I get quite a few e-mails each week about what exactly herpes sores or herpes blisters feel like, what they look like, and how to tell the difference between any other genital type sore or blister. I wish I had an exact answer for you but I think I can narrow it down.
Herpes Blisters:
The difficult thing with HSV2 is that the symptoms of herpes can vary so much from person to person. While it is quite possible to have a rash that includes a cluster of smaller blisters, in my experience (and it is my blog!), 80% of my outbreaks consist of a single herpes blister or sore. I can feel it a few days before it’s arrival. The skin or the mucous membrane becomes extremely sensitive to the touch and there will be an almost unbearable itch exactly where the sore will appear. It usually starts out as a lump under the skin and as it starts to push out it becomes very sore and swollen. This is the most painful and difficult part for me. I often use tea tree oil mixed with olive oil to take away the bulk of the symptoms.
Herpes Sores:
As the herpes outbreak continues to push out through the skin you will notice (if you are looking) a fluid filled sore that is still quite painful but perhaps less so at this point. I am feeling more comfortable at this stage because I know if will just be a matter of time before the sore opens and healing can begin. Because I am using what works for me (tea tree oil, vitamin E, peroxide) during the different stages of the herpes outbreak, I really do feel that I drastically speed up my outbreak time from probably 10 – 12 days down to 5 – 6 days. It is extremely rare for me to have an outbreak that lasts longer than a week start to finish.
I hope I have given you enough information here to recognize herpes blisters and/or herpes sores (they are the same thing), and to realize what are NOT herpes blisters or sores. Yeast infection symptoms (itching, burning, redness throughout the entire vagina and labia area); vaginal impetigo which does NOT hurt and is not sore; ingrown hairs which can actually look like herpes outbreaks but feel much more like a skin blemish and are most often easily burst (it is very difficult to burst a herpes sore and I would never recommend it as it can become infected and scarring can result. Plus it does nothing to speed up healing); and any number of other genital skin conditions that may resemble herpes but are not.
Take care.
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