HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

Is it possible to contract herpes through skin to skin contact?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Michael Ein answered

Specializes in Infectious Disease

Yes: This is typically how hsv 1, oral herpes and hsv 2, genital herpes are spread.

Dr Po agreed

Answered 12/9/2012

5.4k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

Can herpes simplex affect other areas of the body, without direct skin to skin contact?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

I know this might be a silly question. Lately, I have had extreme anxiety when it comes to my health, but could things like herpes be passed by just talking to someone? You would need to have direct skin-to-skin contact right?

5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

Is herpes a blood borne virus. Is skin to skin infection possible without getting the virus in blood or the virus resides in skin cells and not transmitted to blood. Is the transmission possible with a foot/body massage without blood to blood contact?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Do i have to spray sanitiser on my clothes after going to the toilet if I have herpes? Since you use your hand, it comes into skin to skin contact with the area and then one touches underwear and pants before washing hands?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Sir.Can Hsv2 Herpes be contacted without Sex. A male Virgin .I had tingling,severe itching,redness,swelling on penis which oozed fluid from skin,sored and formed scabs like burns and healed.What could it be?? Thanks

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

Herpes is only transmitted through skin to skin contact and not spit?
I bit my lip and now have a sore because of that. It is not a herpes outbreak. Can i orally pass herpes through skin contact with that sore?
If skin is a protective barrier, why doesn't it protect you from herpes or other diseases?How do they infect if theyre in contact with dead skin cell?
How long after skin to skin contact does it take for a herpes breakout to appear?
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?

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.