Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAppearanceLocationCausesTriggersComplicationsSimilar RashesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Appearance
Location
Causes
Triggers
Complications
Similar Rashes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Oral herpesdue to HSV-1 typically causes outbreaks lasting a week to 10 days.Genital herpes due to HSV-2 can cause outbreaks lasting two to three weeks.HSV-1 can also sometimes cause genital herpes due tooral sex.
Yulia Naumenko / Getty Images
What a Herpes Rash Looks and Feels Like
A herpes outbreak usually starts with the outbreak of small, red bumps that quickly form into fluid-filled blisters. Within hours, these blisters can merge into larger blisters that break open and leave a painful, oozingulcerwith raised edges.
Healing begins as the sores start to crust over. Severe outbreaks can cause scarring, particularly with HSV-2 infections.
Locations of Rash
The two types ofherpes simplex virus (HSV)affecting humans—HSV-1 and HSV-2—mainly cause symptoms in specific parts of the body.
Oral herpesdue to HSV-1 typically causes outbreaks in and around the mouth, including:
Genital herpesdue to HSV-2 can cause outbreaks mainly around the groin and buttocks, including:
With that said, HSV-1 can sometimes cause genital herpes when the virus is passed viaoral sex. In fact, over half of all genital herpes infections today are thought to be due to HSV-1, causing symptoms that are often indistinguishable from HSV-2.
By contrast, HSV-2 is unlikely to cause cold sores even after oral sex.
Other Locations
Less commonly, different types of outbreaks can occur in people who areimmunocompromised, such as those withuntreated HIVor who take strongimmunosuppressants.
Examples include:
Herpes simplex virus is an incurable and highly contagious virus spread from person to person via contact with herpes sores or fluids from herpes sores.
HSV is widespread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 48% of people ages 14 to 49 in the United States have HSV-1, while roughly 12% have HSV-2.
Although the vast majority of people with HSV have no symptoms, they can still be carriers and infect others.
Different things can trigger a herpes outbreak in different people. By identifying your triggers, you can take steps to avoid outbreaks.
Common triggers include:
With that said, a great many herpes outbreaks occur for known no reason.
Left untreated, herpes can cause complications affecting different organs. This is especially true inimmunocompromisedpeople who lack the immune defenses to naturally control the infection.
Possible complications of HSV-1 and HSV-2 include:
What Could Be Mistaken for a Herpes Rash?
Not every rash that looks like herpes is herpes. Other infections and conditions can cause painful blistering or blister-like rashes, including:
Cold sores and genital herpes can often be diagnosed based on symptoms alone. This is especially the case with cold sores, which rarely require lab testing.
There are two tests commonly used:
The results of the tests can usually be returned within one to three days.
A herpes rash will heal on its own, but there are prescription antiviral drugs that may lessen the duration or severity of an outbreak. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications and home remedies can ease discomfort.
Prescriptions
Antiviral drugs are those used to treat viral infections. As a rule, antiviral treatment is most effective when it is started at the first signs of an outbreak.
Over-the-Counter Medications and Home Remedies
Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen) can help relieve the pain of herpes rashes. You can also use OTC topical anesthetics like lidocaine to numb sores.
It is important to note that herpes can be spread when the virus is activated—whether a person has symptoms or not. With an asymptomatic infection, viral particles able to establish infection are still being shed.
To avoid infecting others or getting infected:
Summary
Herpes can be treated with antiviral drugs. They do not cure herpes but may lessen the severity or duration of an outbreak if started early. It’s important to see a provider as soon as possible and to avoid touching the rash or exposing others to your sores.
