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Can STD Be Contracted Through Contact With Skin?
Question: Doctor I had recently gone into a club and met with several women who I later came to know were prostitutes. I had shook hands with many of them and talked to some of them and because of the loud music they had to come close to my face to talk so there was some cheek to cheek or lip to cheek contact. Also I may have touched some of them on the hand or other outer body parts just like a normal person may do in a crowded place for eg. my arm rubbed against their arm while walking (no sexual activity of any kind happened). Is there even a minute risk of herpes or other STDs that are permanent in nature? I had 2 very small cuts on my right forefinger which I had got early in the day doing something else(about 3 mms in length) which were not bleeding when I had gone to the club, but I was had also not put on any band-aid on them. Would that make any difference? Also, can I, for now, shake hands with another person, share food or water bottle etc.? I am worried about if I can go out at all? Please help.
Brief Answer:
You don't have anything to worry at all in terms of STDs
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Welcome back. Thank you for writing to us.
I reassure you that there is no risk of any STD, whatsoever, from casual handshaking with people moving around or by someone giving just a small peck on your cheek.
The microbes causin STD's cannot survive on dried skin surfaces Or outside body for any length of time.
Even if you had a break in skin of your hand that does'nt increase the risk.
You need to understand that only sexual activities like vaginal sex, anal sex Or oral sex present a risk for transmission of STD's.
You can safely move around and do handshakes, share food, water bottles etc and do all your routine activities as before.
Take care and stop worrying
Regards
You don't have anything to worry at all in terms of STDs
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Welcome back. Thank you for writing to us.
I reassure you that there is no risk of any STD, whatsoever, from casual handshaking with people moving around or by someone giving just a small peck on your cheek.
The microbes causin STD's cannot survive on dried skin surfaces Or outside body for any length of time.
Even if you had a break in skin of your hand that does'nt increase the risk.
You need to understand that only sexual activities like vaginal sex, anal sex Or oral sex present a risk for transmission of STD's.
You can safely move around and do handshakes, share food, water bottles etc and do all your routine activities as before.
Take care and stop worrying
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for the prompt reply Doc. I just have one doubt which I think comes from reading about Herpes Type-1 disease from ' https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/herpes-simplex/who-gets-causes ' which says that sharing towels and eating from the same utensil can spread it. Is this true and can this be spread from the ways I had mentioned? Also, I know this may sound a bit too far fetched but while speaking too, a person often spits, can that also spread this? Lastly, how long should a person wait before getting tested for him/her to be 100% sure? I once again want to thank you for your support. It has been of great help.
Brief Answer:
Modes of transmission of herpes
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I have gone through the link.
Broken areas of skin and intact mucous membranes permit entry of the virus and initiation of its replication in cells of the epidermis and dermis.
Therefore, only a few rare scenarios of transmission through inanimate objects arise e.g drinking through the same glass Or drinking directly through a water bottle that has been used just prior to you by an infected person with oral herpes AND using the same spoon that has been used just prior to you by an infected person can possibly transmit oral herpes.
However, the virus does not survive for any length of time on dried surface and on exposure to air.
Therefore for inanimate objects to serve as routes of transmission there has to a short time lapse between the object being shared by an infected person and an un-infected person.
Sharing used laundry like towels, underwear etc with someone who has genital herpes can rarely transmit genital herpes.
Sharing sex toy that has been recently used by someone who has genital herpes can also possibly transmit herpes.
The contacts that you had were handshake, touching body parts other than genitals, rubbing of arms, cheek to cheek and lip to cheek contact.
All these are non-sexual, skin to skin contacts and absolutely safe.
A handshake is not a risk. Though droplets of saliva from an infected person can transmit herpes if they come in contact with mucosa of lips however not through intact skin of cheek, face etc.
A peck on your cheek is unlikely to transmit herpes through intact skin of your cheek. Though a lip to lip kiss would have been a risk.
Most commonly herpes is transmitted by following route:
-Peno-vaginal intercourse
-Anal intercourse
-Oral-genital sexual contact
-Mucous membrane to mucous membrane contact (e.g. kissing)
-Any other sexual body-to-body contact (with or without penetration)
-Sharing sex objects
One can take a blood test at 4 -6 weeks after a possible innoculation. The test would detect circulating antibodies to the virus.
Regards
Modes of transmission of herpes
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I have gone through the link.
Broken areas of skin and intact mucous membranes permit entry of the virus and initiation of its replication in cells of the epidermis and dermis.
Therefore, only a few rare scenarios of transmission through inanimate objects arise e.g drinking through the same glass Or drinking directly through a water bottle that has been used just prior to you by an infected person with oral herpes AND using the same spoon that has been used just prior to you by an infected person can possibly transmit oral herpes.
However, the virus does not survive for any length of time on dried surface and on exposure to air.
Therefore for inanimate objects to serve as routes of transmission there has to a short time lapse between the object being shared by an infected person and an un-infected person.
Sharing used laundry like towels, underwear etc with someone who has genital herpes can rarely transmit genital herpes.
Sharing sex toy that has been recently used by someone who has genital herpes can also possibly transmit herpes.
The contacts that you had were handshake, touching body parts other than genitals, rubbing of arms, cheek to cheek and lip to cheek contact.
All these are non-sexual, skin to skin contacts and absolutely safe.
A handshake is not a risk. Though droplets of saliva from an infected person can transmit herpes if they come in contact with mucosa of lips however not through intact skin of cheek, face etc.
A peck on your cheek is unlikely to transmit herpes through intact skin of your cheek. Though a lip to lip kiss would have been a risk.
Most commonly herpes is transmitted by following route:
-Peno-vaginal intercourse
-Anal intercourse
-Oral-genital sexual contact
-Mucous membrane to mucous membrane contact (e.g. kissing)
-Any other sexual body-to-body contact (with or without penetration)
-Sharing sex objects
One can take a blood test at 4 -6 weeks after a possible innoculation. The test would detect circulating antibodies to the virus.
Regards
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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