Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDermatological ProceduresHome RemediesPreventing Scars
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dermatological Procedures
Home Remedies
Preventing Scars
Though mostgenital herpessores do not cause scarring, it can still happen to some individuals if their herpes sores break open. There are options for reducing the appearance of these scars.
This article will discuss treatment options for genital herpes scars, including dermatology treatments, home remedies, and preventing outbreaks that can result in scars.
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If scars form, dermatological procedures can help diminish the appearance of genital herpes scarring. These include:
Talk to a healthcare provider to see if these options may be right for you.
Herpes Causes
Home Remedies and Lifestyle
Currently, there is little research to support the effectiveness of home remedies for scar treatment. However, the following options may be helpful:
Do a Patch Test FirstAlways do a home patch test prior to applying any skin caretreatment to ensure you are not sensitive or allergic to the product or its ingredients (such as fragrance or pigment).To do this, place a small amount (no more than the size of a pea) of the treatment on an intact small patch of skin. Watch the area for 24 hours for signs of redness or itchiness, which would indicate you are sensitive to the product.
Do a Patch Test First
Always do a home patch test prior to applying any skin caretreatment to ensure you are not sensitive or allergic to the product or its ingredients (such as fragrance or pigment).To do this, place a small amount (no more than the size of a pea) of the treatment on an intact small patch of skin. Watch the area for 24 hours for signs of redness or itchiness, which would indicate you are sensitive to the product.
Always do a home patch test prior to applying any skin caretreatment to ensure you are not sensitive or allergic to the product or its ingredients (such as fragrance or pigment).
To do this, place a small amount (no more than the size of a pea) of the treatment on an intact small patch of skin. Watch the area for 24 hours for signs of redness or itchiness, which would indicate you are sensitive to the product.
Preventing OutbreaksPreventing outbreaks from occurring can lower the risk of developing scars. Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to prevent herpes outbreaks. If you have frequent genital herpes outbreaks, they might recommend you take the antiviral medications famciclovir, Valtrex (valacyclovir), and Zovirax (acyclovir) daily to lower the risk of an outbreak.
Preventing Outbreaks
Preventing outbreaks from occurring can lower the risk of developing scars. Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to prevent herpes outbreaks. If you have frequent genital herpes outbreaks, they might recommend you take the antiviral medications famciclovir, Valtrex (valacyclovir), and Zovirax (acyclovir) daily to lower the risk of an outbreak.
Summary
Genital herpes has no cure, but you can manage it effectively through proper treatment and self-care. During an outbreak, you may be concerned about potential scarring from the sores.
Most herpes sores do not cause scarring. Scarring usually only occurs if the sores happen to break open, become infected, and then don’t heal correctly.
Dermatological treatments to reduce scars include laser treatment and microdermabrasion. Home remedies such as vitamin E have not proved helpful. Taking proper care of active herpes outbreaks is vital to healing sores and preventing scarring.
If you experience scarring after a herpes outbreak, talk to your healthcare provider about your options to reduce their appearance.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Keen MA, Hassan I.Vitamin E in dermatology.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(4):311-315. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.185494Nair VV, John JR, Sharma RK.A prospective randomized comparative study of facial scar modulation using topical silicone gel versus coconut oil.Nigerian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2020;16(2):51-60. doi:10.4103/njps.njps_12_19MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self-care.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Keen MA, Hassan I.Vitamin E in dermatology.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(4):311-315. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.185494Nair VV, John JR, Sharma RK.A prospective randomized comparative study of facial scar modulation using topical silicone gel versus coconut oil.Nigerian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2020;16(2):51-60. doi:10.4103/njps.njps_12_19MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self-care.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Keen MA, Hassan I.Vitamin E in dermatology.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(4):311-315. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.185494Nair VV, John JR, Sharma RK.A prospective randomized comparative study of facial scar modulation using topical silicone gel versus coconut oil.Nigerian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2020;16(2):51-60. doi:10.4103/njps.njps_12_19MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self-care.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.
Keen MA, Hassan I.Vitamin E in dermatology.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2016;7(4):311-315. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.185494
Nair VV, John JR, Sharma RK.A prospective randomized comparative study of facial scar modulation using topical silicone gel versus coconut oil.Nigerian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2020;16(2):51-60. doi:10.4103/njps.njps_12_19
MedlinePlus.Genital herpes - self-care.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.
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