medications: Over-the-counter (OTC) topical products that state they are for herpes do absolutely nothing but make the skin tingle. These preparations have the effect of allowing the infection to heal in the same number of days as it would have done anyway. Topical anesthetics are sold that can be applied directly with a swab (often containing dyclonine or benzocaine, which are the local anesthetic agents). When large areas are affected by the herpes, a thick (viscous) preparation of the local anesthetic lidocaine is also available that can be used as a mouth rinse. However, swallowed lidocaine is hazardous because it anesthetizes (numbs) the inside of the mouth, the throat, and even the epiglottis (the cover to the windpipe). Children should probably not use such topical anesthetics for fear of aspiration (getting something they've swallowed down the wrong way into the lungs). Prescription-strength topical medications: Prescription- strength topical medicines (ones you put on the herpes sores) are not much more effective than OTC preparations. Patients who have a prodrome (a tingling or burning sensation which lets them know they are about to get a cold sore) can reduce the duration of their infection by applying acyclovir (Zovirax) ointment or one of its newer relatives, such as famciclovir (Famvir), valaciclovir (Valtrex), or penciclovir (Denavir). These medications are available only by prescription. (Their safety during pregnancy and nursing and their safety and efficacy for children under the age of 18 years have not been established.) Oral medications: Effective anti-herpes antibiotics include acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir), and valaciclovir (Valtrex). (Again, the safety of these drugs during pregnancy, nursing, and in children under the age of 18 years has not been established.) All of these anti-herpes antibiotics are remarkably easy to tolerate and are generally free of side effects. When taken early, preferably during a prodrome, these drugs can limit the duration of the infection to some extent. They are also useful in helping prevent or minimize recurrences when taken for extended periods. This method is helpful for patients who experience frequent recurrences, or who have a particular event or situation (such as a wedding, honeymoon, or vacation) at which an unsightly recurrence would be especially unwelcome. Lysine supplements: Although the amino acid lysine suppresses the growth of the herpes virus in laboratory test tubes, taking lysine pills by mouth has not proved effective. What works in the lab doesn't necessarily work in a person, and that is the case with lysine. Nevertheless, some people find this over-the-counter remedy helpful.