You Are Not Alone:
Even though it may not feel like it, you are not alone. Herpes is more common than most people think. Here are just some statistics to help put it all in perspective.
• Genital herpes is now twice as common with ages 20-29 than it was 20 years ago.
• At least 25% of Americans will contract at least one STD some time in their lives.
• Approximately only 80% of Americans affected with Herpes don’t even realize that they have it.
• Every single year, it is estimated that between 500,000 to 1,000,000 people get new herpes infections.
Dealing With Outbreaks:
The truth of the matter is that you are going to get outbreaks. But the trick is figuring out what triggers those outbreaks so that you can better avoid them. Here are some common causes of outbreaks:
• Stress: Just everyday stress can cause your body to have an outbreak. When you are stressed, your body’s defenses weaken and allow the herpes to present itself again. If you feel yourself getting stressed, take some time to relax, calm down, and fight the outbreak. Go for a walk, take a nap, and don’t let everything stress you out. Basically, just choose your battles. It isn’t worth it to get upset over every little thing and have to be miserable during a herpes breakout.
• Diet: This is different for every person. Some people have reported to having more frequent breakouts after eating chocolate, nuts, caffeine, and rice. Because this is different for every person, it is going to have to be experimental. As soon as you notice an outbreak, see if you can track it to a certain food. And then, of course, avoid that food.
• Fatigue: Just like the stresses of life, not getting enough sleep can cause breakouts. With a lack of sleep, you body is stressed out. And as mentioned before, stress weakens our natural defenses that fight off sickness and infections. The moral of this story is: get plenty of sleep and let your body recuperate.
• Clothing: Tighter clothing can irritate the skin which can cause an outbreak. Especially if you feel an outbreak coming on, wear loser clothing and non-restricting underwear. 100% cotton is said to be the best bet for those wary of herpes outbreaks. If you are experiencing an outbreak, make sure to change your clothes multiple times a day. You want to keep it as clean as possible as not to irritate the skin any more than it already is irritated.
• Sun Exposure: Excessive sun and UV exposure can re-activate herpes, including oral herpes, infections. Someone with intense or moderate herpes should also avoid tanning booths or at least make sure you are covered in the right areas so the skin doesn’t get irritated. With oral herpes, use lots of sunscreen to keep the skin unscathed by UV rays.
Romantic Life:
Although herpes is going to be a constant worry, there are ways to lead a normal life. One major problem that many of the H community run into is their dating life. This can be tricky because of the fear of rejection from those who either do not have herpes or don’t understand it. But there are ways to have normal relationships. Emerging on the web are online dating sites for singles with herpes.
• Sunshine Dates
• H-Date
• Prescription 4 Love
Even though it may not feel like it, you are not alone. Herpes is more common than most people think. Here are just some statistics to help put it all in perspective.
• Genital herpes is now twice as common with ages 20-29 than it was 20 years ago.
• At least 25% of Americans will contract at least one STD some time in their lives.
• Approximately only 80% of Americans affected with Herpes don’t even realize that they have it.
• Every single year, it is estimated that between 500,000 to 1,000,000 people get new herpes infections.
Dealing With Outbreaks:
The truth of the matter is that you are going to get outbreaks. But the trick is figuring out what triggers those outbreaks so that you can better avoid them. Here are some common causes of outbreaks:
• Stress: Just everyday stress can cause your body to have an outbreak. When you are stressed, your body’s defenses weaken and allow the herpes to present itself again. If you feel yourself getting stressed, take some time to relax, calm down, and fight the outbreak. Go for a walk, take a nap, and don’t let everything stress you out. Basically, just choose your battles. It isn’t worth it to get upset over every little thing and have to be miserable during a herpes breakout.
• Diet: This is different for every person. Some people have reported to having more frequent breakouts after eating chocolate, nuts, caffeine, and rice. Because this is different for every person, it is going to have to be experimental. As soon as you notice an outbreak, see if you can track it to a certain food. And then, of course, avoid that food.
• Fatigue: Just like the stresses of life, not getting enough sleep can cause breakouts. With a lack of sleep, you body is stressed out. And as mentioned before, stress weakens our natural defenses that fight off sickness and infections. The moral of this story is: get plenty of sleep and let your body recuperate.
• Clothing: Tighter clothing can irritate the skin which can cause an outbreak. Especially if you feel an outbreak coming on, wear loser clothing and non-restricting underwear. 100% cotton is said to be the best bet for those wary of herpes outbreaks. If you are experiencing an outbreak, make sure to change your clothes multiple times a day. You want to keep it as clean as possible as not to irritate the skin any more than it already is irritated.
• Sun Exposure: Excessive sun and UV exposure can re-activate herpes, including oral herpes, infections. Someone with intense or moderate herpes should also avoid tanning booths or at least make sure you are covered in the right areas so the skin doesn’t get irritated. With oral herpes, use lots of sunscreen to keep the skin unscathed by UV rays.
Romantic Life:
Although herpes is going to be a constant worry, there are ways to lead a normal life. One major problem that many of the H community run into is their dating life. This can be tricky because of the fear of rejection from those who either do not have herpes or don’t understand it. But there are ways to have normal relationships. Emerging on the web are online dating sites for singles with herpes.
• Sunshine Dates
• H-Date
• Prescription 4 Love
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