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Herpes on palm of hand
Hello. I have herpes on the palm of my hand. I assumped it was Zoster. I first saw the outbreak on the palm of my hand when I had my very first outbreak (contracted) of genital herpes. I always assumped it triggered Zoster in my hand.
However, my hand has frequent, recurring flare-ups, approximately once every 3 months. What can the treatment be? I was told by my physician that it wasn't Zoster since it is recurring--that it's "Herpes". I'm guessing it's HSV-2 on my hand?
Will Lysine help with this? And how contagious is it with other people?
Also, my boyfriend has herpes too. Since we both have herpes (I got it initially from him about 2 years ago), do we need to worry about protecting each other? Can we trigger each other's outbreaks?
As you can see I have a few questions. :) Thanks for any help you can provide! :)
However, my hand has frequent, recurring flare-ups, approximately once every 3 months. What can the treatment be? I was told by my physician that it wasn't Zoster since it is recurring--that it's "Herpes". I'm guessing it's HSV-2 on my hand?
Will Lysine help with this? And how contagious is it with other people?
Also, my boyfriend has herpes too. Since we both have herpes (I got it initially from him about 2 years ago), do we need to worry about protecting each other? Can we trigger each other's outbreaks?
As you can see I have a few questions. :) Thanks for any help you can provide! :)
Hi, if you have hsv2 gential you would be basicly immune to contracting it on the hand.
1 Comments
Nope. So very, very wrong.
I've gotten it where it starts with a tingling on the palm by the little finger and then progressing into 5 blisters that were so painful, even the movement of air across them was agony. I was freaked out when the culture came back that it was Herpes. My doctor recommended that the next time I feel the tingling start, to apply Abbreva ointment right away. I've done that and it didn't progress to the blister part, thank goodness! I hope this works for you.
I have had this since I was 17 and I am 51 now. I contracted HSV2 from my ex husband before we got married. I get it on the palm of my hand. What I do, and this works for me, the minute I feel the first itchy little blister - I pop it with a sterilized needle or I use a sterilized cuticle nippers to open the blister. I get a cotton ball, or even a piece of tissue and put rubbing alcohol and rub it into the sore. I make sure I drain all of the fluid out - it may be mixed with a little blood but that's ok. Repeat the rubbing alcohol process as many times as you feel necessary. Then keep it covered with a band-aid for a day or two until it dries out. It nips the outbreak in the bud and I don't get any worse or more blisters. Thought sharing this might help others. The worst thing I think you could do is to allow the blister to form. I have been doing this for as long as I have had it.
Good to know I'm not the only one. I have had this for many years. It used to appear on the side of my pinky or on the palm of my hand. For years now it has been only on the palm of my hand. It was cultured years ago as Herpes 2, which really freaked me out. I have an outbreak now and probably get it 3-4 times a year. I should start keeping track. I hate the itching and pain associated with this. Taking the prescription helps to lessen the outbreak, but you have to catch it right away. I was at work this time and had to wait several hours after the pain and itching started before I could start the meds. I teach, so I keep it covered at work to minimize the possibility of spreading it.Bandaids that have what looks like legs on each end stay on that part of the hand the best.
Just got back from the doctor.... for about a year now every 4 months I get tingling in my palm by my thumb then tight skin and little hard bumps form and a red line starts creeping up my arm. First I thought it was blood poisoning and rushed to urgent care to just get antibiotics and told that it was a blister with a nasty infection. I just went to my family doc and he said it was a cold sore....I googled the name of the drug he gave me and it's used to treat herpes and I FREAKED! I dont have gential herpes, I'm tested once a year, how on earth do I have herpes on my hand, disgusting, I'm so upset about this....he wants to do a culture when they surface and he wants to pop it, they don't really "surface" but I lanced it before and it's clear liquid. So gross, anyone know how you get this or what the red line is?
I have had Whitlow Herpes since I was about 21 - started on my right index finger and throught the yrs has moved down into the palm of my hand - it went away for quite a while - but resurfaces usually when I get upset or nervouse (I don't have gential herpes)- it's painful and annoying - When I got married it was a big as a golf ball - I just want to know if the Shingles Vaccination would help??
please start a new post of your own so things don't get confusing - thanks!
grace
grace
Hi, my 2 year old got herpes 1 a year ago by being kissed by someone with it. He's been confirmed with blood tests but since then he's had clusters of blisters on his bottom, feet and hands. It looks like herpes to me but Dr's say it localises to one area on the body. I dont believe it, I'm frustrated with the dr's. What do you think?
