Sensitive skin since outbreaks

[Cherry888]

Hi Terri,

Quick back story – I contracted GHSV1 in 2002, I had a milder outbreak not long after the initial one but none since then until January this year. I have been in a 12 year relationship and my ex-partner never contracted it (he’s negative)and we didn’t use condoms. I was then in two other relationships, again never passing it on. I had a pretty severe outbreak in January, so I’ve been on 500mg Valaciclovir daily.I got the sores swabbed to make sure it was in fact GHSV1 (it was). Since then I’ve had two more mild outbreaks. I had been pretty run down but apart from that I don’t know what triggered the virus to reactivate. Is it possible to not have any outbreaks for almost 20 years and then start getting frequent ones all of a sudden? And does this mean that I’ll be shedding more now than I was previously? Will the suppression therapy help get my immune system to suppress the virus on its own again?

Second question, two out of the three outbreaks I’ve had this year were around my anus, and ever since the January outbreak the skin where the sores were has been very sensitive, red and itchy (on and off). It usually feels worse after a bowel movement. Is it normal for the skin to feel this way for weeks even months after an outbreak heals? Sometimes the itch is so intense but can be on and off throughout the day. It’s very uncomfortable and keeps happening despite increasing my valaciclovir daily dose to 2x 500mg a day.

Thankyou

[Cherry888]

One more question: is it possible to contract GHSV2 if I already have GHSV1?

[Terri Warren]

It is possible to acquire HSV 2 after having HSV 1 genitally yes, but not common.
I’m not convinced that all of this is HSV 1. I know you the had one swab tested, but the recent ones, I’m not so sure about with all the itching, could it be fungal? And no, it isn’t usual for the skin to stay so sensitive for months either. Have you tried anything topical on this area at all?

Terri

• This reply was modified 9 months, 1 week ago by Terri Warren.

[Cherry888]

Thanks for your reply, I went to the doctor and she gave me hydrocortisone cream for the area which seems to be helping.
And just wondering, is it unusual for GHSV1 to reactivate after being dormant for almost 20 years?

[Terri Warren]

It is unusual, yes. Are you feeling well otherwise?

Terri

[Cherry888]

I had been under a lot of stress and had covid. Apart from that I’ve been well.

[Terri Warren]

It is possible that COVID could cause a reduction in your immune response to herpes but it would be temporary. So cortisone generally makes herpes worse as it removes the cellular immune response to some degree, but if it is making your feelings better, then again, it is unlikely to be due to HSV 1.

Terri

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