Phoenix, AZ, is home to Aury Health, a leading dermatology practice led by two skilled and experienced nurse practitioners, Alice Xiao Arellano and Punam Bhakta. Alice Xiao Arellano and Punam Bhakta are board-certified family nurse practitioners whose training in specialized dermatology surpasses your expectations of excellence in comprehensive skin care.

Explaining this Virus

This virus has two types:

• HSV-1 and oral, which can cause genital herpes.
• HSV-2, genital, creates genital sores, which are considered a sexually transmitted infection, or STI.

Aury Health in Phoenix, AZ, explains that herpes outbreaks may affect the genital area or around the mouth. Once you contract this virus, there is no cure; only management options are available.

Both types may display similar symptoms. 

• Painful blisters around the mouth, lips, and under the nose
• Blisters break, turn into sores, and crust over
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes

Your body signals an outbreak with burning, tingling, or itching at the site of sores. Genital virus may or may not present symptoms, including the following lasting four to six weeks.

• Fever
• Body aches
• Malaise
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Genital, buttocks, upper thigh, and anal blisters
• Single or clusters of sores/blisters
• Genital itching/pain

Risk Factors for Developing this Virus

Suppose you have a weakened immune system, antibody deficiencies, condomless sex, kissing, touching, sex with an infected person, sharing of products such as toothbrushes, glass/cup straws, lip balm, makeup, skin-skin, contact, and more. In that case, this virus could spread to you. 

If you know the person has this, antiviral medication helps keep this virus at bay; adequate sleep, nutritious meals, stress management, protected sex, and skin sun protection decrease risk factors.

Treatment

Treatment options are long-term approaches toward decreasing outbreaks. Treatment options help to decrease the effects of symptoms. Treatments could include,

• Antiviral medications
• Topical antivirals
• Excellent hygiene practices
• OTC topical agents
• OTC pain medications
• Wear loose-fitting clothing
• Not covering sores
• Not using medically approved treatment

If you have symptoms from a previously diagnosed genital herpes or oral herpes outbreak, book a photo or video consultation with our Aury Health providers at Aury Health in Phoenix, AZ.