Ravvi
Ravvi
RE: Pitruk's post
My symptoms/diagnosis is exactly the same. For 3 years now I've had outbreaks approximately every 4-6 months- always the same. Painfull cluster of blisters on the palm of my hand that never "break" the surface- they hang out under the skin. Red line of death that steadily crawls up my arm until I go for treatment- Valtrex and antibiotics. First intravaneous then oral if I've waited too long.
The first 3 or 4 breakouts were a mystery- first diagnosed as Shingles. A culture confirmed Herpes, though I do not know which strain. Somehow the infection gets into my lymph nodes and creeps- the more I use the hand the faster it spreads.
Just got another breakout yesterday and although I was very careful with the hand, the red line crawled to mid-forearm by this morning, so I went to a walk-in clinic rather than wait for Monday and an appt with my regular Dr. I started taking the Valtrex but am putting off the antibiotics- want to see if I can get rid of it with just the one med this time.
Unlike most of you, I know EXACTLY how I got this. Had a small pucture wound on my hand. Was working at the airport handling baggage and because the gloves irritated the cut I stopped wearing them to let it heal, which it did. 2 weeks later I had my first outbreak. Must've handled a contaminated bag. If I had only followed protocol and warn my darn gloves I wouldn't be in this mess.
My symptoms/diagnosis is exactly the same. For 3 years now I've had outbreaks approximately every 4-6 months- always the same. Painfull cluster of blisters on the palm of my hand that never "break" the surface- they hang out under the skin. Red line of death that steadily crawls up my arm until I go for treatment- Valtrex and antibiotics. First intravaneous then oral if I've waited too long.
The first 3 or 4 breakouts were a mystery- first diagnosed as Shingles. A culture confirmed Herpes, though I do not know which strain. Somehow the infection gets into my lymph nodes and creeps- the more I use the hand the faster it spreads.
Just got another breakout yesterday and although I was very careful with the hand, the red line crawled to mid-forearm by this morning, so I went to a walk-in clinic rather than wait for Monday and an appt with my regular Dr. I started taking the Valtrex but am putting off the antibiotics- want to see if I can get rid of it with just the one med this time.
Unlike most of you, I know EXACTLY how I got this. Had a small pucture wound on my hand. Was working at the airport handling baggage and because the gloves irritated the cut I stopped wearing them to let it heal, which it did. 2 weeks later I had my first outbreak. Must've handled a contaminated bag. If I had only followed protocol and warn my darn gloves I wouldn't be in this mess.
it's not likely this is herpes related. you having hsv1 orally for so long means it's not likely you'd get it on other body parts.
see a dermatologist. odds are this is a contact dermatitis going on and not herpes.
grace
see a dermatologist. odds are this is a contact dermatitis going on and not herpes.
grace
OH MY GOSSSH!!! OK SO I JUST HAD A BABY ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO....AND I NEVER TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED HERPES BUT I DO GET COLD SORES A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR AND THATS BEEN HAPPENING LIKE ALL MY LIFE SO...RECENTLY ABOUT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I STARTED GETTING COLD SORE LIKE SYMPTOMS ON MY PALM OF MY RIGHT HAND AND ON THE SIDE OF MY PINKY :-( !! IVE BEEN FREAKING OUT NOT KNOWING WHAT IT IS AND I DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE SO....IVE TRIED LOTRIMIN THINKING IT MIGHT BE RINGOWORM...LOL!...ABREVA KINDA HELPED....BUT NOW SINCE IM READING ALL OF YOUR POSTS IM PRETTY SURE IT IS HERPES!! NO THAT ITS SOMETHING TO BE EXCITED ABOUT BUT IM SOO GLAD I THINK IVE FIGURED OUT WHAT IT IS THNKS FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL COMMENTS AND ADVICE
it sounds like you have more than just herpes going on. what testing did they do that confirmed it was herpes on the hand originally?
herpes blisters don't stay "underneath the skin" either.
grace
herpes blisters don't stay "underneath the skin" either.
grace
Had the first outbreak on the edge of my hand when i was thiteen years or something didn´t hurt but went with the signs of a heavy bloodinfection. (Red line from the hand on) I got in hospital and tey said the bloodinfection and the herpes would be two different things but one year later i got it again the same way so im sure it was the herpes. The hand and the lymps were swollen and in the end the infected skin on the hand got black and new skin grew under it. The Antibiotics didn t help at all altough i got them intavenios cause the docs were scared that the signs of the bloodinfection didn t went better. Since then i sometimes get some blisters under the skin of my Hands and fingers but they don t hurt or itsch so i dont care. Can i infect other persons altogh the blisters stay underneath my skin?
