So I'm pretty sure I've got orofacial herpes...Right now I've got a couple sores, which are mostly healed. There's still spots of pink scar tissue, though. It's really, really embarrassing which is why I'm having the mods post this for me. I'd rather not become "the guy with herpes" on totse.

I'm not sure if it's type one or type two, and strangely enough my sores don't really look like any of the pictures I can find online. They don't come in clusters, they look more like regular zits only when you try to pop them, nothing really comes out but watery liquid...sometimes at first it pops like a zit, but I think this may just be initial skin oil at the site of the blister.

Stress seems to be the main thing that sets them off; if I have a really, really bad day at work or lose my temper over something I usually get a sore in 1-2 days. I would say, on average, I get at least one every other month or so and they last a couple weeks, with the scars staying longer.

Looking back, I either got it from this skanky chick I went down on back in '06 or from passing bowls and stuff with my roommate, who's had it for years now. It's incredibly frustrating to think that this is something I have to deal with for life now.

The thing is, I see people with these damn sores all the time...I'd say I've seen at least half my co-workers with one at some point or another. I have to wonder, "How do they live with it?" Most of them have spouses or significant others, do they really just have to abstain from kissing/oral sex that often? I see customers with them all the time, too.

The absolute worst part in all of this, though, is that there's this new girl I'm interested in who really seems to be into me, too. I dunno if she's ever seen me with a blister, but since I shaved two days ago the ones I have now have been pretty noticable. As a result, I've been avoiding her...It sucks because she's really, really cute and cute girls just never go for me...no girls ever do, really. But that's another issue and one I'm not afraid to post under my own name, should I choose to do so. The issue now is orofacial herpes.

I take a couple lysine tabs for it every day, which is a some kind of protein that helps your body build new cells, thus repairing the sores. I guess I could get a prescription for valtrex if I tried, although it would take a doctor visit...unfortunately my mother's boss, who was a dermatologist, recently passed away.

I mean, if so many people have it (and do they?) does it become less of an issue? Are my sores still contagious when they're healing over? What the hell do I do about this? Have I condemned myself to a life of loneliness, now, when I just seem to be somehow becoming more attractive, at 24? How do I deal with having to talk to people all day long and having these goddamn sores on my face, feeling like a leper? Can anyone else with this comment on it, anonymously or otherwise? Someone else on this board has to have it, right?

tl;dr - I'm 99% certain I've got orofacial herpes and I want to know how other people live with it, and how to deal with it in regards to this new girl in my life who may or may not know that I have it.

Doctor - Go to one.

orofacial, as in cold sores? Jesus man, everyone and their mom has cold sore outbreaks at some point. Are you really that self-conscious?

Also, you're avoiding a girl because you've got a cold sore? Jesus man, what would you do if you had acne? Or a bad hair day? Hang yourself in your closet?

Man you're an idiot, amplified only by the fact that you had wires post this anonymously. I wish she didn't so I could flame you properly.

I get cold sore outbreaks once a year, usually when I've been up for a week studying, it's cold, and my immune system is shit. What do I do? Everything I've been doing prior to that. I've picked up girls with a cold sore, even made out with them. I won't go down on then but doesn't stop you from getting some good old-fashioned sex.

What a fucking pussy.

Awww...poor snookums! There are meds eg: Acyclovir.

There have been some some studies that say the Cabbage family of vegetables seem to inhibit the virus. Generally most people seem to have fewer outbreaks over time.

Without a Doc's input you don't know though. Are they red, unhealing sores? That is usually how they first present, after the initial blisters. Red. Wet. Sores. :(

Isn't oral herpes curable anyway?

It's pretty much impossible to cure a virus. It just goes back to lying dormant until your immune system weakens and it can strike.

You don't need the "STD" to get facial herpes.

Herpes = cold sore

Cold sores = very common


Calm down.

This right here. Alot of people as you said have this form. You can actually catch it from kissing someone! It doesnt even need to be from oral sex I believe.

People even get cold sores by being chastely kissed by their aunts. Eg: if one's aunt kissed you on the cheek when she was shedding viruses, ( no need for there to even be open sores in some cases) & you wiped your cheek & happened to touch your lips with her saliva? That might well be enough.

I imagine birthday & New Years etc. kisses pass the virus too. That's why most of the population has been infected.

Unless you're tested you can't know if it's Herpes 1 or 2. Not that it makes a difference, I think that either one is good for up or down. Some people have just the one outbreak & others have them reoccur.

People with wicked breakouts of herpes used to make me uncomfortable; however, I've been working with a guy that has some of the worst facial herpes that I've ever seen and gotten used to seeing it. Be yourself and don't let it stand in your way. If you're a good guy and you're good at what you do, people will see past it.

QTF.

this is the exact and only reason for any seasonal or else wise breakout of sickness. all of the breakout spikes are tied to social events.

cold has nothing to do with getting you sick... its cuz we like to have lotsa social events durring the cold months to keep ourselves busy.

Doctor - Go to one.

this man.

Valtrex.
Dental dams when you eat her out.
If she likes you she'll deal with it.

This.

It's not a big deal, just don't kiss her or go down on her while you have a cold sore. And you can get OTC stuff to put on them too. I've never had a cold sore but it doesn't bother me if other people do, I just don't kiss them!

Can't cure a virus.

The other thing is that cold sores are oral herpes and they can spread to genital herpes if you go down on someone. Genital herpes can also spread to the face and become oral herpes.

Don't share food or drinks, kiss, or go down on her.

http://www.herpesdoctor.com/herpes/simplex/oral
http://firstaid.webmd.com/cold_sores_treatment_firstaid.htm
http://www.webmd.com/genital-herpes/guide/herpes-std-you-already-have
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-cold-sores-treatment

Can't cure a virus.

The other thing is that cold sores are oral herpes and they can spread to genital herpes if you go down on someone. Genital herpes can also spread to the face and become oral herpes.


"See you in hell, mother fucker!"