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Could I get sexual herpes by touching one with my finger not knowing?

Could tell me if it’s possible to get herpes by touching an somewhat inflamed one on my best friends butt with my finger.  As an esthetician I naturally touched it with my pointer finger to see if it was an ingrown hair or pimple.  It wasn’t & I just found his herpes medicine. I don’t know what else I touched or if I touched my face after this or washed my hands.  I can’t remember.   Anyway, could have infected myself?  Thank you
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You have to have a cut or abrasion for herpes to get in.  The reason why it is often sexually transmitted is simply because mucous membranes are more delicate than ordinary skin and so get damaged, cut or abraded more easily.  So, no you can't get herpes just from touching it with a finger that has no open wound.  however, you should wash hands immediately with soap and water to avoid spreading it to another part of your body or someone else's.
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Hands do not transmit STDs (unless someone has an active herpetic whitlow outbreak).

https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/news/20190215/hands-dont-spread-hpv-study-finds

Here are some posts from our experts (when we had them) that may help -

https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Nervous-about-mutual-masturbation/show/2183476

https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Mutual-Masturbation-STD/show/1968429

https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/mutual-masturbation-sti/show/1858544

https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Understanding-the-risks-of-mutual-fingering/show/1516796

https://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Vaginal-fluid-on-hand-touched-inside-of-condom-and-head-of-penis/show/1119533 - read this thread thoroughly. There is an excellent explanation about why certain activities are not risks, and why others are.


207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
First, his sore could have been a pimple or ingrown hair - not everything that happens in the genital area is herpes, even in someone who has it.

In any case, if it was herpes, a simple touch isn't going to transmit it. The skin on your hands is too thick for the virus to penetrate, and it takes some friction for it to even transmit to mucous membranes (mouth, genitals).

I'm sure that if you had that kind of friction, it would have hurt him, and he'd have stopped you.

You don't have anything to worry about here. :)
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