Herpes from lip gloss tester

[jilljow]

I tried on some lip gloss at a sephora recently.  I tried it on with an individual applicator but there is a chance I used the gloss aplicator and not a disposable.  It was a saturday 1.5 hours after the store opened.

I actually thought better of it immediately and wiped it off my lips thinking that someone may have still contaminated the gloss by redipping or using the product applicator itself rather than the disposables.

1.  What is the chance that hsv-1 can be transmited in this scenario?  If used individual applicator.  If used the product applicator.  The store had not been opened long and it was the am.
2.  How long does hsv-1 live in lip gloss at room temperature?

I am worried after reading the LA Times

[LoveEllen]

I did my friends makeup, full face. She used my makeup forever flash pallet ..pointer finger on one color and middle finger in another. For her lips. I used another color on her eyes. I cleaned all of my brushes after. And I even went wiped the serface of each item used and poured 91% alcohol onto them. The next day she called and said she had a herpe in her mouth. I did notice a sore on her mouth the day I did the makeup but though it was an ingrown hair or acne. So I know and she knows it was not my makeup that transmitted it. I went to the extreme and froze my pallet for 1 hour in the freezer. It cost me 120$ so I don't want to throw it out.. It's been 3 days. I have not used it yet. Do you think it will be usable again? What about eyeshadowkin or face powders?

[LoveEllen]

I did my friends makeup, full face. She used my makeup forever flash pallet ..pointer finger on one color and middle finger in another. For her lips. I used another color on her eyes. I cleaned all of my brushes after. And I even went wiped the serface of each item used and poured 91% alcohol onto them. The next day she called and said she had a herpe in her mouth. I did notice a sore on her mouth the day I did the makeup but though it was an ingrown hair or acne. So I know and she knows it was not my makeup that transmitted it. I went to the extreme and froze my pallet for 1 hour in the freezer. It cost me 120$ so I don't want to throw it out.. It's been 3 days. I have not used it yet. Do you think it will be usable again? What about eyeshadowkin or face powders?

[nurseliz24]

hsv1 is a common virus, anyone who has ever had a cold sore, or fever blister already carries the virus which lays dormant in the nerve cells near the area where the fever blisters occurs. An outbreak of blister or sore usually happens during stress, illness or due to Sun exposure. this is when hsv1 is transmitted, and it comes from the inside fluid in the sore not from someones saliva

[gracefromHHP]

honestly it's not worth all this worry. it wasn't a risk .

[jilljow]

Just one follow up.  I did wipe it off.  Does that change your answer.

Would wiping it off have been the level of friction you mentioned to transmit it?

It sounds like if I was very sick with something else with a fever for  weeks just after trying on the lip gloss if hsv-1 were transmitted then I would have had sypmtoms.

You are saying that from what you know that hsv-1 was not transmitted and to let it go?
Thank you.

[gracefromHHP]

usually just infants and toddlers get it through less direct contact. they have immature immune systems and are more vulnerable to infection in general.

most folks get symptoms of infection but not all get obvious cold sores are their symptoms.

[jilljow]

Grace,

1.  Regarding the HSV-1, do researchers know why in adults they do not get HSV-1 via indirect contact like lip gloss?  I assume you are saying that children and adolescents do get it from indirect contact?

2.  As an adult is it more likely to manifest symptoms at primary infection whereas as a kid or young adult the primary infection might be without sypmtoms.

Thank you.

[gracefromHHP]

no, that's not likely to happen either.

by the time we are in our 40's, 90% of us have ebv virus. it's very common and most of us get it through kissing.    In folks who have it, it reactivates periodically and sheds to be transmitted to others.  

grace

[jilljow]

Grace.  Thank you.  Do you think you can get mono from lip gloss tester?  A week after I got mono which prompted me thinking about this stuff.

[gracefromHHP]

you aren't going to get herpes from just applying it to your lips. It takes the heat and friction of romantic type kisses to infect adults with hsv1 orally.

stand in a sephora for about 20 minutes in the make up section. you'll want to vomit when you see the way folks use the testers.

grace

[jilljow]

Grace,
I appreciate the response.  You are right to never use testers.

1.  Could you give me a little more information regarding why there is no risk of HSV-1 transmission from using a lip gloss tester under the scenario that I described?  I rubbed the gloss off my lips.

2.  How long does hsv-1 live in lip gloss at room temperature?  Would it be viable over night?  Would gloss dilute any saliva making it hard for HSV-1 to live in the gloss tube?

I ask because there was a recent article citing dermatologists stating that in addition to e.coli and staph also herpes was found in testers.  Are there other viruses you can get?

This really concerned me.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/18/image/la-ig-testers-20100418

Many thanks.

[gracefromHHP]

of all the germs to worry about from using in store cosmetics like that, herpes is not one of them.

I never sample cosmetics like that. It's worth just buying something you think you might like and if you don't like it once you have it at home, either return it or toss it. Too many other germs on them to worry about.

grace