Ours is hsv1 we've had it about 5 years and my poor SO suffers heaps of break outs.

Cold sore only refers to the location of your outbreak. Doesn't specify your strain. Generally type 1 is more common orally, type 2 genitally, however in reality you can have either strain, or both strains in either or both places. Infections are also common in the eyes, nose, and hands. Medication helps to lesson outbreaks and viral shedding but doesn't completely prevent it.

For those who've had it all their life likely someone with the virus shared food/drink with them or kissed them as a small child or infant.

People like myself who have no symptoms at all have to be a bit more mindful since we have no way of knowing where we carry the virus.

Does he take medication for it? I have herpes and take a medication that suppresses it so I never get breakouts.

I've gotten cold sores since I was tiny so idk how I even got it ??

Herpes simplex 2 is genital herpes and is mostly transmitted through sexual contact.

But if you give someone oral you can catch the virus in your mouth " cold sore". From what I read its more aggressive than herpes simplex 1 which are mostly found in the mouth but can also be transmitted to the genitals through oral sex.

My husband had a cold sore 3 weeks ago I took my precautions when he had it and when I thought it was completly healed, but he was most likely still shedding and I got the virus.

So if I'm reading correctly:

Having cold sores means you have herpes, but strain 1? It's possible to have strain 2 as well but the cold sores are just an indicator for strain 1. You have to be cautious about kissing and drinking, etc while you have a cold sore. Strain 2 is the herpes everyone thinks about when they think of herpes but strains 1 and 2 are two different kinds?

You could have either strain. Only a blood test can tell you. Type 1 is the most common and easiest to transmit, however it's possible for have type 2 orally.

They said chicken pox is a type of herpes. I don't have anything down there but if i've had a cold sore that means I have hsv1 right? My doc never mentioned it.

How do you know you have both? You could have the same strain in both places (if that's what you mean??) And I guess doctor would only know which strains you had from a blood test seeing as you can get both strains in both places :s so confusing

Smh I found out I have herpes twice tonight. Not a good night for me. Wait a minute... isn't your dr supposed to tell u things like this?!? Wtf...

@ricqui no, they're still two separate strains and show up differently in blood tests :)

Also a big ball of herp ??? haahaha

So u do oral? Omg im joking... I do too! these females have turned everything into a joke for me lol uggh I'm horrible.

But my question is: is it still hsv1 or does it become hsv2 bc it's down there??? I know I sound dumb but I keep seeing different responses

It can be spread to the genitals! I had a massive cold sore and gave my SO oral tmi. And he got it on his penis we had no idea that could happen!

Wth! News to me too! I feel like a big ball of herp right now. I've had a cold sore as nd chicken pox.... I'm dying... jk I hope not lol

Shingles and chicken pox are herpes??!!! I really did not know that!

I've never had any sort of sore or anything like such. But I have had chicken pox when I was a small child and I have also had the shingles virus when I was like 12 .

At least I think it was a cold sore. I thought it was a pimple but it hurt like faaaack. Mommy said it was a cold sore and use canfo phenique (sp?)

I didn't know if u spread hsv1 down there it became hsv2. I thought u just had hsv1 down there and vice versa. I heard it's rare to get hsv1 down there tho but possible. I've had a cold sore before but only once.

I've never had a colesaw in my whole life ?

Edit : cold saw (my bad) ?

Wrong again: cold sore

Don't forget to change the pillow cases too, just to be on the safe side herpes can spread like wild fire so be sure to change out the tooth brushes, wash your hands, try to use only one cup if possible I'm sorry this happened to you guys but vinagar and tea tree if you want to go the natural way abreva I have heard works and you can go to the doctors if it's really bad any you can get pills I don't know what they are called but I hope all this helps you!

Do you take valtrex? I have no personal experience with herpes but I did have a roommate who had it. she only had oral herpes (on the mouth) but we had to sit her down and explains hat coldsores are herpes and are contagious. She would eat peanut butter out of the jar, drink straight from the milk carton etc. she wasn't being malicious, she truly didn't know. It's estimated now that 25 percent of people between 18 and 65 have herpes. You can have herpes your whole life and never have an outbreak. Typically the first outbreak is the worst, your immune system doesn't know what it is so your lymnoids swell up, high fever etc. your body basically freaks out and sends white blood cells everywhere, after that it gets better. Herpes isn't the end of the world, but once you have it you have it. Outbreaks can be brought on by stress, poor diet and activities that impact your immune system (like drinking alchohol) if you are a heavy drinker, it's best to cut alchohol from your diet as much as possible to avoid outbreaks. Valtrex is the most common treatment, and after taking valtrex for the first few outbreaks, your body starts to understand what the outbreaks are, and they become less frequent. Most importantly, if you have herpes, educate yourself. Herpes has a stigma surrounding it when in reality it's not that bad. It can be managed and hopefully they will have a cure within the next decade. Until then, use caution with your little ones. And take the time to read up on the virus so you can understand how it is contracted

I get them so bad! When I was in 8th grade I got one so bad I couldn't even talk, the doctor had to perscribe me a special medicine for it! It was awful. I haven't had one in a couple years now tho. I hate them! I'm no help. Natural remedies didn't work for me:/

My son gets cold sores every time he gets sick or runs a fever. Poor baby. He has one healing now. My mom & grandmother also get them a lot. Thankfully I don't get them that often but I'm glad to know what I can put on lo's to help them heal faster.

The best remedy I have, is dab a qtip soaked in acetone or nail polish remover every hour, drink green tea like your life depended on it, and put the warm green tea bag on your sore every hour for 10 minutes straight.

