Hair Salon and Herpes

[IWannaBeFree]

Hello Terri,

I have HSV1 & HSV2. I am 52 years old and recall having cold sores as a teen and blisters on my fingers a few times. I was tested and diagnosed in 2014. Prior to 2014, I had two stressful events at work and both times a blister appeared in my scalp at the edge of my hairline. Since 2014, I have taken Valtrex as needed whenever I felt an outbreak coming on my lip. I recently got the two doses of the Shingles shot. I got the first dose in April and the second dose in September. When I got the first dose, I felt an outbreak coming on my lip, took Valtrex and it was aborted. When I got the second does, my primary care doctor told me to take Valtrex once a day for for three days prior and then twice a day for three days after. I did that. From September to now, I have been having on and off prodrome in my lips, forehead, nose and genital area. It has been traveling from one place to the other. My prodrome feels like a twitch or buzzing for a few seconds, then it goes away and comes back. I have not had an outbreak because I had been taking the Valtrex whenever I had prodrome. This week, I have been feeling prodrome in my forehead…an intermittent dull tingling. My primary care physician has advised that I take Valtrex once a day for 6 months and I started that last Saturday. My question is, can I transmit herpes to my hair stylist? She uses hair pins and uses her teeth to separate them before putting in my hair. If I wipe my forehead, neck and ears off with an alcohol wipe before she shampoos my hair, will that kill any virus that could be on those areas? My stylist has eczema on her butt, lower back and abdomen. She went to the restroom once time after putting hair pins in my hair. At that time I was feeling prodrome in my lip, but I had on a KN95 facial mask because of COVID. I did research and learned that herpes can’t be transmitted if there is no mucosal skin contact. I was relieved. Thanks and I look forward to your answer.

[Terri Warren]

Interesting situation. I doubt you would infect your hairstylist with herpes through the pins she puts in her mouth. However, if you are concerned, you may wish to consider taking a higher dose for a few days before your appointment, say 500 mg three times a day for three days. You may wish to talk with your doctor about that. That should go a long ways toward keeping the virus well under control. And it will make you feel better, I suspect.

Terri

[IWannaBeFree]

Hello Terri,

Thank you very very much! I really appreciate everything. I have a few follow-up questions.

I went to hair salon today…Friday. After my hair was done, the stylist handed me a mirror. I took the mirror, looked at my hair and handed the mirror back to her. She touched her shirt and pulled it down some so that I could see the area at the bottom of her neck. She touched the area. She has eczema and was showing it to me.

I missed my dose of 500 mg of Valtrex on Wednesday. I took it on Thursday and Friday around 3 to 4 hours before going to salon. In my previous message, I shared I have been taking 500 mg of Valtrex once a day. It has been almost a month.

I do not have any prodrome or breakouts.

Do you think the virus could be transmitted in this situation?

How long does the virus survive on the hands?

If the virus is on the hand, does it rub off when a person touches other objects?

Does viral shedding happen on the scalp, forehead or in the hair?

How dose one skipped dose of Valtrex impact suppression?

Should I wipe my forehead, ears, and neck with alcohol wipes before going to salon?

Does the heat from a hair dryer kill the virus when hair is blow dried? I believe shampoo does.

Thanks,
IWannaBeFree

[Terri Warren]

Do you think the virus could be transmitted in this situation?
NO!

How long does the virus survive on the hands?
A very short time and much virus is lost using hands.

If the virus is on the hand, does it rub off when a person touches other objects?
probably a little of it might possibly

Does viral shedding happen on the scalp, forehead or in the hair?
no

How dose one skipped dose of Valtrex impact suppression?
no

Should I wipe my forehead, ears, and neck with alcohol wipes before going to salon?
no!

Does the heat from a hair dryer kill the virus when hair is blow dried? I believe shampoo does.
Probably, those driers are pretty darn hot!

