The principles of treatment for herpes simplex are antiviral, prevention and control of secondary infections, and shortening the course of the disease. The treatment includes: 1) relatively mild recurrent infections: topical creams that are dry and astringent, antiviral and anti-infective, such as acyclovir or penciclovir, interferon, and glyburide lotion can be used alone; 2) more serious primary infections: nucleoside antivirals such as acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir can be taken orally; 3) blisters that break down and vesicles that ooze: wet compresses with boric acid solution or iodophor solution; 4) secondary bacterial infections on the vesicles: antibiotic creams such as Bactrim or erythromycin ointment.