Or…do I haveherpes?
If cold sores and pimples look so similar, how can you tell which is herpes?
First, lets talk about whats behind each of these blemishes.
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Herpes is brought on by two herpes simplex viruses.
But its possible to get oral HSV-2, often by having oral sex.
Both strains lead to the same symptoms, including sores.
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The biggest tell that you have a cold sore often isnt how it looks, but how you feel.
If it causes an outbreak, it can trigger symptoms up to a day before a red bump forms.
If people get recurrent outbreaks, the preliminary flu-like symptoms tend to fade or go away entirely over time.
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They typically form as a single bump, which may develop a pus-filled whitehead at its center.
(Which you definitely shouldnt, because it always makes things worse, she says.)
But if a bump seems to take up space on your lip itself, odds are that its herpes.
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That might look something like this:
Im still having a hard time telling whats what.
Are there any surefire signs that a bump is herpes?
There are exceptions to these rules, Dr. Sarnoff points out.
Some people with herpes dont get those tingling feelings before developing a cold sore.
A cluster of blisters can merge into one mass, Dr. Brodell explains.
Oral herpes is contagious, especially when youre experiencing an outbreak.
These swab tests are widely available, incredibly accurate, and quick for labs to turn around.
What if Idohave a cold sore?
If it turns out you have a pimple, then chances are you knowhow to deal with it.
And if you have a cold sore, dont worrytheyre super common and actually not hard to handle.
Many just dont know it, because only 2040% of them actually develop symptoms.
