Herpes Concerns

[zipsled]

About four years ago I got a couple of herpes blisters on my face, in my chin area. They were blisters and I thought they were pimples.  Since they came back in the same spot every once in a while, I thought they might be herpes, so I went to a dermatologist.  He said that yes this was herpes, but didn't do any testing.  He gave me a prescription for Valtrex.  I only took the Valtrex when I had an outbreak, which was not often, and I guess it worked...kind of hard to tell.  

But in December of last year, I had kind of a big outbreak (and a few more after that)...but they had moved to many areas on my face and neck and are much more severe.  They took a long time to heal...even with the Valtrex (500 mg twice a day).  And a few of them have left red marks that just won't go away..after 6 weeks.  

I have kind of decided that they were being triggered by going in to the Sauna.  I had never been told not to do this, but since I stopped, I have had only one small outbreak.  But I am concerned about the severity of the blisters and the fact that the Valtrex did not seem to control them.

But my problems continue.  I have now had raised red areas on two places on my face and two on my chest.  These are distinct from the herpes blister.  They don't hurt or itch, but they won't go away.

So my question...since I can't get into a dermatologist in Los Angeles for 6 weeks, I decided to write.  Could this be something other than herpes and should I be concerned?  And if this is just a more severe case of herpes, do patients sometimes have to change medications when one stops working?  I was not sure whether or not I should rush to my primary care doctor, who doesn't seem to be an expert on skin conditions.

Hopefully that was not too confusing.  Thanks.

Marco  (I am 38, and very rarely get sick)

[newbie2006]

Can Herpes type 1 really spread to parts of the body other than the mouth? The original thread about it spreading to the chin and different parts of the face, and also the chest is very scary to me because I'm having my first outbreak on my lip. I have a little bit of acne on my jaw area and so I'm worried that in those areas where the skin is a little bit broken it might get infected by the outbreak on my lip. And the eyes. Can that happen, comments?

Also, is Zovirax an effective medication for this?

[Jerefrancis]

Is Waterguy still around,?  whats your status bro?

[needitresolved]

I'd wait for the doc, but I'm certain he's going to say that your condition doesn't sound like herpes. Particularly in light of the lack of response to Valtrex.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I am a little skeptical that all these other outbreaks are in fact the same thing--"many areas on my face and neck"--and so forth.  Valtrex works, but in this context "working" means making sores go away a bit faster, not stopping them cold.  Bottom line: you'll need to show these spots, untouched, to a doctor when they're fresh.  Good photos for outbreaks that happen before a visit may also help.  There are lots of other sores which at least some of yours might be--pimples, folliculitis, and so forth.  You need to find out for sure.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff