Folk remedies, ointments, creams, oils for the treatment and prevention of herpes

A cold on the lips, the so-called herpes, is an immune disease that is familiar to everyone. An interesting fact is that more than 80% of the population is infected with herpes. The virus, once it enters the human body, never disappears; it seems to be introduced into the nerve cells, settling in them forever. But do not be afraid, because the infection may be present in the body, but its manifestation will be extremely rare. The frequency of rashes is considered to be 3-4 times per year. And special preparations in the form of tablets, ointments and creams help prevent relapse and quickly eliminate all unpleasant symptoms if they appear.

Below you can see the rating of the best herpes remedies.

There are contraindications. Consult your doctor.

The best ointments for herpes

The number of antiherpetic local drugs on the Russian pharmaceutical market causes a long and painful choice, so to facilitate this process (when self-prescribing a herpes remedy), you can use the table below. Prices are indicated for Moscow pharmacies. If you decide to use an online pharmacy, consider the cost of delivery.

Ointments, gels and creams based on acyclovir and its derivatives

Drugs containing an antiviral substance are considered the most effective against herpesvirus. They are able to eliminate acute manifestations of the pathological process and speed up recovery.

The most common and effective include:

• Acyclovir . A Russian-made ointment based on the substance of the same name. Used for blistering rashes on the lips, body and genitals. Apply 5-6 times a day. It is safe and can be used even for herpes on the lips of a child.
• Zovirax . Available in cream and ointment. The cream composition is used in the treatment of herpetic rashes on the body and mucous membranes, and the ointment is used in the eye area. The course of treatment lasts a week. Longer therapy leads to allergic reactions.
• Fenistil Pencivir cream . Based on acyclovir derivative. Stops the proliferation of the pathogen, alleviates the condition, promotes rapid healing of wounds. Apply to the problem area every two hours.
• Vivorax . Cream and ointment with acyclovir. It is applied to the affected areas 4-6 times a day from the very first symptoms of the disease.
• Herperax is an effective ointment for herpes on the lips, body and genitals. Also indicated for herpes zoster and chicken pox. Apply it 4-5 times a day in a thin layer for ten days.
• Herpferon is a combination ointment with interferon, acyclovir and lidocaine. Destroys viruses, relieves pain, strengthens the immune system, and also has an antiarrhythmic effect. Apply to lips, open areas of the body, mucous membranes of the mouth and nose, labia 5 times a day for 5-10 days.

Traditional recipes for ointments

Having the necessary ingredients on hand, you can prepare a natural, effective, cheap ointment or cream for herpes at home:

• Echinacea . Has antimicrobial and antiseptic effects. The herbal component will disinfect the source of inflammation, help heal the opened wound and relieve unpleasant symptoms. To make an ointment, honey and echinacea oil are mixed to obtain a consistency that can be effortlessly rubbed into the skin. Apply the medicine several times a day.
• Propolis . Has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Mix baby cream with propolis tincture and apply to areas damaged by infection 3-4 times a day.
• Calendula . This medicinal plant is famous for its pronounced antimicrobial properties. Decoctions, infusions, creams and ointments containing it relieve inflammation and irritation on the skin. To prepare a healing ointment, tincture with calendula is mixed with honey, Vaseline or baby cream. Apply to wounds 4-5 times a day for 7 days.
• Aloe . This is an excellent antiseptic that suppresses the inflammatory process. The fleshy leaf of the plant is squeezed into a cream and a couple of drops of jojoba oil are added to the resulting composition. Rub into the sore spot several times a day.
• Essential oils . They are natural antiseptics, relieve irritation, dry the wound, and have a mild antimicrobial effect. Sage, sea buckthorn or fir oil is mixed with a cream base. The resulting composition is used to treat the affected areas every two hours.

It is better to use folk remedies in conjunction with pharmaceutical drugs, which will significantly speed up recovery.

