I recently made a post about my massage incident but I had more questions that is still bothering me. 11 days ago I had a massage and the masseuse kissed my chest briefly (1 kiss for 1 second or a peck). Since then I have been worried about oral herpes on me chest as she was likely a high risk individual. I have been checking myself everyday for 11 days for signs of redness, blisters or prodromal herpes symptoms. I have not seen anything so far. I do not have a history of herpes nor does my regular partner. I do have a red pimple with a hair that I pulled out that is still healing since the incident. But these are my question if you can help me please

1. If I do not show any symptoms does that mean I am not infected with herpes or that I could be asymptomatic and a carrier?

2. Would the brief kiss to my chest infect me with herpes if the person kissed an area that had stretch marks?

3. Would herpes of the body be considered herpes gladiatorum? Will I be able to hug my partner and kids again without the fear of spreading something to them?

4. Could what I thought is folliculitis be herpes instead?

I have been afraid to take my shirt off and hug my partner because I am scared that I could be infected with body herpes and do not want to spread it to my family.

Thank you again

1. If I do not show any symptoms does that mean I am not infected with herpes or that I could be asymptomatic and a carrier

No.  The encounter with the very brief kiss on the chest presents no risk of HSV acquisition.  The skin of the chest is too thick for virus to penetrate.  Even if the kiss was passionate and there were tons of saliva in the kiss, the sample idea applies.

2. Would the brief kiss to my chest infect me with herpes if the person kissed an area that had stretch marks?

No!  

3. Would herpes of the body be considered herpes gladiatorum? Will I be able to hug my partner and kids again without the fear of spreading something to them?

Well, maybe, if you had acquired it through wrestling, but no, because that isn't what happened here also

4. Could what I thought is folliculitis be herpes instead?

I hope you will read my responses above to know that this isn't the case.

Terri Warren

Thank you for your reply. It made me feel better understanding this more. I tried to stay off the internet for a while to avoid reading more anxiety provoking misinformations. Also it has been almost a month and saw no signs of anything. I understand now that the skin on the chest is too thick for the virus to penetrate. 

I just have one final question about herpes gladiatorum then I am okay with this post being concluded. If someone uses their hand to wipe their mouth with an active sore then shakes your hand, would that transfer the virus to the hand or is the skin on the hands thick enough to protect you from the herpes virus from infecting you?

Thank you again for helping all of us 

Terri