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Does having a scar from a cold sore mean you can still pass it on to others?
I started getting cold sores when I was 23 and I get them every few months. They usually appear when I get a fever or have been in the sun. They usually go away in about 2 weeks but I recently I got a cold sore and it has left a pretty bad scar. The scar is present but it kind of still looks like the beginning stages of a cold sore all over again (the little bubble part). Its as if the scar developed and formed over before the sore could heal. At times I still feel the tingling sensation too. I'm trying to explain myself fully because this is new for me. It has never done this before. The first cold sore I got formed on my upper lip. Then the next time it formed in the same place plus it had moved to the upper part of my upper lip. Now this time it didn't appear on my lip but right above my lip. I'm panicking a little bit because I really don't want this all over my face.
Here are my questions.
1. Is it possible for it to spread and move around on your face? I am VERY cautious not to touch it. I always use a new q-tip every time I touch it or put cream on it. I wash my hands thoroughly and change my toothbrush after every break out and I don't wear any makeup or cover up when I have an outbreak. I keep it very clean.
2. I didn't kiss my boyfriend or share anything and barely touched him during this outbreak but I'm worried because it is now healed and we recently shared some kisses followed with serious kissing. I tried to explain to him just how contagious these are but he didn't seem to care too much. If I have a scar but no outbreak am I still contagious? Will he get it? What are the odds? 50-50? I would never wish these on anyone so I don't want him to get it.
before you say please see your provider please understand that I can't because I don't have health insurance and have no where to go for this. Please help! Thank you so much!
Here are my questions.
1. Is it possible for it to spread and move around on your face? I am VERY cautious not to touch it. I always use a new q-tip every time I touch it or put cream on it. I wash my hands thoroughly and change my toothbrush after every break out and I don't wear any makeup or cover up when I have an outbreak. I keep it very clean.
2. I didn't kiss my boyfriend or share anything and barely touched him during this outbreak but I'm worried because it is now healed and we recently shared some kisses followed with serious kissing. I tried to explain to him just how contagious these are but he didn't seem to care too much. If I have a scar but no outbreak am I still contagious? Will he get it? What are the odds? 50-50? I would never wish these on anyone so I don't want him to get it.
before you say please see your provider please understand that I can't because I don't have health insurance and have no where to go for this. Please help! Thank you so much!
Hey did you ever find out what the deal with this type of scar is? Is it a cold sore?
he'll need tested to see what his status is. assume nothing based on his mom having cold sores.
it's best to reply to posts here and not send pm's. typically I don't even read them to be honest.
grace
it's best to reply to posts here and not send pm's. typically I don't even read them to be honest.
grace
you aren't spreading it to new places - this is the way the virus works and is completely normal.
no need to change your toothbrush after every cold sore though it's recommended you do so every 3-6 months in general anyways so if the timing works for you as a reminder to do so, just keep on doing it.
has your bf been tested to know his own herpes status? even if he can't recall ever having had cold sores, he very well could have hsv1 already. worth a test to see what his status is.
Even though you don't have health insurance, if you get a prescription for acyclovir, you can get the 200mg tablets at walmart for under $4 to treat cold sore recurrences. If you have a regular doctor, you can give them a call and ask them to call you in a prescription. Oral antivirals help speed healing of cold sores faster. Just something to think about. If you start them at the very first tingle of a cold sore, you can actually sometimes avoid a full blown cold sore which is always a good thing!
As for what is going on now, since you still have tingling I recommend avoiding contact with your partner at this point since you don't know his status. If this isn't better by monday then it is worthwhile to see a medical provider for follow up to make sure this isn't something else going on because at that point it's definitely atypical for cold sores and requires further evaluation. Meanwhile continue to use topicals. Aveeno cold sore ointment with propolis in it is under $10 I think. Propolis has been found to speed healing of cold sores. You can also just continue to use a lip moisturizer with spf in it and periodically steep a tea bag and use it as a compress on the area to help with pain, itching and also to help reduce the redness that makes this more noticeable. I'm all about the cheap :)
grace
no need to change your toothbrush after every cold sore though it's recommended you do so every 3-6 months in general anyways so if the timing works for you as a reminder to do so, just keep on doing it.
has your bf been tested to know his own herpes status? even if he can't recall ever having had cold sores, he very well could have hsv1 already. worth a test to see what his status is.
Even though you don't have health insurance, if you get a prescription for acyclovir, you can get the 200mg tablets at walmart for under $4 to treat cold sore recurrences. If you have a regular doctor, you can give them a call and ask them to call you in a prescription. Oral antivirals help speed healing of cold sores faster. Just something to think about. If you start them at the very first tingle of a cold sore, you can actually sometimes avoid a full blown cold sore which is always a good thing!
As for what is going on now, since you still have tingling I recommend avoiding contact with your partner at this point since you don't know his status. If this isn't better by monday then it is worthwhile to see a medical provider for follow up to make sure this isn't something else going on because at that point it's definitely atypical for cold sores and requires further evaluation. Meanwhile continue to use topicals. Aveeno cold sore ointment with propolis in it is under $10 I think. Propolis has been found to speed healing of cold sores. You can also just continue to use a lip moisturizer with spf in it and periodically steep a tea bag and use it as a compress on the area to help with pain, itching and also to help reduce the redness that makes this more noticeable. I'm all about the cheap :)
grace
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
