Herpes, according to MedlinePlus, is an infection caused by the herpes simplex virus. Oral herpes causes lesions on the mouth or face; genital herpes causes lesions on the genitals, rectum, buttocks and thighs. Herpes lesions are commonly confused with other kinds of lesions, including insect bites, abrasions, rashes and even ingrown hairs, which explains why, according to the American Social Health Association, as many as 90 percent of people with herpes have no idea they are infected.
Step 1
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap. Expose the lesion and position yourself so that you can see it comfortably.
Step 2
Examine the lesion using the magnifying mirror, without touching it. An ingrown hair will contain a hair, while a herpes lesion will not. Sometimes the hair will be immediately recognizable; other times it will look like a dark shadow or line.
Step 3
Observe the shape and appearance of the lesion if you are unable to observe a hair. Herpes lesions, according to an Oct. 15, 2005, article in "American Family Physician," appear as small (1 to 2 mm) blisters filled with clear or cloudy yellow fluid with a central dimple, called an "umbilication," in the center. An ingrown hair may be distended uniformly outward, like a pimple, or it may appear as a slightly raised area covered with scales of dead skin. However, an ingrown hair will rarely appear as an umbilicated blister.
Step 4
Apply gentle traction to the skin surrounding the lesion if you are unable to observe a hair. Have your cotton balls or gauze ready, because herpes lesions rupture easily, often spontaneously, and the fluid that is released is extremely infectious. If the lesion ruptures, examine the material that is discharged. As described above, yellow liquid usually signifies a herpes lesion. Waxy solid material or thick white pus usually signifies an ingrown hair, which will need to be removed before the lesion will resolve.
Step 5
Clean up. Discard soiled cotton balls or gauze. Wash your hands and any tools or surfaces that you may have touched during your examination.
Tips and Warnings
- Herpes lesions will resolve on their own without scarring. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," during a first-time outbreak, this may take up to four weeks, although the lesion will start to show signs of improvement before then. In a recurrent outbreak, lesions usually heal within one week. An ingrown hair will not resolve until the hair is removed. So a lesion that stays the same or get worse is an ingrown hair.
Things You'll Need
- 2 towels
- Magnifying mirror
- Cotton ball or gauze
References
- MedlinePlus: Herpes Simplex
- "American Family Physician;" Genital Herpes: A Review; J.G. Beauman; Oct. 15, 2005
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th Edition;" Herpes Simplex Viruses Chapter; A.S. Fauci, et.al.; 2008
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