Non-intact skin possible exposure with HIV+ friend

Hi,
I have posted in the user forum but would appreciate a second experienced opinion.
I am looking for a specific medical opinion to my possible exposure with my just diagnosed HIV+ friend, in which there was just kissing (cheek to cheek) with both of us having non intact skin. I know that generally kissing is not a hiv transmission risk but would like answers in regards to this particular situation.
My concern is that I had two pimples that were popped earlier that day (6 hours before) – no blood just watery stuff but my skin was obviously broken and damaged. Although they weren’t bleeding at the time I saw my friend the skin was a little red, raw and thin., and since he suffers from bad acne as well I have been out of my mind with worry that the touching of our non-intact skins i.e acne  was a risk for transmission.
I have read many of the answers covering similar situations but the responses usually downplay the risk due to the unlikelihood that the person was HIV+, so I would really like your opinion in my situation . I have been out of my mind with worry and am just paralysed with fear to the extent of not being able to function.
1) Considering that as he has really bad acne as well, is there any possibility our connecting pimples could have been a transmission risk if his were weeping or lightly bleeding? I must admit I didn’t notice any huge amount of blood on his face, but then again I wasn’t looking for it and it was only when I got home and saw my pimples in the mirror that I considered I may have put myself at risk.  
2.) The pimples I popped earlier in the day – even though  there was no blood, just water,  was the break in the skin enough to give access to the bloodstream six hours later?
3)  If there was a small amount of blood  sitting at the surface of his pimples, is that considered outside the body enough for the virus not to survive and therefore not maintain infectiousness? i.e do I have anything to worry about?

Thank you

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I agree with the advice you've already received.  I'll try to provide a little bit more information.  HIV is not spread by kissing, rubbing skin surfaces between infected and non-infected persons or other casual contact.  Sex or injection of infected material deep into tissue (not surface contamination) in the mechanism by which the virus gains access and causes infection.  The virus is fragile and dies very quickly.  Thus events, scrapes, and wounds that occurred days, hours or even minutes ago are not routes by which the virus can be introduce into uninfected persons to cause infection.  Let's work through your specific questions.

1.  No, "connecting pimples" is not a mechanism for spreading HIV.  It has NEVER been reported to happen.  Remember, virtually everyone has small skin defects from scratching, acne, shaving, etc all over their bodies most, if not all, of the time yet HIV has NEVER
been spread by the sort of contact you describe.

2.  No, these pimples began their healing process and therefore were "sealed off" almost immediately after they were popped.  Further, surface contamination of pimples would not lead to transmission as I have indicated above.

3.  No, blood in this hypothetical situation would not put you at risk, if it had even happened.
I hope this helps.  Having read your interactions on the HIV Prevention Community Site however, I will mention that I hope you will not follow with "have you ever...."  type questions.  The information I have provided is the best I have. Those sorts of questions really are of little help to you.   EWH

[too_scared]

Hi Doctor,
Thank you so much for all that information. It is indeed very helpful and exactly what I was looking for.
I don't have any "have you ever" type questions at all. Just one final question about the healing process. Would your assesment above about the "sealing off" change if the pimples I was talking about (mine) still stung if I applied alcohol to them six hours later?  I mean are they sealed off if they skin stills stings with the alcohol?
Thanks

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Yes, they would still be sealed off, even if the alcohol application stings.  EWH

[too_scared]

Thanks once more Doctor for your help .I think I can sleep easier now.

[too_scared]

Hi again Doctor,
With your background in microbiology I just would like to ask about the white blood cell activity in regards to pimples and acne. Is it like the white cell activity in herpes sores and therefore a good environment for HIV to enter?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, the WBCs present in acne are different than the ones in herpes.  The ones in acne are polymorphnuclear leukocytes (PMNs) while the ones in HSV which are targets for HIV are lymphocytes.  EWH

[too_scared]

Thanks, that is good to hear. I think this will be my last question as I don't think its wise for me to keep dissecting information and I am truly tired from all the unnecessary stress this has caused me and people around me.
The healing of pimples and acne - I had picked at them for days and days before the encounter to see if anything would come out as they were quite large. Obviously the picking each time slows down the healing process and they just got more inflamed. Does this impact their ability to "seal off" or is it that every time theres an opening it just begins to heal over again, so after 6 hours would once again be sealed?
Thanks again for the last time, You have definitely made a difference for me, and I am sure others who have had similar questions.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I agree with your assessment that you are getting entirely too wrapped up in this.

No, the healing/sealing off process begins within minutes or picking and opening them up.  

I hope my comments will help you stop the mental "picking" and, at the same time, urge you to halt the real "picking" as this does, as you point out, slow healing and tends to increase scarring.

Time for this thread to end.  Take care.  EWH