Hi, this is a follow up to a prior question I had asked, question 6711.  I am still waiting to get a blood test to confirm whether that was a herpes outbreak or just yeast.  What I had been most concerned about at the time was not the diffuse rash I described in the question (that ended up definitely being some sort of dermatitis irritation), but these small bilateral patches that seemed bumpy (not like molluscum, they almost look like maybe what i've seen of a herpes picture just absolutely tiny?  and no clear blisters.  maybe it could look a little bit like rugburn).  I just had a similar spot appear at the border of my mouth.  I had previously tested negative for hsv1&2 via igg.  This patch looks EXACTLY like what had been on my outer labia.  I am wondering how often herpes is so mild that it either has vesicles/ulcers that are maybe 1/2 the size of the head of a pin; or otherwise how often herpes just doesn't go through the normal vesicle/lesion/scab cycle?  It just doesn't seem like a pimple, and I have never had anything like this before on my mouth.  While whatever was on my labia wasn't painful, what's on my mouth now was painful for the first two days.  It looks like a pink patch thats slightly swollen, but no clear lesions and maybe a little bumpy.  Its been three days and hasn't changed.  When I stretch the skin it almost looks like theres a ball under the skin (does herpes form in that way from below?).  I am also wondering how it would be showing up just now on my mouth.  I had had vaginal sex with a condom, and unprotected oral sex.  So if I were to have been exposed and had an initial outbreak vaginally, would this mean I somehow gave it to myself recently, or would it be possible that I got it in both spots at the same time when I was first exposed, and then only now am breaking out orally?

I'm very confused about visual identification, it seems like herpes can look like just about anything?

Thank you so much!

Something that is half the size of the head of the pin is highly unlikely to be related to herpes.  Herpes lesions are generally quite a bit larger and they do go through the normal course of an outbreak, most often.  I wish I could tell from your post what's going on here but I cannot. This is the time when an actual visit with the clinician is most helpful versus talking to someone on the Internet. If this is a new infection with HSV one, you could get it at both places at the same time. With the negative IgG test for type one and type II, herpes seems an unlikely explanation for this, quite honestly. Although herpes can present in a variety of ways, it can't look like just anything. I think it can be quite confusing for people to try to sort through what is herpes and what is not, but something that is so small as the thing you describe does not sound like herpes to me. Again, however, I suggest that you see a clinician to have this evaluated in person and her peace swab test done if appropriate.

Terri

Thanks for the response!  To clarify- the bumps were half the size of a head of a pin, but the entire pink area on which they were located was larger, maybe the size of a dime.  I did see a dr. at the time of the initial "outbreak," but it was so small/faint that they were unable to see anything at the time.  I could see it though, and in pictures it was very easy to see.  I was unable to get an appointment at the time of the most recent mouth lesion.  It is kind of hard during this time to get seen, though absolutely I agree with you about going to the dr.  I will be going to get my blood drawn for a 16 week igg test this week though, so hopefully that will provide clarification.  To clarify- the negative igg test had been PRIOR to any exposure that I think would have caused this, I just included this to imply at baseline I didn't have it previously, and whatever is going on would be a primary infection.  You said that I could break out both orally and genitally with a new infection of hsv I, could that happen with hsv 2?  Also if it is a new infection (which it would be), would this be likely- where I break out first genitally but no oral symptoms, and then months later orally?  Would that indicate self-infection from genital to oral?  That would seem unlikely, at least in my case, as I don't commonly touch my genitals then my mouth?

Oh, thanks for that clarification. 

New infection in both locations could happen with either HSV 1 or 2 but would be pretty unusual, to be honest. 

After a new infection has been well established at one location on your body (an immune response has been mounted), it would be highly unusual to then get it at a new location subsequently, whether transferred by you or someone else. 

Terri

About 80% of those infected do not know that they are infected so I would disagree that everyone who has herpes knows it.

I hope that you had the area on your lip swab tested while it is present to see if it is herpes or not.  Even if it is scabbed, a PCR swab can be done (a culture swab is less sensitive at the later stages of an outbreak).  If not, you can do another antibody test in about 6 weeks to see if there is a change from the negative that you previously obtained.

Terri