Genital herpes affects many of us. All of us want to protect ourselves. The problem is the anxiety about getting genital herpes if the partner shows no signs, but is a carrier? What if he/she had contacted cold sores in the childhood? Will you get genital herpes? Let us find out.

Genital herpes- basics

Here are few basics about genital herpes. It can be caused by virus type 1 that causes cold sores. Most of the carriers are in a phase when they show no outward sign but shed the virus (asymptomatic phase). After contacting herpes, you will become infected but may show no symptoms for years. Unfortunately you may suspect a different partner when you get the eruption. The earlier one that gave you herpes is only in the memory. Many of us believe that genital herpes is only caused by virus type2. This is not true. Let me put it like this. If you have genital herpes, it is difficult for your partner to get cold sores. But if you have cold sores, your partner can easily get genital herpes.

Genital herpes- about the habit of the virus

The herpes virus behaves in a typical manner. as soon as you contact herpes, the virus begins multiplying. You may get a severe eruption of herpes or a very mild. After treatment the virus goes to sleep. Because of certain reasons, the virus goes back to the skin. The trigger may be- stress, illness, lowered immunity etc. After going back to the skin, the virus erupts again and shows herpes on the skin. It gets treated again and goes back to sleep to return after some time.

Even if your partner shows no signs of herpes, if he/she is an active carrier of cold sores or virus type2, you may get infected. Only screening will tell you about the status of your partner. Please protect yourself from genital herpes.

TThis article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

CD Mohatta

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

DoctorGoodSkin.com is an online skin care guide where you can find a lot of information, articles and tips about skin diseases and conditions, skin treatments and procedures, skin care, skin care products, etc. You will also find information about hair and nails. A unique feature of this portal is the skin and health quizzes, by which you can test your knowledge about various skin, hair and nail conditions. The most popular topics on the site include acne, hair removal, skin cancers, sweating, surgical procedures, aging, dandruff, etc.

Additional Reading:

Cold Sore Freedom in 3 days by Grace Melgarejo

Stop Herpes Now and From Coming Back For Good by Dr David Hoggs

Positive Single – Support site for herpes members.

Let’s look at the 8 distinct cold sore stages, and what you can do now to lessen the severity, discomfort and length of your cold sore event.

Cold sore stages 2-8 are the active stages and are very contagious during this time. Usually 3 to 4 weeks is the average life-span of a cold sore. Much depends on your health and choice of treatments for each of your cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: #1 – LATENT - Here the cold sore herpes simplex virus is hiding in the nerve ganglia near the back of the jaw on the same side as your cold sore usually appears. The cold sore virus may “sleep” for weeks or years without incident. Your body’s defense “soldiers” keep them in check. When there is stress in another part of your body, your defenses may drop at this location. Then the cold sore virus can escape and travel to the surface to reproduce – beginning the active cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 2 – PRODROME - The cold sore virus reproductive cycle begins here. The cold sore virus travels down your nerve fibers to the surface. This movement causes your cold sore target area to itch or tingle. You may notice a burning or dryness sensation. This stage could last a few hours to a few days before entering the more intense cold sore stages.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 3 – INFLAMMATION Your cold sore virus has now arrived at the surface and begins it’s reproductive cycle by entering the cells at the end of the nerve. This causes a lot of swelling and redness at the cold sore site as your cells react to being invaded by the herpes cold sore virus .

COLD SORE STAGES: # 4 – PRE-SORE – Cold sores at this stage are defined by the appearance of cold sore vesicles. A full blown cold sore is not one big blister but a grouping of small blisters called vesicles. You will notice these vesicles as tiny, hard pimples or red bumps that are painfully sensitive to the touch.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 5 – OPEN SORE - Your most painful and contagious of the cold sore stages. All the vesicles break open and merge to create one big open, weeping sore. Depending on the severity, you may develop a fever and swollen lymph glands under the jaw.

The weeping fluid is teaming with newly born cold sore viruses. Touching this fluid, you could easily spread the cold sore virus to another part of your own body or to someone else – either by direct touch or shared objects such as hand towels, telephones, and faucets.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 6 – CRUSTING – A cold sore will develop a yellowish crust or scab as it begins to finally start the healing process. Your cold sore is still painful at this stage. More painful, however, is the constant cracking of your cold sore scab when you move or stretch your lips, as in smiling.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 7- HEALING – Cold sores, once scabbed over, begin healing from the inside out. As new skin forms under the crust, you will experience continued itching, irritation and some pain. Your cold sore virus is now retreating back to the nerve ganglia area where it will sleep until the next opportunity.

