A 27-year-old female asked:
2 month ago i got herpes cold sore on my lip 1 month ago it seemed to heal but redness remains & it has slowly better am i still contagious?can i kiss
2 doctor answers
Dr. Dean Giannone answered
25 years experience Internal Medicine
Not contagious: The redness could be something called postinflammatory hyperpigmentation which is normal after such a lesion. Not contagious at this point.
Answered on Sep 28, 2016
Dr. J. Lawrence Dohan answered
57 years experience Dermatology
OK to kiss: Slightly contagious when no sore is present. Relax. Most people already have it without any symptoms. So the person you kiss already has it or will get it anyway. Do not kiss kids with active eczema or people with diseases of disordered immunity. The color will soon be normal. Valacyclovir and acyclovir prescription pills are very effective to treat or prevent attacks. Attacks may come from sun
Answered on Sep 20, 2014
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Related questions:
A 27-year-old female asked:
Dr. J. Lawrence Dohan answered
57 years experience Dermatology
Yes: Most of these are HSV1 and most adults already have it without any symptoms. So whoever you kiss either already has it or will get it anyway. You shed ... Read More
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A 21-year-old male asked:
Dr. Mazen Kherallah answered
34 years experience Infectious Disease
HSV Infection: Cold sores are HSV (herpes) infection and it looks like you got the infection from her. Lesions will usually start to heal on their own within a few d ... Read More
A 34-year-old member asked:
Could use your help docs! my cold sore is all gone but is still red. Is it still contagious to kiss?
Dr. Heidi Fowler answered
25 years experience Psychiatry
It is possible to: spread the herpes virus even it there is not an active lesion.
A female asked:
Dr. Danielle DeHoratius answered
19 years experience Dermatology
No: If the blister is gone you are not contagious but it may take some time for the spot to resolve. Make sure you protect it from the sun.
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