Am I shedding when I have a skin outbreak

[Bluebutterfly1]

I have very frequent outbreaks in my mouth since January and am on valtrex 500 mg twice daily which has helped. I also am the one who asked you earlier about possibility of acquiring HSV 1 genitally after having had oHSV1 since childhood. I know you say it is unlikely, but i keep getting sores on my vulvar area and today I have a new rash that looks like it could be hsv on the right side of my waist.

1. I have noticed that almost all the rashes and sores on my gentital areas whether it was on my labia, vulva, or butt/skin on waist and pubic area has been occuring on my Right side. Is that typical for HSV to prefer a side?

Also, if I am having an outbreak of HSV1 on my waist-now it is just under my waist on my R side. I don’t see obvious water blisters but rather tiny little red dots on a red patchy base. I would not have even known it was there had I not looked today as it is not causing any pain or itching at this time. The redness is distributed in a linear type fashion- kind of looks like 3 small scratches near each other from far away but up close these are not scratches but some sort of rash. I have had a similar one of these pop up on my butt and side of my trunk before so this leads me to suspect it is HSV.
2. Does this sound like an HSV ob? Can I send a picture?

3. If I have outbreaks on my skin and not directly on my genitals for example an outbreak on my butt or waist area, does that mean i am shedding from my vagina? I understand I am contagious from the site of outbreak, but what about my vagina/vulvar area? I am not having sex during any outbreaks.

4. I put some tegaderm to cover the area of skin with outbreak on my waist so that i am less likely to spread it. Is that a good idea? I am not sure how to minimize contamination as i don’t want to spread this virus to my family members. I wash my hands thoroughly but I just get so nervous about spreading it.
5. If valtrex 500 mg BID is ineffective for prevention, what to do or try next? Please help.

[Terri Warren]

1. I have noticed that almost all the rashes and sores on my gentital areas whether it was on my labia, vulva, or butt/skin on waist and pubic area has been occuring on my Right side. Is that typical for HSV to prefer a side?
Not necessarily, no.

Also, if I am having an outbreak of HSV1 on my waist-now it is just under my waist on my R side. I don’t see obvious water blisters but rather tiny little red dots on a red patchy base. I would not have even known it was there had I not looked today as it is not causing any pain or itching at this time. The redness is distributed in a linear type fashion- kind of looks like 3 small scratches near each other from far away but up close these are not scratches but some sort of rash. I have had a similar one of these pop up on my butt and side of my trunk before so this leads me to suspect it is HSV.
2. Does this sound like an HSV ob? Can I send a picture?
This does not sound herpetic and no, we don’t do pictures on this website

3. If I have outbreaks on my skin and not directly on my genitals for example an outbreak on my butt or waist area, does that mean i am shedding from my vagina? I understand I am contagious from the site of outbreak, but what about my vagina/vulvar area? I am not having sex during any outbreaks.
Yes, even when the outbreaks are not on the genitals, there can definitely be genital shedding as well.

4. I put some tegaderm to cover the area of skin with outbreak on my waist so that i am less likely to spread it. Is that a good idea? I am not sure how to minimize contamination as i don’t want to spread this virus to my family members. I wash my hands thoroughly but I just get so nervous about spreading it.

That’s fine to do, not a problem. But I would strongly suggest that before you get too carried away with this, you get it swab tested for HSV.

5. If valtrex 500 mg BID is ineffective for prevention, what to do or try next? Please help.

You get a swab test of the things that you as so certain are herpes to base your decisions on science, not on the supposition that these are also herpes outbreaks. From your description and their location, I would wonder, honestly

Terri

[Bluebutterfly1]

1. I haven’t done pcr swab testing of skin lesions on my butt, waist areas because I already did pcr swab test on my labia ulcers a couple months ago. The pcr swab was on a fresh open sores on my labia and result came back neg for hsv DNA. I truly believe this was a false neg as I was taking Valtrex 500 mg every 12 hours for suppression at the time for my frequent intraoral obs. I don’t think another pcr swab is that helpful if the valcyclovir is going to be in my system as I may not believe a neg result anyway. Should I see a derm and get a biopsy?

Should I go for pcr testing again even if I’m on Valtrex? I am afraid to stop taking Valtrex. I have had 7 to 8 recurrent lesions in my boxer shorts area since March so I really don’t feel safe to get off valtrex and don’t think I can mentally handle any increase frequency/severity.

I know hsv1 is supposed to be quiet genitally but my case is very frequent. Is taking Valtrex 1 gm BID worth trying and safe? I am on 500 mg bid and still having frequent obs. Husband is frustrated and in denial and I am afraid to have sex even with no visible ob and condoms.

The red cluster of spots on my waist have gotten darker and some are lighter nd have changed to form together like a jagged line with other red spots around it. The red spots might be tiny blisters. The cluster or red dots on a red base that change color and size the next day seems to be hsv like, correct?

Does covering the area in tegaderm help prevent spread? I don’t remive it until is is fully healed.

I am also getting itching in the r labia area. No new sores down there when I checked with gloves but I worry that’s a sign I’m shedding? I will itch and think I’m getting an ob in that particular but an ob will show up in a different area that was not itchy instead. Have you seen this?

I get ob every time around start of my period. Should I increase the Val a week before? How much should I take before my period and for what length? How many days before period?

[Terri Warren]

If you are unwilling to stop the Valtrex, then there is no way that you will know if the genital/lower body lesions are herpes or not. It’s that simple. If you choose to believe that you have genital infection as well as oral infection, then that’s your call. I think you are most definitely on the wrong path if this is your decision, but you can obviously do exactly as you wish.

The lesions you describe around the waist do not sound herpetic to me.

You have paid for nine questions and made 12 posts. So you were out of posts a bit ago and due to the confusion with your account, I missed it.

However, I am choosing to stop this discussion now. I have tried my best to help you with some advice but you want to do something entirely different and believe that you have HSV 1 genitally rather than finding out if that is actually true.

I wish you the best, but I’m actually finished here.

Terri

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