3 ways you can prevent and manage herpes

Herpes, besides being painful, is also extremely contagious. These strategies can keep it under control and help you stay safe.

• If your partner has herpes blisters around the mouth or genitals, avoid skin-to-skin contact.
• An estimated 60 percent of adults harbour the herpes virus. At least one in five never have symptoms but could be contagious anyway.
• Tiny viral particles can migrate to the skin's surface without causing an outbreak. This makes it possible to pass the virus around even when no one can see it.
• Always use a condom during intercourse. But condoms won't always prevent spread of the virus. They don't cover all the areas that are infected or could become infected.
• The safest way to avoid genital herpes is to abstain from sex. However, testing is available.
• You and your sexual partner should have regular tests for STIs in general, not just for herpes.

• Valacyclovir, acyclovir and famciclovir are prescription drugs that can short-circuit a cold sore. They also dramatically reduce genital herpes outbreaks and viral shedding.
• In one study, 71 percent of those with herpes who took valacyclovir every day for six months had no more outbreaks, compared to just 43 percent of those who took a placebo.
• Daily use can also reduce viral shedding by 94 percent, helping to keep partners infection-free.
• In cold sore studies, antivirals healed outbreaks in three days, compared to 4.3 days for placebo pills, and reduced the number of blisters by 50 percent.
• You can take these in advance to prevent cold sores, too.
• Be aware that many doctors don't recommend antiviral creams for genital herpes.
• In some studies, the creams have proven no more effective than a placebo cream for clearing up blisters.

• Experts aren't sure why, but letting yourself get rundown increases blister risk, perhaps due to stress, lowered immunity or both.
• In one survey of nearly 500 medical professionals, 60 percent said their patients complained that emotional upheaval was sure to bring on unwanted blisters.
• In another study, men who made time for daily relaxation had lower levels of antibodies associated with herpes.
• When your life is tense, make an extra effort to turn in earlier, to order the salad at the fast-food drive-through — simply to pamper yourself so you don't feel worn out.

Once you've been infected, the herpes virus lives in your skin cells or nerve cells. And while there isn't any cure, you can take steps to avoid infection, and decrease how many outbreaks you have.