The signs and symptoms of herpes can vary widely from full blown outbreaks to no symptoms as all. It is very important to educate yourself about genital herpes symptoms as it is a sexually transmitted disease and now infects 25% of the U.S. population.

Approximately 90% of those infected are unaware because they either don’t have genital herpes symptoms or they are so minimal they do not associate the symptoms with the virus. The fact that you are here reading this is an important step because the more you know about the signs and symptoms of herpes the more prepared you are in recognizing the disease.

The early symptoms of herpes include a burning, tingling or itching sensation in the genital area which is best described as feeling raw or a pain similar to a rug burn or a sunburn type sensation. This symptom can sometimes be mistaken for a yeast infection in women. Pain or burning around the buttocks along with flu-like symptoms which include a fever and headache, and depression or irritability are also symptoms of herpes.

Other genial herpes symptoms can include painful urination, vaginal discharge and muscle aches.  Lymph nodes, specifically those located near the genial area, may become swollen and tender. These early genital herpes symptoms indicate that the body is fighting an infection and is a warning that an outbreak is about to happen.

After a few days, the most common genital herpes symptom of small blister like sores will begin to appear in the genital area. They first appear to be small red bumps which can often be mistaken for other skin diseases, rashes or insect bites by those who are unaware that they have been exposed. These small bumps will then develop into blisters that mature to painful open lesions. Typically the signs and symptoms of herpes will last anywhere from 2-10 days.

A very common question asked is what does herpes looks like but when looking on the internet for pictures it seems that all you see are the worst case scenarios. Don’t let those pictures scare you, most cases do not look that way. Here are some pictures of genital herpes that will give you an idea of what the lesions look like. If you feel that you may be having any signs and symptoms of herpes, please do not try to diagnose yourself but seek the advice of a physician.  

What does herpes look like is a common question as this disease now infects twenty five percent of the U.S. population. Education is an extremely important part of the prevention and control of this virus but before we look into what does herpes look like let’s discuss what herpes is. Some of this information you may already know but hopefully you will be able to find something that you didn’t know to further your education about this virus.

There are two types of the herpes simplex virus HSV-1 and HSV-2. Type 1 is usually referred to as cold sores that appear around the mouth and eyes (ocular herpes). Type 2 affects the genital area although both of these types can reside in either areas.

When I say reside, the herpes virus never goes away. It only presents itself through outbreaks but during its dormancy it lives in the nerve endings where the outbreaks occur. In HSV-1 those nerve endings are found near the ears and in HSV-2 it’s found at the lower base of the spine. According to The American Social Health Association, under a microscope HSV 1 and HSV 2 are virtually identical, sharing approximately 50% of their DNA.

Now let’s get into the reason why you’re here. So what does herpes look like? There is a misconception that herpes looks like a pimple although in the virus’s early stages it may resemble one as it starts as a red bump. The signs and symptoms of herpes and its severity differ as some people may experience all symptoms and some experience none.

The beginning red bump is accompanied by a burning, tingling or itching sensation. This feeling is best described as feeling raw or a pain similar to a rug burn or a sunburn type sensation. After this stage the herpes virus then takes on a blister appearance as it fills with fluid. Once this breaks open the wound is then in the healing stage as it crusts over as in a scab. Herpes does not leave a scar and this whole process can take anywhere from 5 days to 3 weeks.

The best way to answer what does herpes look like is through visual images. These pictures of herpes will give you idea of what this virus looks like and hopefully won’t scare you too much as the internet is filled with worse case scenarios. I have tried to give you the best representative pictures to help you find your answer. If you do feel like you have contracted the virus please seek the advice and diagnosis from your physician so that you can learn how to either control or prevent from getting this virus.

As someone who has lived with genital herpes for 28 years I can tell you life does go on if you do get this disease. There are so many ways to help you control the virus these days that it is not as bad as it once was. The key is to educate yourself in the prevention of this disease and eliminating herpes outbreaks.

Knowing the stages of herpes can help in understanding how this virus is spread. Of those infected with this virus 80% do not know they carry the disease. This is why it is so important to educate yourself in order to help prevent the spread of this virus.

These stages pertain to both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Type 1 is usually referred to as cold sores that appear around the mouth and eyes (ocular herpes). Type 2 generally affects the genital area. The viruses can be carried in bodily fluids such as saliva, semen, fluid in the female genital tract or in fluid from the herpes sore. The infection enters the body within three days to two weeks after first contact. The direct contact of a blister or sore during an outbreak is when there is the highest risk to spread the infection.


Prodrome Stage: This is the very beginning of the virus stage. This includes the burning, itching, tingling feeling you experience as the onset of an outbreak. You may also experience flu-like symptoms that include fever and achy feeling.

Infection Stage: Red bumps will begin to form followed by the formation of blisters. These blisters then break open to expose an ulcer like wound which then scabs over. The scab will then fall off to reveal healthy skin underneath.

Latent Stage: The virus begins to replicate once it comes in contact with the mucosal surfaces or skin wounds. The virus is then transported within nerve cells to their roots where it remains in its latent stage, meaning inactive, for some period of time. During this stage of herpes, the virus is not transmissible.

Shedding Stage: The herpes virus does not stay latent and at some point it will begin to replicate again without causing symptoms which is called shedding. During this stage the virus is transmissible through bodily fluids and can infect other people. This is the most dangerous stage of all as this is when the virus is undetectable with the high risk of spreading. This stage of herpes accounts for about a third of all HSV-2 infections.


Preventing the transmission of this disease is very difficult during the latent stage but there are ways to reduce the risk through medications. Reducing the risk of transmission during an outbreak is a little easier as there are precautions that can be taken. It is known that these two viruses can be spread from one part of the body to the other. Take extreme caution by washing your hands with warm water and soap after touching the infected area. Avoid facial and sexual contact with both of these viruses.

There is no treatment that can cure herpes, but topical treatments and antiviral medications can shorten and prevent outbreaks during the period of time the person takes the medication. In addition, daily suppressive therapy for symptomatic herpes can reduce transmission to partners.

Getting a mysterious bump in the genital area can be very scary and the first thought that comes to mind is whether it’s a sexually transmitted disease. With herpes being so prevalent these days it is only natural to ask ‘does herpes look like a pimple’.

A pimple like irritation in the genital area can mean a few things. The skin around the genitals reacts in the same way as other parts of the body that have hair such as the face. Many people with facial hair develop an odd pimple as a result of the skin being aggravated in some way or from block hair follicles more commonly known as an ingrown hair. This can happen in the genitals as well and may be more painful as there are several nerve endings on the genital skin.

Answering the question does herpes look like a pimple is not as simple as it may seem. The early stages of herpes start with a red bump that is often itchy and tingly which then develops into a blister. It is in between these two stages that the virus can be mistaken for a pimple but it is soon evident that it is something more. Other signs and symptoms of herpes are feeling like you have the flu, muscle aches and swelling of the lymph nodes.

It is always best to seek the advice of your physician when in doubt. Do not be embarrassed or ashamed to find out what is going on with your body. It is best to ease your mind then to keep wondering if you have contracted the herpes virus. If you do have herpes, there are ways to control it and learning what your options are will help you live with herpes.

Although female symptoms herpes are much like those of men, the genital herpes virus tends to be more detrimental and harder to control than that of men. Statistics show that 1 in 4 women are infected with the virus versus 1 in 5 men within the U.S.

Women are likely to have more frequent outbreaks than men and the symptoms also tend to be more painful and harder to treat. There is also the added worry of the chances of passing the virus on to her children during childbirth.

The female anatomy is the probable cause since the size of the mucosal tissue surface in the vagina is greater than the tissue on a man’s penis. Since this tissue is the most susceptible part of the body to the genital herpes virus, the greater surface area contributes to the greater rate of infection and female symptoms herpes. Additionally, the menstrual cycle in women tends to lower the immune system which also makes it easier for the virus to infect the female’s body.

When it comes to the female symptoms, herpes can be more painful due to the fact that the virus thrives in the moist areas of the mucosal tissues whereas men’s tissue is much drier. This also makes healing slower and more difficult. In addition to forming on the visible areas of the female genital, female symptoms herpes can develop inside the vagina and cervix as well.