Terri

[IWannaBeFree]

Hello Terri,

Thanks again! I am back again with more questions.

I have HSV1 and HSV2. I am still taking 500 mg Valtrex daily.

Yesterday I felt like I was having prodrome on my lip and inside my rectum. I felt an intermittent buzzing sensation in the morning. I took 2 500 mg of Valtrex at one time. I wonder if it was because I ate a lot of chocolate the day before. The sensations went away within 2 hours and have not come back.

Is an intermittent buzzing or pulsating sensation prodrome?

During prodrome how is HSV1 and HSV2 transmitted besides oral/vaginal/anal sex and passionate kissing?

I go to physical therapy for a shoulder and lower back injury. Can the virus be transmitted if someone touches my shoulder or lower back during prodrome?

There is a lot of confusing information on the Internet about how HSV1 and HSV2 are transmitted.

From the first moment of prodrome through an outbreak and blisters being completely healed, can HSV1 and HSV2 be transmitted by someone touching the blisters or any other part of the entire body?

What is considered skin that is not intact (scratches, paper cuts, hang nails)?

Thanks
IWANNABEFREE

[Terri Warren]

Intermittent buzzing may or may not be related to HSV, unknown
You would not pass HSV through physical therapy, no
HSV could conceivably be passed through someone with a break in the skin touching an active sore,yes, but not other parts of your body with no lesions
Anything that is not intact skin is a break – cut, fissure, hang nail, yes

Terri

[IWannaBeFree]

Hello Terri,

I hope you are well. Thanks again for everything! I am back with a few questions. I apologize if they are redundant, but I am confused.

I have had HSV1 since I was maybe 10. I am 53 now. I have had a few cold sores in my life…maybe 5 or 6. I still take 1 Valtrex pill everyday and have been doing that since around September.

Since yesterday I have felt sensations that may be prodrome on my lips and genital area. I also felt it on my scalp. It feels like a buzzing sensation and it lasts for maybe 5 seconds then goes away. I have felt it maybe 5 times in 24 hours. Yesterday, I took the valtrex about 5 to 6 hours later than usual. I felt the sensations around that time. It was actually a reminder to take the valtrex. I don’t have any sores.

Anyway, here are my questions.

1. If I don’t have any cold sores am I contagious? I am asking because I have a dentist appointment and want to know if there is any risk of transmission. The dentist of course wears gloves, but will be in contact with my saliva.

2. Does oral HSV1 shed asymptomatically? If so, how does taking Valtrex impact that?

3. If I am feeling prodrome on my scalp, can the virus transmit to my hair stylist?

4. If there is a sore on my scalp, can the virus transmit to my hair stylist?

5. How does taking more milligrams of Valtrex impact transmission and suppression? In a previous answer to me, you mentioned taking 3 pills a day for a few days before hair appointment.

I appreciate you!!!! Thank you soooo much for everything.

[Terri Warren]

1. If I don’t have any cold sores am I contagious? I am asking because I have a dentist appointment and want to know if there is any risk of transmission. The dentist of course wears gloves, but will be in contact with my saliva.
Gloves are worn to prevent transmission of many things, including herpes. You can give off virus without symptoms but gloves will protect the dental office

2. Does oral HSV1 shed asymptomatically? If so, how does taking Valtrex impact that?
It depends upon the frequency of outbreaks. We know that people who have 6 or more outbreaks a year of oral herpes shed virus on about 1 out of every four days.

3. If I am feeling prodrome on my scalp, can the virus transmit to my hair stylist?
I don’t believe so, noht

4. If there is a sore on my scalp, can the virus transmit to my hair stylist?
if she touches it and has a break in the skin of her hand, yes

5. How does taking more milligrams of Valtrex impact transmission and suppression? In a previous answer to me, you mentioned taking 3 pills a day for a few days before hair appointment.
500 mg of Valtrex reduces transmission of genital infection. WE don’t know about oral infection

Terri

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