Hsv1 transmission

[Jenna134]

I'm negative for both hsv1 and 2, and so is my boyfriend. However, his mother gets outbreaks under her right eye, which I know is unusual. Yesterday, she had an active outbreak, and kissed us on the cheek goodbye a couple of times. We're now horrified we're going to get the virus. Even though we didn't have direct contact with her lesion, don't people shed from their mouth even if the outbreak is elsewhere on their face? How at risk are we?

[Life360_Dave]

It needs  to be mucus membranes like the lips not the thick cheek skin.

[Jenna134]

Well my concern is that she had an active outbreak under her eye and kissed us on the cheek. Was that enough of an exposure to contract it, because she must have actively been shedding?

[Life360_Dave]

Yes and shedding can occur anywhere but hsv1 oral does not shed very often.

[Jenna134]

So I would need direct contact with her sore? She only gets them under her eye, not lips. Don't people shed from their lips and eyes regardless of where the infection is?

[Life360_Dave]

Hi, its really not an issue. Contracting hsv from kissing is more the risk for small children whose immune systems are not yet strong but for adults really nothing to worry about. Do avoid direct lip to lip kissing if she has a lip sore however. Also the kissing has to be a rubbing kissing to force the virus into the nerve and its more for soft areas like mucus membranes and lips.