Originally Posted by
andrewv
1) HSV and HPV don’t “need your bloodstream.”
These viruses infect cells in the skin and the moist lining (mucosa) of the genital area. They enter through microscopic breaks in skin/mucosa that happen all the time with friction — often too small to see and not felt as “cracks.”
HSV (herpes) infects surface cells, then travels via nerves to “hide” in nerve ganglia.
HPV infects the surface layer of skin/mucosa and can persist locally.
Bloodstream involvement is not required for either.
2) Skin-to-skin transmission is real — even with no visible symptoms.
Both viruses can be shed when the skin looks normal:
HSV: “asymptomatic shedding” is common, especially in the first year after infection, and is a major driver of transmission.
HPV: often has no symptoms, can still be transmitted, and can persist for months/years before clearing.
3) Can you get HSV2 or HPV with protected sex? Yes.
Condoms protect the areas they cover, but they don’t cover all potentially infectious skin (base of penis, scrotum, vulva, perineum, pubic area, groin). If viral shedding is happening from skin outside the condom, transmission can occur.
Also, HSV can shed from areas like the buttocks, inner thighs, perineum, and HPV can be present on nearby genital skin.
So your probability argument (“then everyone would have it”) feels logical, but it misses a few real-world buffers:
Not every contact involves exposure to an actively shedding site.
Amount of shedding varies person to person and over time.
Immune responses differ; many people clear HPV.
Condom use, antiviral therapy (for HSV), and fewer exposures reduce risk substantially.
Many infections are unrecognized, especially HPV and mild HSV.
4) Ingrown hairs and pimples: usually not herpes.
Common differences (not perfect, but helpful):
Ingrown hair/folliculitis: tends to be a single bump, often with a visible hair, can be tender, may have a little pus, often in hair-bearing areas.
Herpes: classically clusters of small blisters that become shallow ulcers, often with burning/tingling, may recur in a similar spot. But HSV can be subtle — which is why lab testing matters when something is active.
5) Practical “what to do” guidance (if you want to be genuinely safe):
If you ever get a new genital sore/blister/ulcer: get it swabbed within 24–72 hours for HSV PCR — that’s the most accurate way to confirm/rule out herpes from a lesion.
Blood tests for herpes (type-specific HSV-1/HSV-2 IgG) can help, but they have limitations (timing matters; false positives can occur at low index values).
For HPV: there’s no routine HPV test for men in most settings unless there are visible warts or specific anal screening contexts. The best prevention is vaccination (Gardasil 9) if you haven’t had it — it’s one of the highest ROI moves in sexual health.
Keep doing condoms, and consider avoiding sex during any genital irritation (yours or partner’s) because friction + microtears raise transmission odds.
If you have a regular partner with known HSV2, daily suppressive antivirals plus condoms reduces transmission risk further.
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