Most mpox (monkeypox) infections clear on their own within two to four weeks without specific antiviral treatment. The virus runs a predictable course: lesions progress through several stages, scab over, and eventually fall off as new skin forms underneath. Your main job during that time is managing pain, preventing complications, and avoiding spread to others. For certain higher-risk groups, a prescription antiviral can speed healing and reduce severity.
What Recovery Actually Looks Like
After initial flu-like symptoms (fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes), a rash appears within one to five days. Lesions start flat, become raised, fill with fluid, then turn into pus-filled bumps before crusting over. Each lesion is typically half a centimeter to one centimeter across. The entire cycle from first rash to fully healed skin takes two to three weeks for most people, though four weeks is not unusual.
You are considered infectious until every scab has fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed underneath. Until that point, you should isolate from others in your household as much as possible.
Managing Pain and Discomfort at Home
Lesion pain is often the most difficult part of mpox. Over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with general pain and fever. For localized pain, topical lidocaine or other numbing creams offer relief, though you should use these cautiously on broken skin or open, draining wounds.
If you have lesions in the genital or rectal area, warm sitz baths with baking soda or Epsom salt can ease discomfort significantly. Fill a shallow basin with warm water, add a few tablespoons of baking soda or Epsom salt, and soak for 15 to 20 minutes. This is especially helpful for the rectal pain (proctitis) that some people experience.
Oral lesions can make eating and drinking painful. If you have sores in your mouth or throat, soft foods and cool liquids are easier to tolerate. Staying hydrated matters more than it might seem: people with oral lesions are at real risk for dehydration and poor nutrition simply because swallowing hurts. Popsicles, smoothies, and broths can help you keep up your intake.
When Antiviral Treatment Is Available
An antiviral called tecovirimat (sold as TPOXX) exists for mpox, but it is not available to everyone. The CDC manages access through an expanded access protocol, and eligibility is limited to specific groups. These include people who are severely immunocompromised (such as those with HIV and very low immune cell counts, organ transplant recipients, or people on certain cancer therapies), as well as pregnant or breastfeeding individuals, children under 18, and anyone with active skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or burns that raise the risk of widespread infection.
People with severe disease also qualify. That includes lesions covering 25 percent or more of the body, airway compromise, heart inflammation, brain involvement, or infection in or around the eyes. The standard course is 14 days. If your doctor thinks you might be eligible, they can request access through the CDC’s protocol.
Protecting Your Eyes
Mpox involving the eyes is one of the more serious complications and can threaten vision. If you develop lesions on or near your eyelids, or notice eye redness, pain, or changes in vision, this needs prompt medical attention. Treatment typically involves systemic antiviral therapy, and an eye-specific antiviral drop may be used for infections affecting the surface of the eye. Steroid eye drops should be avoided, as prior evidence suggests they can worsen the infection and damage the cornea.
Even without eye lesions, careful hand hygiene matters. Touching your eyes after touching a lesion elsewhere on your body can transfer the virus.
Watching for Secondary Infections
Open skin lesions create opportunities for bacteria to move in. Signs of a secondary bacterial infection include expanding redness around a lesion, pus or discharge that looks different from the lesion itself, increased swelling, and worsening pain after the lesion seemed to be improving. Ulceration of lesions, particularly in the genital area, is another warning sign. If you notice any of these changes, contact your healthcare provider. Bacterial infections on top of mpox typically require antibiotics.
Keeping Your Household Safe
The virus can survive on surfaces, clothing, and linens, so infection control at home is important during your isolation period. Keep contaminated laundry separate from everyone else’s. Place used clothing, towels, and bedding into a waterproof bag or a fabric bag that will go directly into the wash with the items. Do not shake dirty laundry, as this can release viral particles into the air. Wash everything in a standard machine with regular detergent. Laundry sanitizers are fine but not required.
For hard surfaces you’ve touched, use an EPA-registered disinfectant from List Q (the EPA’s list for emerging viral pathogens). These are widely available at grocery and hardware stores. Soft furnishings that had limited contact can be disinfected with a List Q product rated for soft surfaces. Routine cleaning of shared spaces like bathrooms and kitchens should happen regularly until your isolation ends.
Vaccination After Exposure
If you know you were exposed to mpox but haven’t developed symptoms yet, the Jynneos vaccine can help. Getting vaccinated within four days of exposure gives you the best chance of preventing the disease entirely. If given between four and 14 days after exposure, the vaccine may not prevent infection but can reduce how severe your symptoms are. After 14 days, the window for meaningful benefit has largely closed.
Getting Tested
If you suspect you have mpox, testing involves a swab of a skin lesion. The specific collection method depends on the stage of the rash: for active lesions, a swab of the surface or fluid is taken, while for healing lesions, a piece of the crust may be collected. A PCR test confirms the diagnosis. You cannot be accurately tested before lesions appear, so timing matters. If you have a suspicious rash, your healthcare provider or local health department can arrange testing.
What “Fully Recovered” Means
Recovery is complete when all scabs have naturally separated and a fresh, intact layer of skin has formed. Do not pick at scabs to speed things along, as this increases scarring risk and can delay healing. Some people experience temporary skin discoloration at lesion sites that fades over weeks to months. Scarring is possible, particularly with larger or deeper lesions or those complicated by bacterial infection. Once your skin has fully regenerated, you are no longer contagious and can resume normal activities.