COLD SORE STAGES: # 8 – POST SCAB – Cold sores at this stage no longer have a visible cold sore scab and your skin has totally healed. Under your new skin, healing is still taking place as the destroyed cells are regenerated. This produces a red spot that may linger for another 2 to 14 days – depending on your personal healing speed. You are still contagious until this red spot disappears. This waiting is the most frustrating of the cold sore stages.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW -

Cold sore over-the-counter medications, experts agree, are primarily comfort treatments for the cold sore stages. Some contain numbing agents that greatly reduce your pain. Some cold sore medications contain an anti-bacterial to prevent secondary infections. None of these cold sore medications have been shown to actually shorten the life-span of any of your cold sore stages.

Medical science has been working feverishly on a cure for the herpes virus but have not, as yet, had any real success in developing an effective cold sore remedy. Prescription anti-virals, both the oral versions and the topical salves, have been a dismal failure for the most part. Vaccines are being tested but are 3-4 years out yet. New breakthroughs could be just around the corner however.

But you don’t need to wait!

More and more doctors now agree. There are times when natural science just seems to be the best choice. Often our ONLY choice. This is certainly true – right now – for herpes cold sores.

Data studies have shown natural science remedies can reduce the cold sore events by as much as 79%.

Yes! And, in fact, actually prevent your cold sores from taking place altogether.

The great news – these remedies are available to you today.

If you are a cold sore victim, you would be well advised to look into these powerful natural remedies without delay for shortening or preventing your cold sores.

by Denny Bodoh

Copyright 2005 drbodoh .Denny Bodoh is a newspaper publisher and 33 year veteran research writer on alternative health and nutrition. If you would like to know more about herpes and cold sores, and what you can do about them, visit his popular site at: http://www.be-cold-sore-free.com

Additional Reading:

Cold Sore Freedom in 3 days by Grace Melgarejo

Simply put, herpes is a form of STD. There are generally two type of herpes - genital herpes and oral herpes. Genital herpes occur around the genital area while oral herpes appear around the mouth or face. However, it is important to note that the herpes outbreak can occur anywhere on the body.

Usually the first outbreak after infection is the most severe. There will be blisters filled with fluid either on the face, genital or anus. These blisters should crust and dry without any scar. The outbreak might be accompanied by other symptoms like fever. Usually, the first episode is the most severe. But there are cases where the symptoms are so mild that the patient is not even aware that they have contracted an STD.

The herpes outbreak can recur from time to time and the probability of transmitting it to another person is highest during these periods. But herpes can be transmitted even when no sores are seen. If you suspect you are suffering from herpes, you should seek medical advice.

Herpes is caused by the Herpes Simple Virus and there are two variants: HSV-1 and the HSV-2 viruses.

HSV-1 is generally associated with oral herpes, or more commonly known as cold sores. The HSV-2 virus is generally associated with genital herpes.

There is a common misconception that HSV-1 is the “good” virus, while HSV-2 is the “bad” virus. The reason for this is the fact that cold sores are some how, more socially acceptable than the outbreak of genital herpes.

But the reality is that both of these viruses are very similar. They both transmit through sexual contact and that can be by oral sex or penetrative sex. Both types of virus attacks the body’s mucosal surfaces, and usually the face or the genitals, then they become dormant but continue to be found in the body.

The HSV-1 virus normally establishes its “base” around the nerve cells near the ear, while the HSV-2 virus some how prefers to establish itself near the base of the spine.

This is the reason HSV-1 outbreaks are normally around the lower lip or face and the HSV-2 outbreaks are around the genital areas. But both viruses are essential the same. In terms of severity of infection and risk of infection, there is little to differentiate them.

There is no cure for herpes. However, outbreaks can be controlled by anti-viral creams and medication. While others prefer to turn to holistic treatments and herbal remedies as they believe these are non-invasive approaches.

All told, the herpes infection is much more of a social problem than it is a medical problem. Most outbreaks can be treated and in many cases, the effects are mild. But the social stigma of having contacted an STD like herpes can devastate social and family life. If you are a woman sufferer, and you don’t want your health condition to jeopardize your chances to start a family, go talk to a medical practitioner now. With early treatment, there is still a chance to deliver a strong baby. Even with herpes, life is still worth cherishing

Additional Reading: Stop Herpes Now & From Coming Back for Good by Dr David Hogg