Ointments with healing properties

Such compositions help heal ulcers in the lip area:

• Dexpanthenol is an ointment for herpes with wound healing properties. Apply it 2-4 times a day in a thin layer. It has no side effects and is well tolerated in infancy.
• Panthenol is an ointment for herpes and skin wounds with drying properties and restoring the integrity of the skin. Allowed for use by infants, pregnant and lactating women.
• Bepanthen cream . It can also be used to smear herpes to speed up the healing of ulcers left after the blisters burst.
• Solcoseryl. Another healing ointment that is recommended for use after herpes in the final stages of recovery. It does not affect viruses, but it promotes the rapid healing of opened blisters, drying of weeping wounds, and also prevents the formation of scars that appear after a “cold” on the lips and face.

Ointments based on herbal substances

When choosing the most effective means for treatment, you can pay attention to herpes cream/ointment with herbal ingredients. They have a gentle effect on the problem area and significantly improve the person’s condition.

Such means include:

• Myrtoplex is a good ointment for herpes with myrtle essence. It has antiviral and antibacterial properties, as a result of which it prevents the addition of a secondary infection. Apply to the skin 3-5 times/day for ten days. The drug is approved for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Alpizarin is an ointment for “colds” on the skin and mucous membranes, which has a complex effect. Also used for lichen planus, warts, and condylomas. Based on plant extracts that can inhibit viral infection. Apply 4-6 times/day.

Quite effective preparations with herbal ingredients include Panavir gel, Giporamin ointment, Helepin-D. The duration of treatment with these drugs is 6-7 days.

Zovirax and the acyclovir it contains

Zovirax is one of the most common medications against herpes. It is considered the best remedy in the fight against the virus. Available in the form of an ointment, tablets or injections. Suitable for children over 12 years old and adults.

The cream is applied once every 4 hours throughout the day and always at night, the minimum course of treatment is 4 days. It has no side effects, except for individual intolerance to one of the components of the drug. When applied, a slight pain and burning sensation may be felt, which quickly passes. Additionally, the skin around the lips may peel, itching and redness will be felt. In rare cases, contact dermatitis (allergic reaction) or hypersensitivity may occur when using Zovirax. Your doctor will tell you whether it can be used during lactation or pregnancy.

The active ingredient in the ointment against herpes is acyclovir (available as an independent drug). Destroys the herpes virus, preventing the appearance of new rashes. It dries out the disease faster, forming crusts, and in severe cases it reduces pain. Additionally strengthens the immune system, which is especially useful for people who have problems with the body's defenses. Whether the drug can be used to treat children should be checked with a pediatrician.

Acyclovir saturates the cytoplasm of infected cells, preventing further replication of the virus. At the same time, healthy cells remain unaffected due to the absence of thymidine kinase (an enzyme found in many living cells and involved in the process of cell division). For herpes, ointments based on acyclovir will be most effective if the virus has not spread to deeper areas. The disadvantage of Acyclovir is that in most cases it only affects the disease that appeared for the first time; with secondary use, its effect may not be as effective. It is not recommended to drink alcohol during treatment as it may slow down the healing process.

conclusions

Herpetic infection, like any other disease, requires an integrated approach for effective treatment. If there are frequent relapses, the doctor may prescribe general antiviral drugs to suppress the activity of the virus in the body. The simultaneous use of Viferon suppositories and gel or ointment in the treatment of herpes can reduce the number of relapses1. External antiviral drugs also play an important role in improving the quality of life and raising the patient’s local immunity. In addition, external and local forms (gel, ointment) act directly at the site of infection, and systemic forms affect the immune system as a whole. Timely and correct use of external agents makes life much easier. However, we should not forget about other measures that will help prolong remission: maintaining a daily routine, regular walks in the fresh air, a healthy diet and giving up bad habits.

Author of the article

Belyaev Dmitry Alexandrovich

General doctor

1. Haldin A.A., Chistik O.V., “New aspects in the treatment of herpes simplex”, Dermatology, 2009

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