Question 1

if you touch somebody elses herpes sore with just your hand and then you wash your hands with soap and water, does it kill the herpes virus?

Accepted Answer

: It makes it MUCH less likely that the herpes will spread to you.  As in much of medicine, nothing is absolute.  Spread is less likely, not impossible

Question 2

does washing your hands with soap and water kill the herpes virus if you were to touch a herpes sore?

Accepted Answer

: Likely, yes, particularly if done soon.

Question 3

how long does herpes virus live on finger if you touch a cold sore and dont wash your hands? is it a few seconds? or longer?

Accepted Answer

: There is little or no risk of transmission, even immediately. Don't worry about infecting yourself at a new site; that almost never happens -- the immune system prevents new infections with the HSV type someone already has. In theory, there could be risk to a sex partner, e.g. if that finger then had contact with a partner's genital area. But nobody is known to have caught herpes from fingering.

Question 4

if someone touches a cold sore then touches a surface (without washing their hands) can the herpes virus be spread that way? or only if its skin-to-skin contact?

Accepted Answer

: Any contact with a "cold sore" caused by herpes virus, which then contacts a mucosal surface (genital or oral) can spread the herpes virus.  Not all "cold sores" are caused by herpes virus.

Question 5

will dryer kill herpes virus? example : i took clothes out the washing machine but touched cold sore before i did that & then put the clothes in dryer, would it kill the virus? or should i wash them again i have hsv1 orally i dont want it genitally?

Accepted Answer

: Probably it would kill the virus, but it wouldn't matter if it doesn't. People are immune to new infections with the virus type they already have, and nobody with oral HSV1 ever transmits it to her own genital area. You need take no special precaution with laundry or anything else.

Question 6

if you touch a herpes sore with your hands and then wash them, does it kill the disease? if after you wash your hands vigorously and then touch your genitals are you safe from getting the disease?

Accepted Answer

: You're correct in thinking that you can spread the herpes virus by touching an eruption&amp; then touching some skin elsewhere. It's felt that the herpes virus is very fragile when it leaves a cell and that soap and water will kill it. I, myself, would prefer to use rubbing alcohol to kill the virus.

Question 7

how long does the herpes virus stay on your hand after touching a sore? can u infect someone else by touching them with your hand before washing?

Accepted Answer

Possibily: Some people with intact skin develop herpetic whitlow after touching herpetic sore, others don't. There is no way to tell who will get it. If you washed your hands right away chances are smaller, but there is still a risk. Can you infect someone else? It's a possibility, but again, small chance.

Question 8

lets say you touch somebodys herpes sore with just your hand and then you wash it off, does that remove the herpes virus from your hands?

Accepted Answer

: Yes. The herpes viruses are extremely sensitive to soap and washing and would be instantly killed. (Even without washing, this would be low risk for being infected.)

Question 9

how long does the herpes virus live on objects? if my roommate touches cold sore, doesn't wash hands, puts away "clean" forks, and i eat 20 min later.

Accepted Answer

ANSWER: Herpes viruses last for 4 hours on plastic 3  hours on cloth and two hours on the skin..I would use 4 hours as a "safe" time...BTW your ROOM MATE IS A SLOB! 
BUY some BLEACH or get a NEW ROOMATE!

Hope the helps!
Dr Z

Question 10

hi there, i was wondering if 70% alcohol based sanitizer is enough to kill the herpes virus on your hands?

Accepted Answer

: Yes , it does kill the herpes virus after contact for 2-10 minutes ., but it is not effective against some viruses like hepatitisA and Poliovirus.

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Doctor answers about:

Does hand washing kill herpes virus if you touch sore

A member asked:

If you touch somebody elses herpes sore with just your hand and then you wash your hands with soap and water, does it kill the herpes virus?

A member asked:

Does washing your hands with soap and water kill the herpes virus if you were to touch a herpes sore?

A member asked:

How long does herpes virus live on finger if you touch a cold sore and dont wash your hands? is it a few seconds? or longer?

A member asked:

If someone touches a cold sore then touches a surface (without washing their hands) can the herpes virus be spread that way? or only if its skin-to-skin contact?

A member asked:

Will dryer kill herpes virus? example : i took clothes out the washing machine but touched cold sore before i did that & then put the clothes in dryer, would it kill the virus? or should i wash them again i have hsv1 orally i dont want it genitally?

A member asked:

If you touch a herpes sore with your hands and then wash them, does it kill the disease? if after you wash your hands vigorously and then touch your genitals are you safe from getting the disease?

A member asked:

How long does the herpes virus stay on your hand after touching a sore? can u infect someone else by touching them with your hand before washing?

A member asked:

Lets say you touch somebodys herpes sore with just your hand and then you wash it off, does that remove the herpes virus from your hands?

A member asked:

How long does the herpes virus live on objects? if my roommate touches cold sore, doesn't wash hands, puts away "clean" forks, and i eat 20 min later.

A member asked:

Hi there, i was wondering if 70% alcohol based sanitizer is enough to kill the herpes virus on your hands?

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