Herpes Shedding

[Guest Anonymous]

I'm not sure what herpes shedding is but it sounds like it describes what is going on with me right now. My original outbreak was back in Sept '03 but lately I've been dry and chapped in my vaginal area and when I clean myself skin just rubs off. Is this what shedding is? If so, does anyone know how I can cure it? I would appreciate any help. Thanks!

~Girl Who Needs Help

[learningmoreaboutit]

yes that is shedding. How do you cure it? As long as you have HSV shedding is going to happen.

[Lasmom]

Really? where did you find that out? I was told shedding is invisible - when the virus replicates without causing an outbreak, but the virus is present on the skin - I'd love it to be visible by dry skin or something - is this really true?

[Friend of H girl]

That does not coincide with what I've been reading, hmmm....

[Lasmom]

Yeah friend - I think they got bad info - you can't "see" shedding - it's not like a snake - it's cell shedding - virus shedding - invisible. You can't see a virus.

It's like chicken pox - you are contageous virally for 3 days or something... no touch, no virus...

[learningmoreaboutit]

perhaps i'm mistaken, but I have seen skin shedding after the outbreaks in the same location as the lesion and was told by doctor, that that skin is contains the virus that can be transmitted to others. Assumed that is what doctor meant, so I may be wrong...like the name implies....learningmoreaboutit

[Lasmom]

yes - that is "scabbing" over - not like a regular scab - but it's from the virus. This is not "shedding" however from what I've read.

[lwilson]

Viral Shedding

Viral shedding refers to copies of the virus being shed. This does happen when you are asymptomatic and is how the virus can be passed to an uninfected partner even though no lesions are present. There is a clinical trial that is going on that is examining the effectiveness of supressive therapy on reducing vial shedding. For more information about the study, those in the Northern California area can contact Northern California Research at (916) 484-0500. For information about trials in your area you can go to www.FindClinicalStudy.com.