Herpes NYC Treatment Center
Opened 7 Days a Week in New York, NY
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). Most genital herpes is caused by HSV-2. Generally, a person can only get HSV-2 infection during sexual contact with someone who has a genital HSV-2 infection. HSV-1 can cause genital herpes, but it more commonly causes infections of the mouth and lips, so-called fever blisters. Genital HSV-1 outbreaks recur less regularly than genital HSV-2 outbreaks.
What are the signs and symptoms of genital herpes? People diagnosed with a first episode of genital herpes can expect to have several (typically four or five) outbreaks (symptomatic recurrences) within a year. Genital herpes can cause recurrent painful genital sores in many adults, and herpes infection can be severe in people with suppressed immune systems. Fortunately, infection of a baby from a woman with herpes infection is rare. A positive HSV-2 blood test most likely indicates a genital herpes infection.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a virus that is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. There are two types of Herpes simplex viruses. HSV-1 usually affects the lips, and is often referred to as a fever blister, cold sore, or sun sore. It should not be confused with aphthous ulcers, which are small, white, tender ulcers, which affect the inside of the mouth.
The herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the virus most frequently associated with gential herpes. It affects over 45 million people in the United States. HSV-2 usually affects the genital areas (the penis and the vagina.) Most (80%) HSV-2 positive people have some symptoms of the disease. However, only 20% of patients have the classical symptoms of genital blisters and burning.
Most patients (60%) have unrecognized symptoms, which they think of as yeast infections, jock itch, or irritation. Some patients (20%) have no symptoms of the virus at all. These people are called "asymptomatic shedders." Even if patients have no recognizable symptoms, they are still capable of spreading the disease to others. In fact, most HSV-2 appears to be transmitted from infected, but undiagnosed persons, or infected persons without any symptoms, who do not realize they are contagious.
Most cases of oral herpes are due to HSV-1, and most cases of genital herpes are due to HSV-2. But as oral sex has become more common, there are cases of HSV-1 that occur genitally, and HSV-2 that occur orally. However, 85-95% of recurrent genital herpes infections are HSV-2, and over 95% of HSV-2 infections occur genitally.
Diagnostic Laboratory Tests
There are four ways to diagnose HSV using laboratory techniques. The first is called a Tzanck Preparation, in which the roof of an intact blister is scraped, stained, and examined under the microscope for multinucleated cells
Although the results are available immediately, many patients do not have intact blisters, and the test itself cannot distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2.
The second test is to culture the fluid from an intact blister. The culture is sent to a laboratory, and after a few days, the results are available. However, the reliability of this test suffers also, because most patients do not have intact blisters.
The third test is called the POCkit HSV-2 Rapid Test. This ten-minute test, which needs only six drops of blood, works by detecting the presence of HSV-2 antibodies. Half the patients will develop detectable antibodies within two weeks of being exposed to herpes, and 80% will develop antibodies within one month. The POCkit test will not detect HSV-1 (cold sore) infections. Since HSV-2 infections can occur both orally and genitally, the test cannot identify the site of HSV-2 infections. But for most people, the benefits of having immediate results, make this test very popular.
The fourth test is a blood test. This is not an immediate test, and may take more than one week to obtain the results. Unlike any of the other tests, this blood test can distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2. This is important, because 70% of the population has had at least one fever blister, and is HSV-1 positive. This test can also distinguish between primary herpes (first episode) and recurrent herpes. By measuring IgM (which tests if herpes is currently present), and IgG (which tests if herpes has ever occured in the patient's life), this test can distinguish between primary and recurrent infections for both HSV-1 and HSV-2, whether a blister is present or not.
Treatment
Zovirax,Valtrex and Famvir are oral medications that have proven to be the most effective in treating HSV outbreaks. If the patient has frequent outbreaks (greater than once every three months), the patient is treated "suppressively", and given medication every day.
If the patient has infrequent outbreaks, the treatment is "episodic", and is started as soon as the patient develops any symptom.
