Can I Still Kiss Even Though I Get Cold Sores?

Cold sores, small blisters that usually appear around the lips, are caused by the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). After infection, HSV-1 goes dormant in the body. In some people, the virus may occasionally reactivate to cause a cold sore.

How HSV-1 Spreads

HSV-1 can spread whenever secretions from a cold sore come into contact with broken skin or mucous membrane tissue, the moist skin found in places like the mouth and genitals. Since HSV-1 occasionally reactivates without causing any symptoms, the virus may also be spread when no cold sores are present.

Prevalence

The American Social Health Association estimates that 50 to 80 percent of American adults have HSV-1.

Kissing With Cold Sores

Since HSV-1 is very contagious when cold sores are present, people with active cold sores near the lips should abstain from kissing others on the mouth.

Oral Sex

People with active cold sores near the lips should also avoid performing oral sex, since HSV-1 can be spread through contact with the genitals.

Between Outbreaks

You do not need to avoid kissing between cold sore outbreaks since the likelihood of spreading HSV-1 during this time is much lower. In addition, so many adults already have HSV-1 that it would be impractical to ban all kissing by infected individuals.

References

• American Social Health Association
• TeensHealth from Nemours
• Mayo Clinic