Wrestler Herpes on jaw spreading?

[matt86uk]

Hello Doctor,

I am a wrestler and contracted herpes gladitorium a while ago on my jaw. I have an outbreak about 3 times a year. Im very cautious when i wash my face as right now it is located on my jaw line and would hate for it to spread. I have stopped wrestling for this reason. I want to wrestle again but if i rub faces during grappling with somewhere could i risk it spreading over my face?

Thanks

Matt

[matt86uk]

Thats good to know, so is it safe for me to go back to wrestling without worry of it spreading from jaw to the rest of my face? i read of people spreading their herpes to their eyes, or finger...herpes whitlow.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

You can't spread herpes from one part of the body to another by touching it.  You also can't catch it again once you've got it.  You might want to consider taking an oral anti-herpes antibiotic (acyclovir, valacyclovir) either constantly or else before a wrestling match to prevent an outbreak--that's to prevent spreading it to someone else, not to prevent you're getting it more or again.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff