Resolved question:
I was wondering if it is possible for herpes HSV-1 to spread from my lip to my eyes or other parts of my own body by traveling through my nervous system and just randomly spreading there or can it only spread if I rub my lip with my finger then rub my eye?
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Ophthalmologist
Hello,
Thank you for your query.
There is only a slight chance of that happening iff you have open infected mouth sores, and there is frequent touching of the eyes with the contaminated fingers.
Otherwise, there is no way it can randomly spread to different parts of the body like that.
Regards.
So it won't just randomly show up in my eye? Only will go to my eye if I touch an obvious sore and then rub my eye?
Yes, only if you touch a sore, it can be spread to your eyes. Not without it.
Another concern with this I have is I have been on Google a lot seeing new research saying that my lips have virus present almost all the time everyday. Even CNN posted a research article about it saying that 20% of days every month I have virus shedding on my lips even without any evidence of a sore. So is it pretty much never safe to ever touch my lips or kiss anyone again? It's really got me tore up and scared honestly seeing all this new research coming out about HSV and being contagious and able to spread the virus to myself and others pretty much all the time now
Once you start anitviral treatment and complete it , it won't be contagious.
My doctor never gave me antiviral treatments. Only antiviral cream to rub on the sore.
Alright. Please complete the treatment the doctor has given you. The sore won't be contagious after the treatment.