If you have herpes then you know that one of the most unpleasant symptoms is getting sores. Herpes sores can be very painful for weeks at a time, and even secrete pus.

The sores can crust over, leaving you with a very unattractive area. There are two kinds of sores, those from herpes type 1 and those from herpes type 2.

Since herpes sores are so undesirable, many people want to know what to do about them. There are different treatments for the two different kinds of herpes.

First you should understand that HSV-1 is more commonly known as cold sores, while HSV-2 is more commonly known as genital herpes.

It is surprising that most people actual have HSV-1, even if they never develop herpes sores on their mouth. These look a bit like a pimple that’s on your mouth. They are usually manageable, and go away fairly quickly when compared to HSV-2.

The best thing you can do for a cold sore is to make sure you do not kiss anyone or share a drink at the time of outbreak. You are most likely to spread herpes to others when sores are visible.

There are over the counter products that can help you. One of the most well known is called Abreva. This medication lessens the duration and severity of your cold sore.

Of course, sores in the genital region are a lot more devastating than those on your mouth. The sores “down below” are often very painful.

There may be quite a bit of them, covering most of your genital area. They may pus and ooze, making it embarrassing to even think about.

You have to be a lot more careful when you have HSV-2. Sexual relationships during an outbreak are an absolute no-no, and you’ll have to take extra special precaution even when you’re sore free.

There is a relatively new drug on the market called Famvir. It has actually been FDA approved for use on both genital herpes and cold sores. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

Still, this is not a cure for herpes sores. There is not known cure yet. The best you can do is maintain and manage your outbreaks with medicine that is provided by your doctor.

Always be sure to avoid contact with other people during an outbreak. Sores from herpes can be very embarrassing, but if you’ve caught the virus they are simply a fact of life.