Denivir is a topical medication that helps; but when used alone, it is not as effective as any of the oral medications.
What are cold sores and canker sores? Cold sores and canker sores are oral lesions that can cause pain and discomfort. Cold sores, also known as fever blisters, are painful, fluid-filled blisters that often appear in clusters and are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Canker sores are shallow ulcers in the mouth that can make eating and talking uncomfortable.
How are cold sores and canker sores treated? Both cold sores and canker sores go away on their own and the pain generally lessens within a few days.
Cold sores and canker sores can be treated with ointments, creams, rinses, and sometimes pills. These types of treatment can reduce healing time by one or two days and can lessen the uncomfortable symptoms.
If you notice the signs of a cold sore, such as a tingling, itching, or painful feeling around your mouth and lips, schedule an appointment for a laser treatment as soon as possible.
By catching the cold sore early, laser treatment can prevent it from breaking out. If you already have a cold sore, laser treatment will help the sore heal much faster and will reduce the discomfort.
While the herpes simplex virus cannot be cured, repeated laser therapy can prevent future cold sore outbreaks. Low level laser therapy can also lessen the pain from a canker sore and promote faster healing.
What are the benefits of using a laser to treat cold sores and canker sores?
Laser therapy stops the progression of the lesion
Cold sores and canker sores heal faster without further discomfort
Pain relief is immediate
Cold sores can be prevented if treated once the lips begin to tingle or itch
Laser energy destroys the virus that causes cold sores
Laser treatment takes just a few minutes and can be performed without anesthesia
Cold sores and canker sores reoccur with less intensity and frequency at the same location after laser treatment
If you suffer from pain and discomfort caused by cold sores or canker sores, we encourage you to call our office today to learn more about laser therapy and our other treatments!
New York Dermatology by Board Certified Dermatologist Dr. Gary Rothfeld is a board certified NYC Dermatologist with a New York City office in Manhattan, New York providing expert skin care, dermatology, and cosmetic dermatology services. A Park Avenue practice with an international reputation in general, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology.
Dr Gary sees every patient himself and believes in personalized care. The Doctor does not employ any physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or other physician substitutes to do his treatment. He sees every patient himself at every visit.
A significant percentage of my Dermatology Conditions are diagnosed on listening to medical history of the patient alone, a further percentage on examination and the remainder on further investigation and my patients teach me the rest. It is clear to me that history and examination skills remain at the very core of my dermatology practice. Older Dermatologists like myself rely on history and physical to a greater degree than the younger dermatologists. I think that the pendulum has swung too far towards all these cosmetic procedures where the younger dermatologists are just doing cosmetic procedures and not listening to their patients. This is an important point because if the Dermatologist does not spend enough time with the patient the cosmetic procedures will not work.
New York Dermatology serves the following neighborhoods within New York (NY), which are in close proximity to our office:
Upper East Side Dermatology, Fifth Avenue Dermatology, Park Avenue Dermatology, Madison Avenue Dermatology, Upper West Side Dermatology, Midtown Dermatology, Lower East Side Dermatology,Chelsea Dermatology, Gramercy Park Dermatology, Murray Hill Dermatology, Greenwich Village Dermatology, East Village Dermatology, West Village Dermatology, Soho Dermatology, Tribeca Dermatology, Meatpacking District Dermatology, Sutton Place Dermatology, Wall Street Dermatology, Hells Kitchen Dermatology, and the boroughs of Brooklyn Dermatology , Bronx Dermatology, Queens Dermatology and Staten Island Dermatology.Dr. Gary Rothfeld is recognized as one of the best Dermatologist in New York, NY, Manhattan, NYC, New York City and the nation by the entertainment industry in the United States of America. At New York Dermatology headed by board certified Dermatologist Dr. Rothfeld, sees patients 7 days a week including Saturday and Sunday.
We accept all credit cards as well as debit cards for payment of services.
Open 7 Days A Week — Se Habla Español
New York Dermatology
Board Certified Dermatologist
212.644.6454
