Vagina Itchy After Sex: 6 Causes and How to Treat Them
A Young Woman Decided To Talk About Her Herpes On TikTok. Then The Post Went Viral
The young woman made a TikTok of her video diaries from before and after learning she had herpes and posted it to a "secret" TikTok account she thought nobody who knew her was aware of. TikTok/@soph.0808 "I just posted it to get it out of my system," Miller
told Business Insider. "I didn't want to tell anybody that I knew, but I just needed to talk. And then I ended up talking to 10 million people."Miller has been "overwhelmed" by people in her life — plus a few extra million — finding the video and learning she has herpes, but claims that the viral video has actually put her at ease.
The "comment section has been amazing," she shared.
The young woman admitted that she's thought about deleting the video several times but "can't," because she feels the video and its comments have and will be helpful in spreading awareness and educating people about the reality of living with the STD.
Miller was diagnosed with HSV-1, a common infection that mostly spreads by oral contact and causes infections in or around the mouth but can cause genital herpes.
The infection is so common that most adults are infected with HSV-1,
according to the World Health Organization.HSV-2 spreads by sexual contact and causes genital herpes, but most people have no or mild symptoms. Both types are treatable but not curable.
Although herpes is very common, it is still highly stigmatized.
"I think that it's silly that people that have it genitally get shamed by somebody that could have it on their mouth," she told Business Insider.
"STDs and STIs shouldn't be something that you are terrified of. They're so common that it should be talked about more, and it should be just understood more."
Genital Herpes Linked To Accelerated Brain Shrinkage
Herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), which causes genital herpes, burrows into nerves that connect to the brain
JAMES CAVALLINI / BSIP / Alamy
Genital herpes has been linked to brain shrinkage, which suggests the infection could increase the risk of cognitive decline and even Alzheimer's disease.
Jose Gutierrez at Columbia University in New York and his colleagues analysed the MRI brain scans and blood test results of 455 adults, aged 70 on average, who took part in a long-term health-tracking study in Manhattan.
What Does Herpes Look Like?
Herpes sores can affect many areas of the body, including the mouth, genitals, and eyes. Herpes sores look like blisters filled with fluid, which can break open a crust before healing.
Herpes is usually a mild condition that causes small sores to appear on the skin. People develop herpes after exposure to the herpes simplex virus (HSV). There are two types of this virus:
Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can occur on the face or the genitals. People can encounter both herpes viruses through bodily fluids, including genital fluids and saliva.
Once someone has the virus, the symptoms can flare up from time to time for the rest of their life. While the sores can be uncomfortable and even painful, they are not usually dangerous for otherwise healthy adults.
This article will explain what herpes is, how people get it, and what herpes looks like with pictures.
Most people with HSV are asymptomatic, meaning they will not experience any symptoms. Others will notice sores or lesions. These sores look like blisters filled with fluid. Over a few days, the sores break open, ooze, and form a crust before healing.
People may also notice a tingling, itching, or burning feeling a few days before the sores appear.
When experiencing herpes symptoms for the first time, some people may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as:
When people contract the herpes virus, they may have their first sores, also known as an initial outbreak, 4 – 12 days later. The blisters can take between 2 – 4 weeks to heal
An outbreak may involve a single sore or a cluster of sores. They often affect the skin around the mouth, the genitals, or the rectum.
The symptoms will usually reappear occasionally, though they do not tend to be as severe as the first time. Symptoms from recurrent episodes typically heal within 7–10 days.
The following sections discuss the symptoms of herpes that arise in commonly affected body parts.
In oral herpes, most blisters appear on the lips or mouth. They can also form elsewhere on the face, especially around the chin and below the nose or on the tongue.
At first, the sores look similar to small bumps or pimples before developing into fluid-filled blisters. These may be red, yellow, or white. Once they burst, a clear or yellow liquid may run out before the blister develops a yellow crust and heals.
People with oral herpes may experience swollen lymph nodes in the neck during an outbreak.
Some people with genital herpes may develop sores on the vulva, which is the external part of the genitals that includes the outer lips (labia) or inside the vagina. It may be difficult to see sores that develop inside the vagina.
Genital sores vary in size and number, but as with oral herpes, they look like pimples or blisters filled with fluid. They may burst and develop a yellowy crust as they heal.
Genital herpes can cause pain with urination and, often with the first outbreak, swollen lymph nodes in the groin.
Genital herpes may also develop sores on and around the penis. Small pimples develop into larger, fluid-filled sores that may be red, white, or yellow. Like other forms of herpes, these sores tend to burst before crusting over.
Herpes sores can also develop as blisters on the buttocks, around the rectum, or around the anus.
Certain patients can develop anal pain, bleeding, and difficulty with bowel movements.
Herpes blisters can also develop on the fingers. This is called herpetic whitlow and is most common in children who suck their thumb.
Herpes can cause one or more sores to develop around the fingernail. A person will often experience pain or a tingling sensation in the area before the sore develops.
If multiple sores appear, they tend to join up and become one large, honeycomb-like blister within a week. They may also spread to the nail bed.
Herpes keratitis refers to a herpes infection in the eye. It may affect one or both eyes and causes:
Anyone who suspects herpes keratitis should see a doctor. Without treatment, the infection can scar the eye, leading to cloudy vision or even vision loss.
Below are frequently asked questions relating to herpes.
How does someone know exactly if they have herpes?A healthcare professional can diagnose someone with herpes and rule out any other health conditions. People should speak with a doctor if they notice symptoms, such as sores around the mouth or genitals.
What bumps can be mistaken for herpes?People may mistake several conditions and occurrences for herpes, including:
An initial herpes rash typically presents as a patch of discolored, inflamed skin with blisters. This may be red or pink on light skin tones or purple, brown, or darker than the surrounding area on darker skin tones.
Herpes typically feels painful, which can distinguish it from other STIs. People may also notice tingling, burning, or itching before the sores appear.
Herpes is usually a mild skin condition caused by the herpes simplex virus. It causes blister-like sores to appear anywhere on the body. The most commonly affected areas include around the mouth, the genitals, and the buttocks.
There is no cure for HSV, and people who have contracted the virus will usually experience breakouts from time to time. The sores usually clear up on their own, though people can help treat outbreaks using antiviral medicine, such as:
These treatments, which are available as creams or pills, can shorten the duration of a herpes outbreak.
To avoid transmitting herpes to other people, avoid skin-to-skin contact during flare-ups of symptoms, especially when the sores are open.
When a person has genital herpes, they can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus by using a condom between outbreaks. People with oral herpes can reduce the risk of transmission by avoiding kissing, sharing tableware, or performing oral sex during an outbreak.
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