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Original poster

DH suddenly getting cold sores?

142 replies

Rachelscloset · 27/10/2020 10:00

I might be panicking.

I’ve been with DH 6 years and he’s never had a cold sore. Since lockdown he’s been getting spots near his lips, they did look like spots, more pus-like etc. However he has now developed a spot that looks a bit too much like a cold sore. It’s very read with no head and we can’t tell what it is yet but we will find out.

I’m really anxious as I thought that oral herpes has to be caught from someone - does this mean he’s kissed someone else?

OP posts:
fuckfuckingcovid19 · 27/10/2020 10:01

Herpes can lie dormant for years. They could be coming out now if he's tired, under stress, isn't eating well etc.

fuckfuckingcovid19 · 27/10/2020 10:02

Have you reason to suspect cheating?

Pukkatea · 27/10/2020 10:02

Some people don't get them very often (I've not had one for maybe 4-5 years?). They can flare up for various reasons including stress. It's not definite that he's kissed someone!

Boom45 · 27/10/2020 10:04

He could have been infected as a child and not shown symptoms until now. Unless you have any reason to suspect he's caught them recently I think it's a bit of a reach

Pesimistic · 27/10/2020 10:05

Cold sores can lie dormant for years, he may be run down or lacking in b12 get him some marmite

Charlieiscool · 27/10/2020 10:07

It doesn’t mean he’s kissed someone else but persistent cold sores can indicate that something else is wrong. Is he healthy apart from this?

LEELULUMPKIN · 27/10/2020 10:10

I used to suffer terribly with cold sores when I was younger.

I am 50 now and got one last week.

The first I had in approx 18 yrs.

All sorts of things can trigger them as they can lie dormant for donkeys years.

YesIDoLoveCrisps · 27/10/2020 10:11

Are you sure it’s not impetigo?

Fabellini · 27/10/2020 10:13

I’d never had cold sores until the day after I gave birth to ds1. I’d had a really hard time, needed a blood transfusion, and was just knackered. I fell asleep in the morning, and woke up a few hours later with five of them round my mouth.
I have very occasionally had one at a time pop up again when I’ve been ill, stressed, or just generally under the weather in some way.
I’m pretty sure it was passed on to me when I was little (my dad used to get them under the same circumstances), and was just dormant until I was so poorly.

Wannabegreenfingers · 27/10/2020 10:15

I suffer and have for many year's. Currently on anti virals due to an outbreak. I got these as a child and certainly not from kissing anyone. All it takes is for someone to have the virus on their hand to pass it to you.

They are painful and make me feel awful (i'm sure your husband isn't best pleased), but it is by no means an indicator that he has cheated.

Don't kiss him at all while he has one and make sure he washes his hands regularly and he shouldn't pass it on. I never have.

He is most likely run down or stressed. I've just started on a course of Vit B Complex and Lysine as both have been proven to aid healing and prevent further outbreaks. Here's hoping!!

dazzlinghaze · 27/10/2020 10:16

As others have said, it can lie dormant for years and come out in times of stress and if the immune system is low. I had a couple in my early teens then didn't have one again til I was about 22. I'm 26 now and not had one since.

FippertyGibbett · 27/10/2020 10:19

Has he ever in his life had a cold sore ?

FippertyGibbett · 27/10/2020 10:20

And I got a whacking one recently due to having to wear a mask at work ALL day.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 27/10/2020 10:22

I haven't had a cold sore for about 10 years... until lockdown. I had a couple in April, and another one recently - basically every time the news is bad!

I certainly haven't caught them from anyone, it's just stress, diet, sleep etc. Taking L Lysine helps them disappear, and I should probably lay in plenty for this winter.

Mask washing is important with a live cold sore, and patches are useful too.

OldEvilOwl · 27/10/2020 10:24

Maybe he's a bit run down? I used to get an occasional one for this reason

ghostmous3 · 27/10/2020 10:25

Dont worry op!

It doesn't mean your dh has cheated at all. The virus has lain dormant for years probably and as a pp its come now if hes a bit tired, stressed or under the weather.
My dp is the same. Hes got one now, ivebeen with him 2.5 years and he reckons hes never had one but did say he suffered with mouth ulcers when he was a bit you get and some of those were on his lips..so im guessing he didnt realise they were cold sores

I did joke with him eh who have you been kissing but I know hes not cheated :)

Original poster
Rachelscloset · 27/10/2020 10:26

He says he’s never had one. The others have definitely been spots - last a few days, have a white head

He doesn’t feel unwell, he thinks it’s a spot
How do you tell the difference

OP posts:
Snackasaurus · 27/10/2020 10:26

My DH gets them but he can go years without them and then get three in the space of weeks. Don't worry! :)

Whenwillow · 27/10/2020 10:27

What does he say about them? As the others have said, they can lie dormant for years. He's probably extremely stressed, like us all (and you too probably Flowers)

ittakes2 · 27/10/2020 10:29

I had one on my lip at 8 (not from kissing) and never had one again there. I’m 50. But they tend to strike when someone is run down and stressed.

bruffin · 27/10/2020 10:30

Is he wearing a mask a lot. My dd is getting a lot of sport around her mouth because of wearing a mask a lot. She says its called mask acne

cushioncovers · 27/10/2020 10:30

Someone I work with hasn't had a cold sore for ten years has got one within a week of having to wear a face mask at work all day everyday. So they are random and as others have said can lie dormant for years.

Whenwillow · 27/10/2020 10:32

Just seen your update. Sounds like spots to me. Poor man!

Lisa78Lemon · 27/10/2020 10:34

I've had cold sores since about 8 years old (caught from my grandmother who kissed me on the face when she had one!). Used to get them once a year or so but I don't think I've had once for about 5 years now. I'm 31 if that makes any difference.

jessstan1 · 27/10/2020 10:34

This is a picture of a cold sore:
www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/picture-of-cold-sores

If he goes in to a local pharmacy, the pharmacist will be able to tell what it is and advise your husband on treatment.

If he does have a herpes it certainly doesn't mean he has kissed someone else for goodness sake. They can be caught all sorts of ways and as has been said, lie dormant for years.