Can you get herpes from your own coldsore?

[Susan1989]

Hi Grace,

First of all, thank you so much for being so helpfullately- you've really been great.
I have one last question for you and then I think I should be able to perhaps get back to normal. Thing is, I woke up this morning and I have a crack inmy lip. I think it might be a coldsore. Now I don't remember if I touched it or not when I looked at it but I then went to have a shower and did my daily check up on my genitals to see if there is anything there and I am now going crazy because i'm worried I may have touched my coldsore and then rubbed my genitals. Could this cause genital herpes or is it impossible to infect yourself with your own virus? I am soooo tempted to get a strong soap and jsut scrub scrub scrub but I really don't want the itching and soreness caused by my previous overwshing to return!

Any info would be greatly helpful and as I said, I promise to try not post anymore for a little while.

Thanks,
Susan

[Susan1989]

Hey Grace

Thanks for explaining it, makes a lot more sense now. I don't even now if this thing is a coldsore now as i've onlyapplied blistex twice and it's pretty much gone. So I think I can chill.Never had a 24hr coldsore before- dunno if it's possible!

Anyway thank you very much forexplaining that to me. Glad to understand as well as my neice gets coldsores and I toldmy brother to ensure she washes hands thoroughly as she may cause herself genital herpes. I'll phone him straight away and tell him not to panic- I was totally incorrect!

Thank you for your help. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

[gracefromHHP]

once you have hsv1 on one body part, it gives you significant protection from contracting hsv1 on other body parts.  

correct, your bf having hsv1 orally too means he's also not likely to contract hsv1 genitally. always err on the side of caution and when either of you has an obvious cold sores present, that partner shouldn't perform oral on the other until it's gone.

grace

[Susan1989]

Hey Grace,

Thanks for your reply. Makes me feel much better. I was just hoping you could maybe explain to me why this is?
And also would the fact that i've been generally quite rundown lately affect it at all? I've had a cold, gotten rashes and now coldsoresso oviously my immune system isn't doing too well at themoment- would that affect this at all? Or the fact that I was really quite vigorous in my inspecting of the genital area- would the fact I rubbed hard make a difference?

Also- just out of curiosity. If it is the case that this is the general rule due to the fact that my body would have built up a defense against the virus would be correct in suggesting then that if my boyfriend has coldsores he's less likely to catch genital herpes from my coldsore as the probability would be that we both have oral hsv1? Or would that not work as it's not directly from his body?
Obviously I would never ever risk this. I'm just trying to get a better understanding of how this virus works.

I really wish I hadn't freaked out about all the stuid things before- then I wouldn't have been inspecting my genital area and so wouldn't have actually put myself at risk! Stupid stupid me.

Anyway, hope this isn't too much trouble to answer!

Susan

[gracefromHHP]

no you won't transmit it to your genital area like this.

no need for soap and extra scrubbing!!!!

grace