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HWN Suggests

Can Sharing Lipstick, Lip Balm Or Cigarettes Give You Herpes?

It's very safe to say that sharing any or all of the following with a person who has oral herpes increases your risks of getting the same:

• Lipstick
• Lip Balms (chapstick, etc.)
• Eating Utensils
• Cigarettes
• Smoking devices (pipes, etc.)
• Toothbrushes
• Razors

There's no getting around it -- almost anything that comes in contact with the mouth is going to transmit herpes type 1.

Now, this may not be as bad as it sounds. To start, there are some interesting facts about herpes. The biggest one that I came across is what I always suspected -- most of us already have it. It's estimated…

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Featured

 Can You Get Rid of Cold Sores for Good?

Once you start getting cold sores, however, the virus can cause outbreaks throughout your life. The frequency varies from person to person, Dr. Johnston said; some people get one cold sore a year, others get them multiple times a year.

 When Herpes Infects the Eye

Herpes simplex virus type 1 is best known as the culprit behind cold sores. When it’s not causing itchy, crusty sores on the mouth, it hides in the bundle of nerves that run through the face. And it’s super common. An estimated 50 to 90 percent of people harbor lifelong infections of HSV-1—largely without incident. But in some cases, HSV-1 can run through that bundles of nerves in the face and erupt in the eye.

 You should not be worried about Sephora giving you herpes

Mostly because you probably already have it.

Articles of Interest

A New Drug Could Treat Herpes Simplex-1 Virus More Effectively Than Ever

A potentially groundbreaking new treatment for herpes could be nigh, according to a recent study conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The study, which is detailed in the journal Science Translational Medicine, reports that researchers have discovered that a drug molecule known as BX795 is effective in temporarily clearing the herpes virus in the cornea. Authors of the study are also hopeful that it could prove successful in treating other forms of the virus, such as oral and genital herpes as well as other viruses like HIV.

Alzheimer’s disease: mounting evidence that herpes virus is a cause

We discovered in 1991 that in many elderly people HSV1 is also present in the brain. And in 1997 we showed that it confers a strong risk of Alzheimer’s disease when present in the brain of people who have a specific gene known as APOE4. The virus can become active in the brain, perhaps repeatedly, and this probably causes cumulative damage. The likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease is 12 times greater for APOE4 carriers who have HSV1 in the brain than for those with neither factor.

Are All Cold Sores a Sign of Herpes?

Usually, yes, but the causes behind them aren’t always obvious.

Cold sores increase the risk of dementia

Alzheimer's disease is the most common among the dementia diseases. In recent years research has increasingly indicated that there is a possible connection between infection with a common herpes virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, and Alzheimer's disease.

Finally: A vaccine for herpes simplex

From polio to smallpox, vaccines have gone a long way in eradicating many of the world’s diseases, but some viruses remain stubbornly untreatable with vaccines. The herpes simplex virus is one of those viruses currently without an effective vaccine, and researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in Chevy Chase, Maryland have recently announced the development of a promising new candidate that was developed through unconventional logic.

Get Lots Of Cold Sores? Your Genes Might Be To Blame

If you've ever wondered why you always seem to get one of those pesky cold sores, new research suggests your genes might have something to do with it.

Herpes Went Mainstream With the Spread of Ancient ‘Romantic’ Kissing, Study Suggests

Scientists have sequenced the genome of facial herpes, a virus that has infected the majority of humans alive today, for the first time using ancient DNA preserved in people who lived many centuries ago, reports a new study.

How to Get Rid of Cold Sores, According to Dermatologists

Plus, a makeup artist’s tips on how to conceal them.

Marijuana Products Can Help Stop The Spread Of Herpes

Although the herpes virus should be considered a legitimate threat for those cannabis users who share weed with fish-lipping fiends, this vile disease does not have to cripple the concept of social marijuana use. Now, thanks to the legalization of recreational marijuana in a growing number of states, there is a variety of cannabis products on the market that cater to those individuals who no longer wish to share.

Resources

16 Ways to Prevent & Get Rid of Cold Sores

There is no true cure for the virus, or the cold sores. The bright side is that there are preventative measures you can take that lessen outbreaks, severity, and duration. If the bothersome blisters do show up, there are a decent number of home remedies for cold sores that may ease your discomfort, and help diminish their appearance.

HCSupport Network

Welcome to the Herpes-Coldsores (HC) Support Network. This is a community for people affected by the herpes and cold sore virus. You can post questions, read articles, get support and talk to people in the live chat room and forums.

Herpes Viruses Association

Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus. There are two types, called type 1 and type 2. Either type can be caught on any part of the body: lips and genitals are the most common places.

Abreva

There’s only 1 non-prescription FDA-approved cold sore medicine that speeds healing.

Dynamiclear

Dynamiclear’s core focus is to help people to reduce or eliminate Herpes outbreaks naturally and, where appropriate, without the use of drugs. Our focus goes beyond the disease organism to identify the needs of the individual client. This way we can determine what might work best for you.

eMedicineHealth

There are two types of herpes simplex viruses (HSV), they are termed HSV-1 and HSV-2. These two viruses have distinctly different DNA, and both cause oral and genital lesions. However, HSV-1 causes about 80% of all oral lesions and only about 20% of genital lesions while HSV-2 causes the reverse (about 80% genital and 20% oral).

KidsHealth

Cold sores, which are small and somewhat painful blisters that usually show up on or around a person's lips, are caused by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). But they don't just show up on the lips. They can sometimes be inside the mouth, on the face, or even inside or on the nose.

MayoClinic

Cold sores spread from person to person by close personal contact, such as kissing. Cold sores are caused by a herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) closely related to the one that causes genital herpes (HSV-2). Both of these herpes simplex viruses can affect your mouth or your genitals, and can be spread via oral sex. There's no cure for HSV infection and the blisters may recur sporadically — often in response to stress or a weakened immune system. Antiviral medications can help cold sores heal more quickly and may reduce the frequency of recurrences.

MedicineNet

Currently, there are no cures or vaccines for cold sores caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Frequent hand washing will help reduce the spread of the virus to other parts of the body or to other people. Also, applying cool, moist compresses to the lesion may decrease pain and keep the lesion from drying and cracking.

Yes, You Can Get Herpes (And Other Bugs) From Lipstick

Herpes is not a lipstick flavor or color, at least not a popular one. But when you try lipstick at a makeup counter or someone else's lipstick, could you be putting something else on your lips besides waxes, oils, and fats?