The forms of herpes most people would love to see a cure for are herpes simple virus (HSV) I and II. These cause cold sores on the face and blistering sores on the genitals. They are in fact very common, and at present there is no way to cure herpes of these types. The unfortunate fact about HSV I and II is that they remain in the body and reactivate from time to time causing uncomfortable flareups.
Despite the fact that there is no way to cure herpes, there are things that can treat it. The most common form of treatment can be a daily treatment or it may be administered during a flare. Medical recommendations may suggest using a daily treatment, especially if people have frequent virus outbreaks.
The most common medication used for this purpose is acyclovir, an anti-viral drug also known by the brand name Zovirax®. Sometimes, what people mean when they look for a way to cure herpes is that they want to cure an outbreak. Acyclovir can be used for this, and given during an outbreak to reduce the amount of time herpes lesions remain. Alternately, some folks benefit from taking it daily in oral form to reduce outbreaks. Some people will remain on it for several years, and others find that being on it for a year or less helps the body gradually adjust to the virus so fewer outbreaks occur.
The other advantage to taking medications like acyclovir, and there are a few other anti-viral medications that may also be tried, is it can reduce risk of spreading the disease. Most people know that herpes is very contagious and can be spread when an outbreak is present. Sometimes, it may be spread at any time, and those with the condition may shed virus at all times. This doesn’t appear to be true for all people, but it may be true for many of them.
Anti-viral medications, the purported way to “cure herpes,” may not always be necessary. Some people seem to be able to fight the virus very well, and they have few outbreaks after the initial one. Acyclovir or other drugs may clearly not be indicated when people rarely show expression of the disease. It’s not always clear why some people have more outbreaks than others, but there are a few things linked to outbreak frequency like high stress, other illnesses, and poor immune systems.
Finding a way to cure herpes is an important consideration in medical research. Currently, there is ongoing research on preventing herpes with a vaccine. It’s hoped these studies will ultimately lead to a way to cure herpes and to prevent infection.