Abreva sucks and so does any other cream for me, it just makes it bigger and more painful and it scabs it for longer.

I tend to get a cold sore when super stressed or when my immune system is rocked by a bad cold. Best remedy I have found is campho-phenique (otc cold sore treatment) which helps to dry up the cold sore and get it to scab over more quickly in combination with carmex. If it's super bad valtrex can help to clear them up as well but you would need an Rx from your physician.

Do not kiss drink etc after someone with a cold sore. It is herpes simplex 1, it is transmit table. Also do NOT perform oral sex if you feel one coming or have one. You should take the same precautions just like you would win simplex 2 (bad genital herpes). The reason people don't think it's as bad is because so many suffer cold sores, they don't think it's possible that it's herpes.

So someone that gets cold sores should be cautious with people drinking after them, kissing, etc? Even when there isn't a cold sore?

Its herpes, pp. Its a strain of the same virus that causes genital herpes (herpes simplex 2) and chicken pox and shingles (herpes zoster). It can be spread to just about anywhere on the body and is extremely contagious.

Wait wait I may sound dumb asking this but better to ask than assume right? ?

Getting a cold sore is an indicator that you have herpes? I always thought it was just a "different" kind of herpes. Not the typical herpes people think about.

Again, sorry if I sound dumb. I'm generally curious.

Stay out of the sun! If I get too much sun, it blows up on my face... I never had the issue because I was careful, but I learned about it last year in Florida....

Use abreva and drink water like your life depends on it until it scabs up and the fluid from the blister is gone. Once that happens continue with the water but use moisturizer or coconut oil like your life depends on it. Don't pick! this all works for me and I've gotten my outbreaks down from almost two weeks to 3 days max.

Never give oral sex when you have a cold sore! Or receive it when your SO has a cold sore!!

You think having herpes on your lip is bad, imagine it on your private parts. 1000x worse. Be extra careful!

It's hard to not pass it sometimes. Luckily I haven't given it to SO. Just careful, there's been more and more cases of herpes simplex 1 (cold sores) being transferred to gentian herpes. So just yall be extra careful if you even think you're getting one

I hadn't got one since elementary school. My bf gets them now I have them just as much of not more than him;(

In your eyes?? Omg that must hurt like hell. I'm going to do some research. This is scaring me.

I was always terrified of getting them I've always been super cautious. I have never received oral sex from my husband because I was scared.

I got abreva it helped so much with the itching. I was sad but whatever my husband apologized but its not his fault.

Fun facts. Herpes simplex can be in your eyes, nose, mouth, hands, genitals etc. also the location of your outbreak does not determine if you have type 1 or 2. Only a culture or a blood test can do that. It can also spread when there is no outbreak present.

I personally test positive via blood but have zero outbreaks anywhere.

That awkward moment when you try not to laugh at the people who think a cold sore isn't herpies or the ones who have it and haven't done proper research. It's very contagious and spreads easily take the time for proper research and care ladies. My sister has it and I've done my share to protect myself and children from contracting it.

Also yes you can pass simplex 1 (oral) and cause simplex 2 (genital) or vice verse.

Oh and i wash my face with tea tree shampoo

I was always told it cannot be spread to genitals...so it can?! :/

I got my first cold sore in march 2011. It was awful, swollen, blistered, fevers and chills etc. It lasted 2 weeks! Since then they have gotten less and less extreme and i get them about 2 times and year, but never when i am pregnant..idk why.

It sucks that i got them from someone i kissed 1 time too. I could kick myself.

I have found the best way to get rid of one (within 24hrs) is to sterilize a needle and pop all bubbles and soak sore in alcohol or nail polish remover! It burns awful but the next morning its a scab and u skip to the healing part instead of oozing.

The downside is if you arent EXTREMELY careful u can get oil on you hands or face and spread the infection.

Lysine taken daily along with b vitamins can keep them dormant longer as well.

I also put bactroban on my scab to keep infections down

Honestly did not know that. ????

Sorry OP, ignore my ignorance.

???

It's herpes simplex virus 1.

Which CAN be spread to the genitals.

@dam do you want us to ignore your ignorance on the subject...

@pp cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, so they are a form of herpes.

@op, they suck so bad ? I use the cold sore patches of I get one so I'm not afraid of spreading it and it doesn't scab over half as bad as if I use a cream

Cold sores are herpes. Herpes simplex, I believe.

They are, pp. Typically HSV I

Peppermint essential oil heals them quickly too.

Thank you ladies I'll try some of the suggestions. This monster is huge nothing like SO's or SS.

I've had cold sores all my life, finally my dr got me a med that actually helps. idk why I had to suffer with them all my life when there are meds that work! I take a generic version of valtrex as soon as I think I might be getting one and it goes away like magic. I've had my dentist prescribe it too. the only thing that has ever worked.

Abreva is my life saver for cold sores. I get them bad. If you start to feel one coming on immediately put abreva on it and it will kill it so it doesn't get big and gross.

You can soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and hold it on it for several minutes, a few times a day. It is supposed to kill it and dry it up. Since it is vinegar, it will most likely sting. So I don't blame you if you try the tea tree oil instead!

You can have the virus and not break out for years. Some people have the virus and never get actual cold sores. Icing the irritated area will help minimize the swelling. You can also take lysine. It helps heal the blisters quicker and keep break outs from happening.

Put some tea tree oil on it. Kills it quickly, so will (oddly enough) pure vanilla extract.

I used to get them at every season change but I haven't it one in years... My hubby gets them quite often. Just get some cream for it and it will go away in no time ?

I hate them.

I use to get them during the summer. Once a year.