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What Does HSV Look Like?

HSV stands for herpes simplex virus. It causes small, generally mild sores around the oral, genital or anal area. Sores can be red, white, flat, inflamed and appear individually or in mass quantities. HSV is a viral infection that is typically treated through the use of topical anesthetics, creams or ointments that provide temporary pain relief.

  1. Types

    • There are two types of HSV: HSV-1 and HSV-2. HSV-1 is a common, mild form of herpes that most often occurs on the mouth, tongue, lips and inside of cheek. HSV-1 is more commonly known as "cold sores" or "canker sores." HSV-2 occurs on the genitals (genital herpes) and is much more uncommon than HSV-1. HSV-2 is typically transmitted through sexual contact with an infected individual and is therefore considered a sexually-transmitted disease (STD).

    HSV-1

    • Cold sores on the lip, mouth and tongue are generally preceded by a sensation of itching or tingling in the oral area. As they begin to form, tissue around the affected area becomes red or swollen. Eventually, the skin will blister or rupture. Once fully matriculated, a cold sore will appear puffy or protrude slightly from the soft tissue of the mouth. Sores may also have a white or greenish cap in the middle of the inflamed area. These sores may be placed sporadically around the mouth or clustered closely together.

    HSV-2

    • The appearance of HSV-2 is very similar to HSV-1. Sores caused by HSV-2 are found on the penile shaft, cervix, vagina, vulva and around the anus. Sores are typically red, swollen, puffy and tender to the touch. Over time, sores will often blister and develop the white or greenish cap in their center. Fluid or pus may seep from the sores if they are aggravated or broken. Once broken, a blister may develop into a ulcer or lesion that is very painful when aggravated.

    Size

    • The size of HSV sores depends on their severity and quantity. Typically, sores are only a few centimeters wide. The white or green cap in the center of the sore is usually around the size of a mosquito bite. The affected area may be bigger if there are several sores adjacent to one another.

    Warning

    • No cure exists for HSV. While symptoms are typically mild and involve minimal discomfort, a person with the herpes simplex virus will have it for the rest of their life. Outbreaks typically arise and abate over time. See a doctor if you have multiple outbreaks over 2-3 months or if outbreaks cause acute pain.

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