What do herpes look like on a woman

For people with recurrent outbreaks, you can also use antiviral medications on a daily basis to suppress the virus and lower the risk of transmission to under 10 percent. Weight Loss. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Ab Exercises for a Stronger Core. MirageC Getty Images. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Sofie Delauw Getty Images. Elitsa Deykova Getty Images.

Cassie Shortsleeve Freelance Writer Cassie Shortsleeve is a skilled freelance writer and editor with almost a decade of experience reporting on all things health, fitness, and travel. Herpes is a skin condition caused by the herpes simplex virus. The symptoms include sores that come and go over time. Different types of herpes affect different body parts. This article will explain what herpes is, how people get it, and what herpes looks like with pictures. Most people with HSV are asymptomatic, meaning they will not experience any symptoms.

Others will notice sores or lesions. These sores look like blisters filled with fluid. Over a few days, the sores break open, ooze, and form a crust before healing. People may also notice a tingling, itching, or burning feeling a few days before the sores appear. Some people may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as:. Someone who has contracted the virus will usually have their first sores, or an outbreak, between 2 and 20 days later.

The sores may last up to a week or 10 days. An outbreak may involve a single sore or a cluster of sores. They often affect the skin around the mouth, the genitals, or the rectum. The blisters can take between 2 and 4 weeks to heal. The symptoms will usually reappear from time to time, though they do not tend to be as severe as the first time.

The following sections discuss the symptoms of herpes that arise on commonly affected body parts. People develop herpes after being exposed to the herpes simplex virus HSV.

There are two types of this virus:. People can contract both herpes viruses through bodily fluids, including genital fluids and saliva.

Once someone has the virus, the symptoms can flare up from time to time for the rest of their life. While the sores can be uncomfortable and even painful, they are not usually dangerous for otherwise healthy adults.

In oral herpes , most blisters appear on the lips or mouth. They can also form elsewhere on the face, especially around the chin and below the nose, or on the tongue. At first, the sores look similar to small bumps or pimples before developing into pus-filled blisters. These may be red, yellow or white. Once they burst, a clear or yellow liquid will run out, before the blister develops a yellow crust and heals. Females with genital herpes may develop sores on the vulva, which is the external part of the genitals that includes the outer lips labia , or inside the vagina.

It may be difficult to see sores that develop inside the vagina. If you have any symptoms of herpes, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. In the meantime, take proper precautions to avoid transmitting the infection to other locations on your own body or to others.

Here are some things you can do during an outbreak:. Herpes can be treated with antiviral medications, which may help you have fewer, shorter, and less severe outbreaks. Herpes is a very common condition.

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Read more on how to treat it. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph. What does herpes feel like? What does a herpes outbreak feel like?

What causes or triggers a recurrence? How is herpes diagnosed? When to see a doctor.