What Does Herpes Look Like?

Herpes is a viral disease with different stages and locations. The first phase is a viral shedding in which herpes will not be easily detected. Some people would feel itching or a burning sensation and redness in the infected area, but no ulcers appear yet. Lesions usually appear around the contact areas where the disease was acquired, such as the lips or genital area. They start like bumps and blisters with a yellowish or red color. They are filled with a fluid that contains high concentrations of the virus and is highly contagious. A couple of days after this, herpes turns out to create crusts and ulcers. They are crusts when they are in the skin layer, but when these appear in mucous membranes, they do not crust and remains looking like ulcers which are itchy, painful, and contagious.

Note: This article is not medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your specific condition.