[Question #9604] Can I transmit HSV to others or other parts of my body via cold sores?
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30 months ago
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Hello,
I get cold sores on my bottom lip every few months. I've been getting them for about 10 years now. I've had the chance to read through Terri Warren's book on the herpes virus: The Good News about the Bad News. So I feel like I have a basic understanding of HSV. With that being said, I have some specific examples that still worry me in terms of being able to transmit the virus which I think are incorrect or, at the very least, quite unlikely as to not worry about them.
1. Shaving. I use an electric razor to shave. Can the virus from an active cold sore be transmitted to the blade of the shaver, survive, and be transmitted later on if I use the razor on another body part (say few days later)? I'm concerned primarily with infecting another part of my body (ie. genitals, or another area of my face). Is cleaning the blade with something like rubbing alcohol necessary?
2. Can the virus be transmitted while I'm flossing my teeth and my fingers come into contact with the cold sore? Can the virus be transmitted to my fingers if I have a cut on my finger or can it be transmitted to another body part if my fingers touch another body part after having contacted the cold sore while flossing?
I know in your book you say skin to skin or mucous membrane to mucous membrane contact is really the only way to transmit the virus. The situations I’ve mentioned don’t involve mucous membrane to mucous membrane contact so I’m assuming that it is impossible to transmit the virus this way or, at the very least, so unlikely that it is not worth it to be concerned about.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
30 months ago
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1. Shaving. I use an electric razor to shave. Can the virus from an active cold sore be transmitted to the blade of the shaver, survive, and be transmitted later on if I use the razor on another body part (say few days later)? I'm concerned primarily with infecting another part of my body (ie. genitals, or another area of my face). Is cleaning the blade with something like rubbing alcohol necessary?
Once you have one type of HSV in your body and an immune response has been mounted (3-4 months for most people), you are extremely unlikely to get it in a new location. In addition, a razor would make it very hard for the virus to survive - that is true of all inanimate things. I don't think this should be a worry for you.
2. Can the virus be transmitted while I'm flossing my teeth and my fingers come into contact with the cold sore? Can the virus be transmitted to my fingers if I have a cut on my finger or can it be transmitted to another body part if my fingers touch another body part after having contacted the cold sore while flossing?
No, the same principle applies to this question as to the other question. I think this too should not be a worry for you.
I don't think either of these situations should present any real concern for you - put them away and off your worry list.
I know in your book you say skin to skin or mucous membrane to mucous membrane contact is really the only way to transmit the virus. The situations I’ve mentioned don’t involve mucous membrane to mucous membrane contact so I’m assuming that it is impossible to transmit the virus this way or, at the very least, so unlikely that it is not worth it to be concerned about.
Terri
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30 months ago
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3. Can the virus be transmitted while showering? Can I transmit the virus if I touch a cold sore on my lips and then touch another part of my body like my genitals? Can the water running over my body transfer the virus as it contacts the cold sore and then possibly contacts my genital area?
4. After showering, can the virus be transmitted while drying off with a towel? So if I dry my face coming into contact with the cold sore and then proceed to dry other parts of my body (genitals) or an area of my body with a cut, can the virus be transmitted this way?
5. If I am eating with my hands and touch the cold sore with my fingers, can I transmit the cold sore through a cut on my fingers or to another area of my body (ie. genitals) if I touch another area of my body?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
30 months ago
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3. Can the virus be transmitted while showering? Can I transmit the virus if I touch a cold sore on my lips and then touch another part of my body like my genitals? Can the water running over my body transfer the virus as it contacts the cold sore and then possibly contacts my genital area?
Once you have the virus in one location on your body, it is extremely unlikely you would get it in a new location through any mode of transmission, so no.
4. After showering, can the virus be transmitted while drying off with a towel? So if I dry my face coming into contact with the cold sore and then proceed to dry other parts of my body (genitals) or an area of my body with a cut, can the virus be transmitted this way?
Same answer as #3
5. If I am eating with my hands and touch the cold sore with my fingers, can I transmit the cold sore through a cut on my fingers or to another area of my body (ie. genitals) if I touch another area of my body?
Same answer as #3
Terri