Never bit my Nails or things like that and never had outbreaks on my mouth or elsewhere.
Greetings from Germany
Never bit my Nails or things like that and never had outbreaks on my mouth or elsewhere.
Greetings from Germany
I have never had a genital or oral herpes outbreak, but I would get an outbreak between my fingers and the palm of my hand. I researched and read that you get herpes on the hand most likely because you may bite your nails or put your fingers in your mouth. If your saliva gets into a cut on your hands you can spread herpes in that area. Nail biting usually causes cuticles to tear and the herpes virus can spread from your saliva to your hands even if you are not having an oral outbreak. I only have outbreaks on my left hand and a little bit on my index finger of the right. I usually bite my nails on my left hand as a nervous habit. If the pain is really bad I put a bag of ice on my hand and it always helps. 100% natural Vitamin E oil has been very helpful for me too. It eases pain and heals dry and cracking skin. It also helps outbreaks go away faster.
I have the same thing on my hand, I get about 5 to 8 blisters ,my palm will tingle then itch then get real painfull nothing helps, this sucks! Does anyone know how you get it on the palm of your hand? Oh I had my hand byopsed but it came back as unknown origin, :-(
It's very painful. Starts out as tingling, then itchy/tingling, then as it progresses it's very painful (though I'm getting used to it).
Exona
Was the herpes on your hand painful or just a small group of lumps? I had a breakout on my palm but it wasnt painful. Wil be having a blood test soon to find out if I am positive or not.
Many thanks.
Was the herpes on your hand painful or just a small group of lumps? I had a breakout on my palm but it wasnt painful. Wil be having a blood test soon to find out if I am positive or not.
Many thanks.
If insurance isn't makin the valtrex affordable consider acyclovir instead and just take it 2x/day.
also don't forget about the $10 coupons on the valtrex website. You can use them for copys too. for instance if you have a $30 copay on name brand drugs you can use the coupon and only pay $20.
grace
also don't forget about the $10 coupons on the valtrex website. You can use them for copys too. for instance if you have a $30 copay on name brand drugs you can use the coupon and only pay $20.
grace
Thanks...I started suppressive therapy with Valtrex (thank goodness for insurance..it's so expensive!) I'll see how that goes. :)
Your doctor is correct - this isn't zoster on your hand. It's your hsv2 most likely. I would confirm by culture that indeed it is hsv2 but it sounds like it probably is since it appeared at the same time as your genital herpes. Meanwhile when it flares up - keep it covered because you can transmit it to others ( your bf excluded - he's not likely to contract it on another body part ).
Lysine doesn't do much at all for herpes. Don't waste your time on it.
Since both you and your man have hsv2 - transmission isn't an issue. You don't have to worry about your herpes at all in this relationship. You won't trigger each others ob's or anything else. You won't make each others infections "worse" either.
Why not give suppressive therapy a try and see how that goes? Having whitlow recurrences several times a year sounds like a total pain ( both literally and figuratively ). Acyclovir is the cheapest option but valtrex is the most convenient option. My philosophy is - why have more ob's than you have to?
grace
Lysine doesn't do much at all for herpes. Don't waste your time on it.
Since both you and your man have hsv2 - transmission isn't an issue. You don't have to worry about your herpes at all in this relationship. You won't trigger each others ob's or anything else. You won't make each others infections "worse" either.
Why not give suppressive therapy a try and see how that goes? Having whitlow recurrences several times a year sounds like a total pain ( both literally and figuratively ). Acyclovir is the cheapest option but valtrex is the most convenient option. My philosophy is - why have more ob's than you have to?
grace
I have never had a vaginal outbreak of Herpes, but i have it on the palm of my hand and was diagnosed by a culture when I was 16 that it is HSV-2 the STD. I will go for a while without an outbreak. Sometimes, though, i will have outbreaks every 3 months like you say. I am 28 years old now. I have been with my husband for 11 years now and he has never developed herpes that we now of (has never had a blood test). I can not find much information about herpes on the hand. I will now when i am going to have an outbreak because the palm of my hand becomes numb and my arm will sometimes hurt. I hope this helps and if you have found out any other information about it please let me know.
Did anybody ever culture this thing on your hand to actually determine if it was in fact herpes? That's the first thing I'd do if I were you. Find out for sure what it is.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
