How to Use Baking Soda for Herpes? A Complete Beginners Guide

Oozing cold sores is uncomfortable physical distress often accompanied by stabbing pain. It makes your face look messy with fluids seeping through the lesions. These lesions cut down your interaction with rest of the world because the inferiority complex clouds your mind.

Another reason that might curtail your interaction with the public is the stigma associated with herpes. Cold sores depicts herpes, hence, people think that outside interaction will expose their infection status to the community; therefore, they confined themselves in doors.

If you are in the middle of an outbreak with painful herpes traits and are exploring the DIY option to quickly dry out the oozing sores, we have got your back here.

Science Behind Baking Soda

Sodium bicarbonate is the scientific name for Baking Soda which is known to treat dozens of skin-related conditions. Baking soda has antibacterial attributes that might help in hindering the growth of infection-causing bacteria on the skin. Oozing wet blisters provide a favorable environment for the pathogens to replicate their genes. Baking soda can dry out the lesions quickly and can devastate the favorable environment which is imperative to promote healing.

Though there is no foolproof scientific evidence available concerning the use of baking soda for herpes, but is anecdotally hailed for its use in cold sores. According to Health Central, applying baking soda to herpes-rendered ulcers may help reduce itching. Baking soda could be the best solution to dry out the genital sores with an immediate effect. It takes 24 to 48 hours to notice visible results right after applying the baking soda to the sores.

The pH level of the human skin is anywhere between 4.5 to 5.5 which makes skin a bit acidic. The pH values of wound alter biochemical reactions of the body in the process of healing. Different pH levels are needed for different stages of healing. Baking soda is an ideal chemical compound with the potential to regulate the pH of the skin as required by the body to heal faster. Healing is a complex regeneration process of elimination of degrading tissues and re-assembling of connective tissues.

Benefits of Baking Soda When Used in Herpes

1. Helps in Drying Up the Skin
2. Reduces Itching
3. Helps in Drying the Genital Lesions
4. Prevents Oozing Sores
5. Expedite the Wound Healing Process

Baking soda aids in the potential of your skin to heal faster. It regulates your body’s pH level at different stages of the tissue regeneration process. The first and foremost benefit of Baking soda for herpes is that it helps expedite the drying of oozing cold sores. When your lesions start drying, it promotes the repairing of the tissues.

Baking soda also helps in reducing itching by normalizing the alkalinity of your skin. Acidic skin is more prone to itching and skin-related complications, whereas, too much alkalinity isn’t a good condition either. Therefore, a balanced pH is necessary to outfight any skin condition including complications of herpes.

There is a good chance you might want to use baking soda for genital herpes sores. This chemical compound has a good application component to it too. Say goodbye to oozing genital blisters with baking soda.

It also helps in promoting wound healing, whether be it genital herpes or oral herpes.

Safety Measures Before Using Baking Soda

1. Do not use baking soda on open wounds
2. If you are allergic to it, avoid it
3. It is best to avoid if you have a serious skin infection

Safety Measures for Taking Baking Soda Bath

4. Don’t take bath if you have diabetes
5. Heart disease patients are advised not to take a bath
6. If you are pregnant

Additional Tips for Using Baking Soda

#1 Use 100% pure and high-quality baking soda.

#2 Baking soda is 100% pure sodium bicarbonate and should not be mistaken with super washing soda which is 100% sodium carbonate.

#3 We suggest using Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. 

#4 We recommend doing a patch test for your skin to look out for any allergic reaction.

Prerequisites for Using Baking Soda

1. Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
2. Water
3. Coconut Oil
4. Cotton Ball

How to Use Baking Soda for Herpes

• Method 1 (Apply it 2 to 3 times daily)
  1. Take 1 tablespoon of pure baking soda.
  2. 2 to 3 tablespoons of water
  3. Now mix these two thoroughly
  4. Take a cotton ball and dip it into the mixture
  5. Apply it to your sores, Gently rub cotton balls to the affected body part. (Remember to use different cotton balls every time to prevent passing on contamination to the solution.)
  6. Now let the mixture coating dry
  7. Now gently take off the dried solution from your skin.
  8. Use a cotton ball to apply coconut oil to maintain skin moisture.
• Method 2 (Apply it 2 to 3 times daily)
  1. Put baking soda directly on lesions
  2. Now soak a cotton ball in the water and put some baking soda on it.
  3. Now dab this on the lesions to coat them.
  4. Let it dry.
  5. Now repeat the same process {(g to h) as mentioned in method 1 above.}

Baking Soda Bath for Herpes

1. Fill the bathtub with lukewarm water.
2. Add 2 medium-sized cups of baking soda in it.
3. Now soak yourself in it for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Now take a clean cotton towel and pat dry your skin and the affected area.

Baking soda is a natural antiseptic that will help soothe your skin. It works as a quickie to dry out the lesion in a record period, allowing you to heal faster than ever. Now we are going to address some of the FAQs asked by our users.

FAQs

Is baking soda good for a herpes blister?

There is no proven scientific evidence of the efficacy of baking soda for herpes blisters. Though, some anecdotal evidence endorses its use in herpes blisters. Baking soda helps in drying out the lesions which soothe the skin and relieve itching. It might be a good option if you want your lesions to dry out quickly.

Can you apply baking soda to active genital herpes?

If the infection is severe and the lesions are open, we would recommend avoiding the use of baking soda. Talk to your physicians before taking any step about the use of baking soda in severe forms of herpes infection.

How long to leave baking soda on the face for herpes?

There is no standard time limit on how long should baking soda be left on the skin. It would be best if you leave it for as long as it dries out.

Can you use baking soda and olive oil for herpes?

Yes. You can use a mixture of these two on herpes blisters to better give yourself a chance to dry out the lesions while maintaining the moisture on your skin. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants which further helps in healing by reducing oxidative stress of the body. Olive oil also helps in preventing tissue damage.

Is it supposed to hurt if you put baking soda on herpes?

No. Baking soda is an alkaline chemical compound that isn’t supposed to hurt if you apply it on herpes lesions.

Is baking soda safe for genital herpes?

Yes. It is completely safe if you want to try baking soda for herpes. Though, there are some safety precautions you should consider before using baking soda on herpes.

What baking soda to buy for herpes?

It should be 100% pure baking soda. Sodium Bicarbonate is the chemical compound for baking soda which shouldn’t be mistaken with sodium carbonate which is super washing soda. We recommend buying Arm & Hammer Baking Soda.