What Are Different Types of Herpes and How Can Herpes Look?

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is responsible for herpes infections. This virus consists of different types and causes the growth of sores in many parts of the body. Typically, herpes occurs in the mouth, genital, and rectums. Read on to know different types of herpes and how herpes can look.

Different Types of Herpes

A herpes infection is very common for everyone. Mainly, there’re two different types of herpes. They are

1. Herpes Simplex Type 1 (HSV1)

This is the prevalent form of HSV because it constantly presents in many places in the world. The HSV1 commonly occurs in the mouth, but it also affects other parts of the body. It’s a condition that carries on for the rest of your life if you’re infected with it. Most people will get it during their childhood, and it usually stays dormant. Through skin-to-skin contact by sexual activity or saliva when you kiss an infected person, you can contract this type of HSV.

2. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV2)

The HSV2 is less common, but it causes genital herpes– an incurable sexually transmitted disease. The affected areas are commonly the genitals and around the anus. Similar to HSV1, the HSV2 is a condition which lasts a lifetime. It means people with herpes will suffer from some herpes outbreaks during their lives.

No matter what types of HSV you get, this virus remains in the nerves. It lives hidden until it’s triggered by certain factors. Even when you have successful recover, herpes still stays in your body.

Related: What Should I Do if I Date a Girl With Herpes

How Does Herpes Look

Many people with herpes properly won’t notice herpes when they become infected for the first time. It’s because herpes sometimes shows no symptoms. So they may not know even though they’ve had this virus already. In fact, herpes has its own specific symptoms. Below you can know how herpes looks depending on the affected parts.

1. The Mouth

One of the most commonly affected areas of a herpes infection is the mouth. The virus can cause blisters on your lips, face, and inside the mouth. Occasionally, the blisters occur to the chin and under the nose.

Before the blisters come, you will experience tingling and burning sensations first. The sores caused by HSV can be red, yellow, and white. When they break out, a yellow liquid occurs. This is a highly contagious stage, so you should avoid kissing or touching to prevent spreading. Then, a yellow crust on the blisters will signal a healing stage.

Related: Blisters in Mouth: What Could It Be?

2. The Genitals

Herpes is also more likely to occur in the genitals. Through sexual activities, including oral, genital, and anal sex, you can contract herpes. This virus causes blisters on the genital areas, like the vagina, penis, scrotums, or around the anus. Initially, small pimples that are white or red will develop into fluid-filled big sores. At this stage, the sores can be yellow as well. Then, they burst and crust over.

Like herpes infections in the mouth, people develop itching, burning, and tingling feelings when this virus activates. The HSV in the genitals is also more severe because it causes burning when urinating and pain during intercourse.

Related: Can I Develop Both Genital Herpes and Oral Herpes?

3. Other Parts of the Body

Apart from the mouth and the genitals, herpes affects other parts of the body. For example, genital herpes may cause sores in the anal area when you become infected. This also induces red, open wounds in this area.

Herpes whitlow affects thumb- sucking children. The HSV will pass to the fingers, where blisters develop on the nail bed or next to fingernails. Or herpes keratitis infects your eyes. The symptoms will include secretion from the eyes, eye soreness, and light sensitivity. If you assume that you’re infected with herpes, should visit your doctor to check immediately. When left untreated, herpes can cause serious complications.

Advice for Treating HSV

You’ve heard that there’s no cure for herpes. It’s true. Treatment for HSV only helps to alleviate the symptoms of herpes and prevent this virus from coming back. It means you still experience herpes outbreaks even though you have a successful treatment. But don’t panic. You can control the number of herpes outbreaks by a healthy immune system and taking protection.

Your doctor will prescribe antiviral medications, like Acyclovir, Valacyclovir to deal with herpes. Along with that, ointments and topical creams, such as Prosurx are effective in alleviating herpes. These also prevent herpes from returning.

Besides medications, you should boost your immune system to fight off this virus. As mentioned above, a strong immune system and a healthy lifestyle are useful to manage herpes outbreaks. So you should

• Keep the vagina clean and healthy
• Eat lysine-rich foods
• Take Lysine or Bulletproof+ supplement
• Get STD tested regularly
• Limit your sexual partners
• Be in a monogamous relationship
• Wear condoms every time you engage with sex
• Use dental dams if you perform oral sex
• Avoid sharing sex toys

Herpes has different types and affects different parts of the body. If you experience the above symptoms of herpes, you should see your doctor to have an accurate diagnosis and receive treatment as soon as possible.