Herpes Sores Around the Buttocks or Anus: What to Know
Quick answer
Herpes sores can appear around the genitals or anus, not only on the genitals themselves. Herpes can cause painful blisters or ulcers in this area, and these can look like other skin problems. CDC notes that a clinical diagnosis of genital herpes can be difficult, so a swab of a fresh sore is the most reliable way to find out what it is.
Does this sound like your spot?
Tick the field marks that match.
The more of these match, the more it may look like herpes. This is not a diagnosis. Only a swab test of the sore can confirm herpes.
Most people think of herpes as lip or genital sores. But sores can also form in the skin around the genitals and anus, and that can be confusing, especially when a spot shows up where you don’t expect it. Here is what the evidence says and how to find out for sure.
Where do herpes sores appear?
The WHO describes genital herpes symptoms as bumps, blisters or open sores around the genitals or anus. These sores are typically painful. Blisters may break open, ooze and then crust over.
Symptoms often begin with tingling, itching or burning near where the sores will appear. That early tingling is one of the clearest clues.
Why does herpes come back in the same place?
The WHO notes that herpes simplex virus lives inside nerve cells and alternates between being inactive and active. Recurrences are usually shorter and less severe than the first outbreak.
Can I tell herpes from other skin problems by looking?
Not reliably. CDC notes that clinical diagnosis of genital herpes can be difficult, because the classic painful blisters or ulcers are absent in many infected people at the time of examination. CDC recommends confirming a clinical diagnosis with a type-specific test from the lesion itself.
Because of this, a spot near the anus or genitals is not enough to say it is herpes. Other conditions can also cause painful bumps or sores in the area, and a clinician can help you check.
How do I find out for sure?
Ask a doctor or clinician for a swab (PCR) test of the sore while it is fresh. CDC describes HSV NAAT assays as the most sensitive tests because they detect HSV from genital ulcers or other mucocutaneous lesions. Once a sore has healed, a swab can’t be taken.
A blood test for HSV antibodies shows past infection, but not whether a particular spot is herpes. CDC notes that repeat type-specific antibody testing about 12 weeks after the presumed time of acquisition is indicated when recent infection is suspected.
How can I ease the discomfort?
The WHO lists several ways to ease genital herpes discomfort: sit in a warm bath for about 20 minutes without soap, wear loose-fitting clothes, and use over-the-counter pain medicines. These help with comfort, but they don’t treat the infection.
What should I do while I wait?
- Don’t squeeze, scratch or pick at the spot.
- Avoid sex and skin-to-skin contact with the area until you know what it is. The WHO advises people with symptoms to abstain from sexual activity while symptoms are present.
- Tell a clinician if you are pregnant, since the WHO advises pregnant women with genital herpes symptoms to inform their health care providers.
If it is herpes, antiviral medicine prescribed by a clinician can shorten outbreaks and, taken daily, reduce how often they come back. Herpes is common and treatable, and it doesn’t change who you are.
Get care today if
- You have a fever and feel generally unwell along with new sores
- Sores near your eye, or eye pain, redness or blurred vision
- You are pregnant, especially near your due date, and have new genital or anal sores
- Your immune system is weakened, for example by HIV or chemotherapy, and sores are large or slow to heal
Call 911 for a medical emergency. Otherwise, urgent care or your doctor can see you today.
When to test
- While the sore is freshAsk a doctor or clinician for a swab (PCR) test. CDC describes this as the most sensitive test when lesions are present, and it works best before the sore crusts over.
- If the sore has already healedA swab is no longer possible. A doctor or clinician can swab the sore if it returns.
- About 12 weeks after a possible exposureA type-specific HSV blood test, which you can order online, can show past infection. It can't tell you whether a particular spot is herpes, and testing too early can miss a recent infection.
Common questions
Why would herpes be on my buttocks?
Genital herpes can cause sores around the genitals or anus. The WHO notes that symptoms are typically painful blisters or ulcers in these areas. A clinician can examine the area and confirm the cause with a swab.
Does herpes on my buttocks mean I have genital herpes?
It can, if the sores are near the genitals or anus and a swab confirms herpes. Other skin problems can look similar, so the location alone does not settle it. A swab can sort out what you have.
Can herpes spread to other parts of my body?
Severe or widespread disease is more likely in people with a weakened immune system. The WHO notes that herpes can be more severe and recur more often in immunocompromised people, so see a clinician promptly if sores spread.
What should I do while I wait for a test?
Avoid sex and skin-to-skin contact with the area until you know what it is, and don't squeeze or pick at it. Ask a doctor or clinician for a swab as soon as you can, because it is most accurate while the sore is fresh.
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.