Can Herpes Be Transmitted By Skin Contact Of Non-sexual Nature?

Posted on Thu, 21 Apr 2016

Question: Hi Doctor,

I had stiffness of neck and I went to get a massage, I had the massage on my shoulders while sitting on the chair, I have dry skin and I might have some skin cracked may be due to scratching on my shoulder. if she was not clean or she did massage to some one who has herpes outbreak, is there any risk?

I am bit worried.

I think she touched her face before she touched me, not sure if she is infected she can cause the virus on me... I am a bit worried.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No risk of any STD including herpes

Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us

I have read your question and I have noted your concern

There is no risk of STD whatsoever, including herpes via skin to skin contact of non sexual nature. Herpes virus is not transmitted through casual touch.
STDs are only transmitted by direct contact of sexual nature either vaginal, oral or anal sex.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (19 minutes later)

Does it hold true if they have some infection (I am not sure they do) and from their hands it spread through cuts or dry skin? the person touched her face in between and I am not sure if she cleaned hands or anything. Worried.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (20 hours later)

Brief Answer:
No risk

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

None of the STDs including Herpes can be transmitted through hands or through skin. Your concern, that whether hands would act a mode of tranfering infection from her face to your back is not valid because the virus does not survive outside the body for any length of time. Acts like shaking hands Or drinking water through the same glass or bottle Or sharing towels etc are also considered to be safe.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (2 hours later)

https://YYYYY.plannedparenthood.org/?p=2604

Says it is not spread through skin contact.

Skin can be infected if it is cut, chafed, or burned, or has a rash or other sores. So I was worried. I took shower when I came home, and she used some oil to massage my shoulder or back.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I can understand your anxiety but I don't think you should worry

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

I have gone through this link.
On internet you can get a lot of incomplete and misleading information. Please be sure that herpes is not spread by casual skin to skin touch like hand shake or massage, in your case.
Herpes is only spread by direct contact e.g either sexual contact (vaginal or anal or oral) Or kissing (even intact lip mucosa can acquire herpes because lip mucosa is not as tough a barrier to virus penetration, as is skin) however skin is too hardy (evn if dry or chaffed) to allow herpes virus penetration through casual contact.
If it were to spread through hands then almost 100% people would have contracted it through hand shaking, from someone or the other, without realising but that is not the case.

Regars

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar