Cold sores

[Ornery]

How long are they contagious?

My DH gets them occasionally and I don't kiss him as long as there is any hint of it on his face. Unfortunately, the mark seems to stay forever. Is it still contagious when it is healed over but there is still a mark from it? Or is it only contagious while it is oozing? What about when there is a scab?

He is getting braces tomorrow and I would love to have a nice long kiss fest tonight but am afraid of getting the virus. We've gone for 8 years without me getting them by being extremely careful and I'd hate to get them now.

(And yes, we've tried L-lysine, diet change, etc., nothing seems to make them smaller or go away quicker)

Thanks!

[Marnica]

It is contagioes until the area is completely healed and the skin looks normal again. It can can be contagioes even when there are no symptom,s present at all. This is called viral shedding.

people with recurrent oral HSV-1 shed virus in their saliva about 5% of the time even when they show no symptoms.

[Ornery]

Thanks for the reply. I refrained from the kissfest because of my fear of getting the virus. I wonder how we've gone this long without me contracting it!

Guess I'll just have to learn how to kiss someone with braces without getting cut (or is that an urban legend??)