What Does Herpes Look Like? Stages Explained
Quick answer
Herpes often starts with tingling, itching or burning, followed by blisters that can break open into painful sores, which then crust over and heal. Symptoms are often mild or absent, so looks alone can't confirm herpes. A swab test of an active sore is the most sensitive test, and it is the most reliable way to find out.
Does this sound like what you're seeing?
Tick the field marks that match.
The more of these match, the more the pattern fits herpes. This is not a diagnosis, because many other skin problems can look similar. Only a test can confirm herpes.
If you’re searching for pictures of herpes, you probably have something on your skin you don’t recognise and want to know if it matches. That is a very normal thing to do. This page describes the usual stages in words, so you can compare without the photos.
Looks are only a rough guide, because herpes can cause very mild symptoms or none at all. The last section explains how to get a real answer.
What do herpes sores look like at each stage?
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Symptoms often start with tingling, itching or burning near where the sores will appear. Not everyone goes through every stage:
- Early warning. Tingling, itching or burning in the area, before anything is visible.
- Blisters. Blisters form, and they are typically painful.
- Open sores. The blisters can break open and ooze, leaving open sores.
- Crusting. The sores crust over as they start to heal.
- Healing. The sores heal once the crust has formed and the skin closes.
A first outbreak can come with fever, body aches, headache or swollen lymph nodes near the infection. Later outbreaks are usually shorter and less severe than the first.
What does a mild or single herpes bump look like?
Not every outbreak looks like the classic picture. Symptoms are often mild, so sores may be small or easy to miss.
Clues that point toward herpes include tingling beforehand, painful blisters or ulcers, and blisters or sores that recur over time. Looks alone can’t settle it. Our herpes or pimple and herpes or ingrown hair guides compare these in more detail.
Where do genital herpes sores appear?
Genital herpes causes bumps, blisters or open sores around the genitals or anus. The sores look broadly similar on any body, but the places they appear vary from person to person. They can also occur on the buttocks and thighs.
Herpes can also cause mouth and lip sores, usually from HSV-1. Genital herpes can be caused by either HSV-1 or HSV-2.
Can herpes spread when there’s nothing to see?
Yes. Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 are most contagious when sores are present, but they can also be passed on when no symptoms are felt or visible. Many people with herpes aren’t aware they have the infection, so you can’t tell by looking whether someone could pass it on.
How is herpes tested?
There are two main kinds of test, and they answer different questions.
A swab of the sore (PCR). If there is a blister or open sore, a clinician swabs it and tests for HSV. This is the most sensitive test. A failure to detect HSV from an older sore, or when no sore is present, does not mean the virus is absent.
A blood test (type-specific IgG). This looks for antibodies and can show whether you have been infected at some point. It can’t show whether a particular sore is herpes. Blood tests can miss a recent infection, so repeat testing about 12 weeks after a possible exposure may be needed. The CDC does not recommend routine HSV-2 blood screening for people in the general population, so think about whether it would help you before you order one.
If it does turn out to be herpes, antiviral medicine prescribed by a clinician can shorten outbreaks and make them less frequent. Herpes is common and manageable, and a diagnosis doesn’t change who you are.
Get care today if
- You have a fever or chills, or feel generally unwell, along with blisters or sores
- The sores are very painful, spreading quickly or covering a large area
- You can't pass urine, or the area is extremely swollen
- You have pain, redness or changes in vision in or around an eye
- You have a headache with a fever or a stiff neck
- You are pregnant, especially near your due date, and have new genital sores
- You have a weakened immune system, for example from HIV
- A sore is not starting to heal, or keeps getting worse
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, urgent care or your doctor can see you today.
When to test
- While a sore is still activeAsk a doctor or clinician for a swab (PCR) test of the sore. It is the most sensitive herpes test, and it works best while the sore is still active.
- If the sore has already healedA swab may not detect the virus once a sore has healed, so a negative swab after healing doesn't rule herpes out. A clinician can swab the sore at the next outbreak.
- About 12 weeks after a possible exposureA type-specific HSV blood test (IgG), which you can order online, can show whether you have been infected at some point. Testing earlier can miss a recent infection, and a blood test can't tell you whether a particular sore is herpes.
Common questions
What does a single herpes bump look like?
Not every outbreak looks like a cluster. Symptoms are often mild, and classic sores are absent in many people with herpes. Because looks can't confirm it, a swab taken while a sore is active is the reliable way to know.
Can herpes look different on men and women?
The sores look broadly similar on any body. Genital herpes can cause sores on the genitals or rectal area, the buttocks and the thighs, so the places they appear vary from person to person.
Can herpes be mistaken for something else?
Yes. Symptoms can be mild, and many people have none. Clinical diagnosis of genital herpes can be difficult, so a clinician who examines the area, with a test if needed, gives the most reliable answer.
How soon after a sore appears should I get a swab?
While the sore is still active is best, because a swab is most useful then. A swab taken after a sore has healed may not detect the virus, so don't wait until the sore has gone.
Sources
This guide is general information written by a patient advocate using public health sources. It is not a diagnosis. Only a clinician who examines you, or a lab test, can tell you what you have. Read how we write and check our guides.