[Question #9132] Is it possible to catch hsv2 from a tanning bed?
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35 months ago
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Hello, I wanted to start off by saying that I have only been with one person in my life sexually. I have never had any symptoms of hsv2, and neither has he. (he has been with people other than me). One day, I went into a tanning bed nude, and 4 days later, starting getting symptoms, I got tested, and came back positive for hsv2. I am now getting frequent out breaks every month. Is it possible I got this from the tanning bed?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
35 months ago
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I don't believe that you got this from a tanning bed. I don't know exactly what you did or shaped your body in the tanning bed but if you did the normal thing, just lay down in the bed, this would mean that your buttocks would be against the bed. The skin of the buttocks would be too thick for virus to penetrate the skin. In addition, I'm pretty certain that companies that have tanning beds clean them between visitors. However, a tanning bed could trigger an outbreak in someone who is infected with HSV 2. We know, for example, that sunlight is a trigger for HSV 1 outbreaks on the lip. It is possible that the light from a tanning bed could have the same impact. Have you asked the person you were having sex with to be tested for HSV 2?
Terri
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35 months ago
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What confuses me is that I never had any outbreaks before I went in, and then afterwards now I’m getting them frequently. So I understand it would trigger an outbreak, but how would it trigger outbreaks monthly if I only went in once? The setting where the outbreak took place is genitally, right next the anus, but never have had anal sex. No, he has not been tested because I came to him telling I got it from the tanning bed (we’re both very young and neither very well educated about this topic). And now only believes that to be the possible way I contacted this.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
35 months ago
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He needs a test to know if he is infected or not. It's really pretty straightforward at this point honestly.
So you know you have HSV 2 by a positive swab test from a lesion, is that correct?
Terri
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35 months ago
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Yes, lesions. All in all though would there be a possibility that I could contact hsv2 from a tanning bed because all of google is saying that it is, that’s why that came to my mind first.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
35 months ago
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I double checked with the head of infectious disease at a leading university just to be absolutely certain I am giving you the correct information because I realize this incorrect information is on the internet and hope that others get this clarification. They agree completely that you can't catch herpes from a tanning bed unless you are having sex in the tanning bed. Which would be highly uncomfortable but I'm sure someone has done it.
Terri
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