It doesn't matter much what it looks like compared with pictures you might find on the web or elsewhere. The only way to know with certainty what you have is to see a health care providerr when your lesion is active, i.e. within a day or two next time it appears. Your description doesn't really sound like herpes, but it is possible.
People who have recurrent genital herpes with lesions near but not on the genitals--buttocks, upper thights, lower abdomen, etc--also often have asymptomatic shedding of the virus in the genital area itself. In other words, just protecting partners from exposure to the sore doesn't necessarily protect them from sexual transmission.
Bottom line: See a provider immediately the next time the lesion appears. If you have a regular provider, line things up ahead of time--i.e., make arrangements so that the office staff will know to see you immediately when an outbreak occurs. Or go to your local health department STD clinic.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Just to clarify: I understand that having a lesion on your hip/thigh/etc. still means that you transmit via the genitals. My question was meant more as: If you are prone to having lesions in areas other than your genitals (ex. hip) does that area shed as well as the genitals? I'm wondering if I should be as careful with the hip/thigh/buttocks region as I am with the genital region when having physical contact with a partner.
Thanks!
Doctor,
Would it be possible for you to respond to my clarified question above?
Thanks,
kdh
Sorry for the misunderstanding. To my knowledge, no research has ever addressed that question, i.e. nobody has attempted to test for HSV between outbreaks from the skin areas of non-genital recurrences. My guess is that it occurs rarely, because asymptomatic shedding is more common from moist surfaces (e.g., labia, urethra, anus, cervix) than dry ones. If you're asking whether to cover that spot when having sex, I doubt it is necessary and wouldn't go to the trouble.
Regards-- HHH, MD