Herpes on back - any one suffer?

[PaulaYatesBiggestFan]

I have a nasty patch which has blistered maybe 4 -5 times in 10 years

just read THIS which suggests it is linked to genital herpes???

once i went to gp who said herpes zoster but no mention of genital link

anyone know more?

There are bascially 2 forms of herpes virus. Type I and type II. Type I likes to live on the face in the form of coldsores and mouth ulcers. Type 2 likes to live on the genitals in the form of genetial herpes.

Although they prefer living in those locations they are not exclusive - so it could be either and TBH it is irrelevant. Genital herpes does not have to be sexually transmitted and just because you have the virus on your back doesn't mean that you have a genital infection and TBH it needn't necessarily mean you caught it through sexual contact.

thankyou slightlymad

over the 10 yrs since i have had i (thought it was shingles till two years ago) i have had 5 outbreaks all in the same 10p sized area no where else...

no other herpes though...

must be run down!

what is herpes zoster then

I suffer from Herpes, but I get it on my bum cheek when I'm very run down and tired.

It's like a cluster of blisterty sores that sort of look like whiteheads, and it hurts.

I've been reassured numerous times by the doctor that it's not of the STD/genital variety, and it's just something I picked up from somewhere.

Doc also told me there are to strains Herpes. Don't know what zoster is though. Did you mishear and he said Cluster??

(I've name changed BTW as slightly about saying I have this due to the stigma... as stupid as that is)

thankyou !! at stigma!!

i think it is related to chickenpox or shingles from what i can learn although very small area

dreading spreading it or getting lip or eye herpes [vain emotion]

oh well should be asleep building up immunity!

Herpes Virus I causes Coldsores
herpes Virus II causes Genital Herpes
Varicella Zoster causes Shingles AKA Herpes Zoster.

Herpes Zoster is a condition (shingles) not a virus (although the virus Varicella Zoster is a member of teh herpes family).

now that sounds clever!

But, SlightlyMad, Herpes II causes cold sores too and Herpes I also causes Genital Herpes

Which is what I said in my initial response to OP. Sorry I didn't make it explicit in my subsequent posts