20 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedar Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.John Hopkins Medicine.Genital herpes.Planned Parenthood.Oral & genital herpes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Herpes simplex.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021: genital herpes.American Sexual Health Association.Oral herpes.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes simplex virus keratitis: a treatment guideline - 2014.Nomikos NN, Chounta-Karatza EK, Nomikos GN, Fragkiadaki M.Is the naming of herpes simplex gladiatorum correct?.Br J Med Med Res. 2015;5(11):1441-6. doi:10.9734/BJMMR/2015/12794Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.Sauerbrei A.Herpes genitalis: diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2016;76(12):1310–1317. doi:10.1055/s-0042-116494Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of herpes?HIV.gov.HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665National Institutes of Health.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HFMD: causes and how it spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster): clinical overview.Hook E.Syphilis.Lancet. 2017;389(10078):1550-1557. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)32411-4Legoff J, Péré H, Bélec L.Diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection in the clinical laboratory.Virol J.2014;11:83. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-11-83Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
20 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedar Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.John Hopkins Medicine.Genital herpes.Planned Parenthood.Oral & genital herpes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Herpes simplex.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021: genital herpes.American Sexual Health Association.Oral herpes.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes simplex virus keratitis: a treatment guideline - 2014.Nomikos NN, Chounta-Karatza EK, Nomikos GN, Fragkiadaki M.Is the naming of herpes simplex gladiatorum correct?.Br J Med Med Res. 2015;5(11):1441-6. doi:10.9734/BJMMR/2015/12794Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.Sauerbrei A.Herpes genitalis: diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2016;76(12):1310–1317. doi:10.1055/s-0042-116494Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of herpes?HIV.gov.HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665National Institutes of Health.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HFMD: causes and how it spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster): clinical overview.Hook E.Syphilis.Lancet. 2017;389(10078):1550-1557. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)32411-4Legoff J, Péré H, Bélec L.Diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection in the clinical laboratory.Virol J.2014;11:83. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-11-83Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cedar Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.John Hopkins Medicine.Genital herpes.Planned Parenthood.Oral & genital herpes.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Herpes simplex.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021: genital herpes.American Sexual Health Association.Oral herpes.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes simplex virus keratitis: a treatment guideline - 2014.Nomikos NN, Chounta-Karatza EK, Nomikos GN, Fragkiadaki M.Is the naming of herpes simplex gladiatorum correct?.Br J Med Med Res. 2015;5(11):1441-6. doi:10.9734/BJMMR/2015/12794Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.Sauerbrei A.Herpes genitalis: diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2016;76(12):1310–1317. doi:10.1055/s-0042-116494Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of herpes?HIV.gov.HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665National Institutes of Health.Dermatitis herpetiformis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HFMD: causes and how it spreads.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster): clinical overview.Hook E.Syphilis.Lancet. 2017;389(10078):1550-1557. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)32411-4Legoff J, Péré H, Bélec L.Diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection in the clinical laboratory.Virol J.2014;11:83. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-11-83Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
Cedar Sinai.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) mouth infection.
John Hopkins Medicine.Genital herpes.
Planned Parenthood.Oral & genital herpes.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Herpes simplex.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021: genital herpes.
American Sexual Health Association.Oral herpes.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Herpes simplex virus keratitis: a treatment guideline - 2014.
Nomikos NN, Chounta-Karatza EK, Nomikos GN, Fragkiadaki M.Is the naming of herpes simplex gladiatorum correct?.Br J Med Med Res. 2015;5(11):1441-6. doi:10.9734/BJMMR/2015/12794
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.Prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in persons aged 14–49: United States, 2015–2016.
Sauerbrei A.Herpes genitalis: diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd.2016;76(12):1310–1317. doi:10.1055/s-0042-116494
Planned Parenthood.What are the symptoms of herpes?
HIV.gov.HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Altenburg A, El-Haj N, Micheli C, Puttkammer M, Abdel-Naser MB, Zouboulis CC.The treatment of chronic recurrent oral aphthous ulcers.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014 Oct 3;111(40):665-73. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2014.0665
National Institutes of Health.Dermatitis herpetiformis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HFMD: causes and how it spreads.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster): clinical overview.
Hook E.Syphilis.Lancet. 2017;389(10078):1550-1557. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)32411-4
Legoff J, Péré H, Bélec L.Diagnosis of genital herpes simplex virus infection in the clinical laboratory.Virol J.2014;11:83. doi:10.1186/1743-422X-11-83
Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al.Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021.MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021;70(4):1-187. doi:10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1
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