Skin-to-skin STIs are spread from one person to another by skin-to-skin contact and can be transmitted without intercourse.
A few, such aspubic lice, can be spread by even more casual contact.
However, STI transmission via clothing or other objects is relatively rare.
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STIs are also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
This article discusses the STIs that can be spread via skin-to-skin contact and what their symptoms are.
It also looks at skin symptoms that can occur with other common STIs.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Dr. Richard Ashtonwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
What STIs Can Be Spread by Skin-to-Skin Contact?
Transmission via skin-to-skin contact is possible for several different infections.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet and Dr. Richard Ashtonwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2024.
Contact with very contagious herpes sores can transmit herpes from person to person.
In fact, most people living with oral herpes acquire the virus in childhood.
Casual contact, such as with relatives, can lead to herpes transmission.
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Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 can be either oral or genital.
However, HSV-2 is more often found in the genitals.
Reproduced with permission from DermNetdermnetnz.org2024.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Symptoms
Herpes causes fluid-filled blisters to appear on the genitals, rectum, or mouth.
These blisters break open, leaving painful, crusted sores behind.
The sores can take up to four weeks to heal.
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If it’s your first outbreak, you may also experience flu-like symptoms such as fever and body aches.
Fortunately, vaccines can prevent this.
The most common cancer and wart-causing varieties can be prevented by early vaccination against HPV.
However, ideally, vaccination should occur before people become sexually active.
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HPV does not always cause symptoms.
This is why it spreads so easily; many people do not realize they carry the virus.
Genital warts appear as painless growths around the vagina or anus or on the penis.
The warts may be flat or have a cauliflower-like appearance and may appear alone or in clusters.
They don’t usually hurt but some people do experience itching and/or irritation.
Most people think of syphilis as an easily preventable disease.
It can be in some situations but not in others.
A condom that covers a syphilis sore can help prevent the spread of this STI.
However, sores in the mouth and on other parts of the body may go unrecognized and untreated.
Those sores can still be contagious.
That’s why testing is still important for key populations.
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However,molluscum contagiosumsores can be transmitted during sex as well.
Although generally a painless infection, if the sores break open, they can become infected by other bacteria.
Therefore, it’s worth talking to a healthcare provider about treatment.
you’re free to also cover sores to prevent skin-to-skin contact since treatment can be difficult.
Molluscum contagiosum causes small bumps to appear on the skin.
The bumps are usually a pearly pink, white, or flesh-color and have a dimple in the center.
Some of these lesions can be as large as a pencil eraser, though most are much smaller.
They may be itchy or sore.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two topical agents for the treatment of MC.
Ycanth (cantharidin) is a topical treatment for people aged 2 and older.
Which STIs Affect the Skin?
Many common STIs can affect the skin, including some that are not spread through skin-to-skin contact.
These infections can cause rashes, sores, and other lesions to appear on the skin.
These STIs include:
Is It a Rash or an STI?
It is possible to develop a rash on the genitals that is not resulting from a sexually transmitted infection.
Rashes can have other causes such as a yeast infection or an irritation to soap or a skincare product.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference.
Does Safer Sex Guarantee Safety?
STIs transmitted by skin-to-skin contact may be difficult toentirelyprevent by safer sex.
That’s because barriers do not necessarily cover all potentially infectious skin.
Practicing safer sex reduces the risk of skin-to-skin STI transmission from viruses such asherpesand HPV.
The more skin that’s covered, the less likely sores are to touch uninfected skin.
Condoms and other barriers may prevent transmission of STIs such as HIV and gonorrhea that spread through bodily fluids.
These STIs are spread by exposure to infected secretions such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluids.
(Infectious secretions vary by disease.)
Remember, though, HIV does not spread by casual contact or skin-to-skin contact.
Summary
Some sexually transmitted infections can be spread through skin-to-skin contact.
These include herpes, human papillomavirus, syphilis, and molluscum contagiosum.
It can be hard to tell the difference between an STI and skin rashes with other causes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About genital herpes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About syphilis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Molluscum contagiosum.
Food and Drug Administration.Ycanth label.
Food and Drug Administration.Zelsuvmi label.
de Vries HJ.Skin as an indicator for sexually transmitted infections.Clin Dermatol.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Common sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Common reasons for painful sex.
2015;26(10):687-95. doi:10.1177/0956462414554435.