In the early stages, female symptoms herpes include a burning, tingling or itching sensation in the genital area which is sometimes mistaken for yeast infections or urinary tract infections. The virus then develops into red bumps which then become filled with fluid as in a blister. Once this blister breaks open is when the healing stage starts but with women this is when they experience the most pain especially during urinating. It is at this stage when the healing is most difficult for women as keeping the area dry is important for the healing process.

The transmission of the condition from a mother to an infant is possible. Although it is rare for mothers with herpes to pass the condition on to their children, the virus can be life threatening to newborns if it is transmitted. It is extremely important for a pregnant woman to discuss with their doctor if they start to feel the onset of female symptoms herpes, know they have the virus or experience an outbreak around their due date.

Various natural remedies have been known to help alleviate the pain women experience during an outbreak and may eliminate outbreaks altogether. Education is the key to controlling female symptoms herpes as there are many ways a woman can learn to live with this virus.

There is a promising study on how to treat herpes virus regarding a new herpes vaccine. Researchers are currently working on this vaccine that may be able to prevent the infection in new patients.

Unfortunately this vaccine will not help those who already carry the virus. For people who have the disease however, there is hope in being able to control and suppress the amount of outbreaks. The following is a breakdown of medications available on how to treat the herpes virus.

Antiviral Medications
Antiviral medications help to stop the virus from multiplying on the surface of the skin. They are generally used to lessen the duration of time that the virus is on the skin and reduce the number of outbreaks a person will experience. They are the most commonly prescribed medication for treating herpes. Currently there are 3 herpes antiviral medications available in tablet form:

Acyclovir (Zovirax)
This antiviral medication has been available since 1982 in a topical form (as an ointment) and sold since 1985 in tablet form. Acyclovir has been show to be safe to use continuously (every day) for as long as 10 years.

Valaciclovir (Valtrex)
This is a newer drug and is most recognized by the brand name of Valtrex®. The active ingredient is acyclovir but delivers it more efficiently so that the body absorbs much of the drug which allows a person to take the medication fewer times a day.

Famciclovir (Famvir)
Famciclovir utilizes penciclovir as its active ingredient to stop HSV from replicating. Like valacyclovir, it is well absorbed, persists for a longer time in the body, and can be taken less frequently than acyclovir.

Antiviral medications are commonly prescribed for patients going through their first episode of genital herpes but can be used for recurrent episodes as well. These medications are readily available on the internet but it is highly recommended to see a physician before starting any of these treatments.


Treatment Regimens

Episodic Therapy

This approach is used at the first sign of recurrence, ideally at the first signs of prodrome, which will speed up the healing. Episodic therapy offers a useful way to manage outbreaks by cutting the length of an outbreak considerably.

Suppressive Therapy

Suppressive therapy is taken daily to eliminate (suppress) outbreaks altogether. Continuous suppressive treatment benefits people with genital herpes who experience severe, constant outbreaks because it significantly reduces both symptomatic and asymptomatic viral shedding which reduces the risk of transmission.

Both episodic and suppressive therapy is done with antiviral medications but in some cases this may not be possible. Some people have an allergic reaction to these drugs while others may not respond to the medication at all due to drug-resistant forms of herpes. Most doctors advise stopping suppressive therapy after a year in order to re-assess the activity of the disease and to reduce the risk of developing a viral resistance to the antiviral drugs.


Alternative Treatments

As herpes becomes more widely transmitted, people have successfully turned to alternative treatments for the stages of herpes. This includes natural treatments which have been clinically proven to help control and reduce the frequency of outbreaks. They are formulated around the basis of building up the immune system which prevents the recurrence of herpes. You can find out more about these best herpes treatment reviews to educate yourself more on natural treatments and find out which one would work best for you.

The frequency of outbreaks can often be managed with effective stress management and getting adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise. It is a known fact that people who are depressed, carry more hostility, and who are more easily aroused to anger, suffer more frequent outbreaks as this type of stress on the body suppresses the immune system.

There are certain types of foods that can trigger an outbreak as well as some that will help suppress this disease. Knowing the difference between the two can be very beneficial to those who are looking for ways on how to treat herpes virus. Learn the secrets you need to know in order to help prevent the spread and control herpes outbreaks.