herpes and steroids cream

[shabbyricky01]

My quick question ... has anyone tried using topical steroids to help treat herpe .does it help any ?? everytime i used topicort on my lesions ,they disapear in couple of days .
Regards

[gracefromHHP]

really, no reason for more blood testing for herpes. be seen every single time you have symptoms for proper evaluation.

[shabbyricky01]

I finally got tested again after having symptoms x 6 months , recurrent  open anal sores uncontrollable vulvar itching and cuts in genital area . I tried stdtestexpress  this time and got tested at labcorp again ,not sure what type of test they did but this time instead of getting any numbers like <0.9 I go negative on both . will stop at the lab to get my result today .. any thoughts what type of test is that .. I may need western blot right ??

[KAMYN]

I was diagnosed with hsv2 in 2007. Took valtrex for years, almost 100% complete remission. I started taking the generic last June. Since taking the generic, i have had a few typical obs in the last yr. In Feb of this yr, I started having symptoms of an what i thought was an ob for months and months without relief. I take a gram of valacyclovir daily and even doubling the dose for week straight didnt seem to help what was going on. The skin just wouldn't heal. Went to a doctor who evaluated my labia, vulva and anal areas. He seemed confident that what I was experiencing wasn't a recurrence of herpes at all, he diagnosed me lichen sclerosus. He put me on a strong topical steroid and within a week, I'm almost 90% healed. Anytime anything abnormal is going on down there, I always assume it is related to herpes. Herpes will not take months to heal, something else could be going on....like in my case, Lichen Sclerosus, which is auto immune disorder affecting the genital area of women and men.  Just my 2 cents, get it looked at when you have symptoms that won't go away in a week, 2 max. Hope this helps!

[pooh1752]

Have they done a biopsy to test the skin. I had an issue and came back negative for all stds but positive for lichen schlerosis. They have clobatisolol which is a steroid cream and it heals it right up

[gracefromHHP]

the accuracy is similar.

[shabbyricky01]

Both of my tests were done in labcorp , last one was in 6/08 , that means i had captia test done .How accurate is this test , i mean what is the sensitivity of the test as compared with herpse select ??
Thanks in advance

[gracefromHHP]

I wouldn't bother with any more blood testing. be seen every single time you have symptoms. if they suspect herpes, they should do a lesion culture and typing at this point since symptoms have been going on for 4 years and you are blood testing negative.  do not accept visual diagnosis any more from providers.

typically just prodromal symptoms and no obvious lesions isn't herpes going on. having recurrences bilaterally also is highly unusual too. Odds are this isn't a herpes issue you are experiencing so providers should be doing a thorough work up to try to get to the bottom of it all for you.

best of luck and stop back to let us know what they find when you get better answers :)

[shabbyricky01]

no dear .. as mentioned i had 2 test done , one at 10 weeks and other at 17 weeks after possible exopsure both were negative values less than <0.91 for igg HSV 1 and HSV2  .I am planning to take one more time .

[gracefromHHP]

it would be unusual for a herpes recurrence to present on both thighs.

so you've never had any positive herpes test ever?

grace

[shabbyricky01]

I dont get OB very often but do get prodromal symptoms every 3 weeks(like having right now , itching burining and back pain) , i have been having these OB for the last 4 yrs ( diagnosed by 2 dermatologist on exam only, no clx done .I used to get bumps every 3 weeks in the first year which slowed down and stopped paying attention as 2 of my herpse select test came back negative ,one at 10 week and other at 17 weeks and thought i have something else ,until last month i had THE WORSE out break so far ,while i was travelling middle east and was exposed to 120 degree F .My both thighs were coveredut with rash and very tiny about the size of pin head blisters and had patches on the back , and front of thighs ( this is where i get out break everytime ) .I had topicort in my medicine bag and applied x 4 and they started to go away , and finally resolved in 5 days completely .Just wondering if someone had a similar response with topical steroids .

[gracefromHHP]

actually topical steroids make the herpes virus more active. it's how they trigger recurrences in lab animals for herpes testing.

we don't recommend using topical steroids on genital herpes because of the risk associated with using them. they also can thin the delicate genital skin and make it more vulnerable to herpes shedding and other infections too.

how often are you getting recurrences?

grace