[VeryThankful]

Last Question, Terri. This forum has been ultra helpful!

All my fears spawned from dating a girl who had genital HSV2 a few years ago. Recently, I had a second WB done that was negative, thankfully. I had some symptoms from back then though, that I wanted you to comment on nonetheless.

I had a significant rash on one forearm when I was dating my ex. At the time, I didnt know herpes could infect any body part, and I assumed it was poison ivy. I had been in contact with some bushes in my landscaping, at least briefly, and the rash was itchy if I remember correctly. I fear ‘what ifs’ that this may have been herpes and I will never know… I do not recall having any spots on my hands or fingers though… so would that help my case that it wasnt herpes? I was in contact with many people including little ones in my family with that rash, so it is a nagging worry. I thought about talking to my doctor about swabbing my arms now, but as you said that skin doesnt shed… Anyway to test if I ever had poison ivy?

My ex also would regularly get what we believed to be uticaria rashes/eczema in combination with burning watery eyes. Any chance those rashes could be have been herpetic eczema, or is that a more severe thing?

What is your experience with folks who have herpes outside of the oral or genital area? Any patterns or defining characteristics? How weird would forearm herpes be with no signs anywhere else?

[VeryThankful]

Slightly unrelated question… I read that subclinical shedding is high just before and just after a lesion… is it know how long this auxiliary heavy invisible shedding period usually lasts? Would those same invisible periods apply the same to thicker areas of the skin, such as in cases of whitlow or thigh or buttocks outbreaks?

[Author]

Posts