Table of Contents
Types of Herpes
Oral Herpes (Cold Sores)
Genital Herpes
Symptoms of Herpes
Primary symptoms
Recurring symptoms
Prevention
10 Famous Pepple With Herpes
1. Derek Jeter
2. Anne Heche
3. Jessica Alba
4. Jessica Biel
5. Robin Williams
6. Scarlett Johansson
7. Janet Jackson
8. Paris Hilton
9. Billy Idol
10. Usher
Through this post, you will get to know about famous people with herpes. Herpes is a very common STI (sexually transmitted infection). Herpes is neither deadly nor causes any serious health issues. It causes some painful blisters, sores, and outbreaks at the site of infection, that is, around the mouth or genitals, which for many people happen less over time and may eventually stop occurring completely.
Types of Herpes
The Herpes simplex virus, known as HSV, causes herpes. The virus is of two types:
- Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1, commonly called cold sores)
- Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2, commonly called genital herpes) is more common even among many celebrities.
Symptoms of herpes infection may develop 2–20 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms include tingling, itching, burning, sores, or blisters forming around the mouth or genitals.
Oral Herpes (Cold Sores)
Oral herpes causes blisters, also known as fever sores or cold sores. They are developed in or around the lips and mouth.
Sometimes these blisters tend to form on the tongue or somewhere else on the face. But rarely on any other areas of skin. The sores usually last 2–3 weeks at a time.
With time, cold sore outbreaks may occur less often, and the symptoms tend to become less severe.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes causes blisters/sores which develop on the penis, inside or on the vagina wall. They can also occur on the buttocks or the anus. However, they might form on other areas of the skin.
Herpes can also cause dysuria (painful urination). It can also change vaginal discharge. When the first time sores appear, they may last 2–6 weeks. Soon after this initial outbreak, symptoms may recur frequently.
Symptoms of Herpes
Primary symptoms
These occur when a person first develops herpes infections. Alongside sores or blisters, the following symptoms may also appear:
- Pain and itching
- Swollen lymph nodes/ swollen glands in your pelvic area, throat, and under your arms
- Chills
- Headache
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Cold sore problem
- A general feeling of being unwell
In most cases, the lesions heal without long-term scarring.
Recurring symptoms
Symptoms that reappear are kind of similar to the initial symptoms. However, they tend to be less severe and last for a shorter period.
The signs and symptoms can be inconsistent and may recur, off and on, for many years. Some people experience numerous episodes each year. While on the other side, for many people, however, the outbreaks are less frequent as time passes.
Research suggests that around 33% of people with oral herpes and 50% of genital herpes experience recurring symptoms.
Recurring symptoms of oral and genital herpes tend to last 8–10 days. And there will be fewer sores than there were in the initial phase.
Herpes is incurable. However, it can be managed and prevented easily by practicing safe sexual practices (via condoms). Be it any sexual practice; safesexual methods are always necessary. They help prevent any unforeseen situations/problems, especially in the case of STIs.
Prevention
The disease is incurable. Measures to prevent or reduce the risk of developing or passing on herpes must be taken.
- Use condoms during sexual activities (barrier method)
- Avoid sex while symptoms are present
- In case of a cold sore around the mouth, avoid kissing and oral sex
- Washing the hands thoroughly during an outbreak, especially after touching the affected area. This makes sure that the virus does not contaminate surfaces being touched.
10 Famous Pepple With Herpes
Herpes is a very common STI but is still heavily stigmatized for vague reasons. However, it is wrong to lie about having herpes with your sexual partners. And there is nothing shameful or degrading in admitting a herpes infection. Rather it is a very righteous and responsible thing to do.
On the same note, here is a list of celebritieswith herpes or celebrities that get cold sores that will make you realize how common it is and is not a big deal.
1. Derek Jeter
A famous baseball player, athlete, and actor, Derek Jeter, is among the celebrities with herpes. Derek Jeter has been in hot water to be a big source of the Hollywood herpes epidemic.
Derek Jeter has transmitted herpes to his former celebrity girlfriends. The list includes Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Vanessa Minnillo, Adriana Lima, Mariah Carey, and Scarlett Johansson.
2. Anne Heche
American actress, producer, and TV director Anne Heche admitted to having herpes in her memoir. And hence, she is one of the famous people with herpes.
In the memoir, she claims that her father sexually molested her till 12 years of age, and got infected by genital herpes through her father at the tender age of 8.
3. Jessica Alba
American actress, model, and businesswoman, Jessica Alba has genital herpes. It was transmitted to her by her boyfriend, Derek Jeter.
According to the news, Cash Warren, husband of Jessica Alba, tried “curing” herpes through Valtrex. (Valtrex is an antiviral medication used to treat outbreaks of HSV)
4. Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel, an American actress, producer, model, and singer, is another famous person with herpes.
She is said to have contracted herpes through her ex-boyfriend, Derek Jeter.
5. Robin Williams
Robin Williams was an American standup comedian, actor, producer, writer, director, singer, and voice artist. He passed away in August 2014.
A cocktail waitress sued Robin Williams in 1986, who claimed that she contracted herpes through Robin Williams. Apparently, a court settlement was done of the case for an unknown amount of money.
6. Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson, a famous American actress, singer, and model, is also among the famous people with herpes.
It’s said that she had contracted herpes from her ex-boyfriend, Derek Jeter. And as mentioned above, Derek Jeter is a big source of herpes transmission among his former celebrity girlfriends.
7. Janet Jackson
An American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress, Janet Jackson, has herpes.
When word spread about the chef suing Janet Jackson over using his identity on prescriptions for herpes medicine, the public learned about her herpes for the first time.
8. Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton is an American businesswoman, television personality, socialite, model, actress, DJ, singer, and author. Reportedly, Paris Hilton is also one of the famous people with herpes.
This is supported by the fact that prescriptions/records were found with her name for Valtrex (Valtrex – a drug that is used to treat outbreaks of genital herpes) in her locker in 2017.
9. Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad is an English musician, songwriter, singer, and actor professionally known as Billy Idol. He admitted to having herpes in an interview with Rollin Stone Magazine.
10. Usher
Usher Raymond IV is an American singer, dancer, songwriter, businessman, and actor. He was reportedly diagnosed with herpes in 2009 or 2010.
Laura Helm alleged that Usher Raymond transmitted her genital herpes during a sexual encounter in 2017. And hid the fact from her in the first place that he had been diagnosed with herpes.
She claimed that she experienced symptoms, and she then tested positive for herpes. She also claims that she read online reports of Usher’s alleged herpes diagnosis. However, this wasn’t the first time that Usher was sued for this.
This list of celebrities with herpes virus indicates that it’s about time we realize how common herpes is and destigmatize it.
There are many more famous people with herpes (or rumoured to have herpes). The list has many famous celebrities names like Mariah Carey, Jennifer Aniston, David Hasselhoff, Kim Kardashian, Vanessa Minnillo, Joshua Jackson, Michael Vick, Brad Pitt, Adriana Lima, David Beckham, Tony Bennett, Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Colin Farrell, Victoria Beckham, Kris Humphries, Fred Durst, Linda Feldman, Dennis Rodman, Katie Holmes, Kate Moss.
Apart from this, there may be many possible famous people with herpes who don’t know yet or have not been public about it.
According to a survey done in 2015-2016 for people aged 14–49: The prevalence of HSV type 1 was 47.8%, and the prevalence of HSV type 2 was 11.9%.
One in six persons between the ages of 14 and 49 is infected by the herpes virus.
However, safe sexual practices should be encouraged. And don’t forget, it might not be the easiest conversation to have with your partner. But if you have been diagnosed with the herpes virus, you must tell them.
Click here to read more such information.
Stay healthy! Stay safe!
FAQs
What perfect of people have herpes? ›
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48% of the population in the U.S. has HSV-1, while 12% has HSV-2. It is possible that many more people have HSV-1 than this, since asymptomatic infections are common and many people get the virus in childhood and never know they have it.
Who are the most common victims of herpes? ›HSV-2 infection is more common among women than among men; the percentages of those infected during 2015-2016 were 15.9% versus 8.2% respectively, among 14 to 49 year olds. This is possibly because genital infection is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men during penile-vaginal sex.
How far away is cure for herpes? ›Early efforts to produce a protein-based vaccine for herpes failed. But a new mRNA approach has outperformed the efficacy of the past vaccines in preclinical trials and is expected to be introduced in clinical trials in the second half of 2022, investigators say.
Can you have kids with herpes? ›The answer to both questions is “yes,” but you'll need to take some precautions. Women with genital herpes can have healthy children. If you have genital herpes, precautions can help prevent your baby from getting the virus.
Do most people carry herpes? ›Most adults carry at least one form of herpes virus, if not more. You may also find comfort in knowing that when symptoms are present, the first outbreak is generally the most severe. Once the initial outbreak clears, you may not experience another flare-up for many months, if at all.
How do you keep herpes dormant? ›- Get plenty of sleep. This helps keep your immune system strong.
- Eat healthy foods. Good nutrition also helps your immune system stay strong.
- Keep stress low. Constant stress can weaken your immune system.
- Protect yourself from the sun, wind, and extreme cold and heat.
Some 140 million people aged 15-49 years are infected with genital HSV-1 infection, primarily in the Americas, Europe and Western Pacific.
Does herpes have a high fatality rate? ›Neonatal infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a potentially devastating complication of genital herpes during pregnancy. Neonatal herpes is rare, but associated with considerable morbidity and mortality: untreated, the case-fatality rate is estimated to be 60%1,2.
Do 90% of humans have herpes? ›The frequency of HSV infection has been measured by testing various populations for the presence of antibody, as both virus and the immune response are thought to persist after infection for the life of the host. Worldwide, ∼90% of people have one or both viruses.
Will herpes ever be treatable? ›Is there a cure or treatment for genital herpes? There is no cure for genital herpes. However, daily use of antiviral medicines can prevent or shorten outbreaks. Antiviral medicines also can reduce the chance of spreading it to others.
Can you donate blood if you have herpes? ›
Chlamydia, venereal warts (human papilloma virus), or genital herpes are not a cause for deferral if you are feeling healthy and well and meet all other eligibility requirements. You must weigh at least 110 lbs to be eligible for blood donation for your own safety.
Do you think herpes will ever be cured? ›No. Unfortunately, there's no cure for herpes. However, researchers are hoping that gene therapy could potentially open the door for a future herpes cure. Until then, HSV infections are managed with prescription antiviral medications, like Valtrex (valacyclovir) or Zovirax (acyclovir).
Where did herpes come from originally? ›The virus originated in chimpanzees, jumping into humans 1.6 million years ago.
Does herpes cause erectile dysfunction? ›During an average of 3.9 years of follow-up, HSV-infected subjects had a higher incidence of ED than controls (1.7% vs. 0.7%), they reported in Andrology (2013;1:240-244). Further analyses showed that HSV infection was independently associated with a nearly threefold increased risk of ED.
Can you donate sperm with herpes 2? ›Do I Qualify? In order to comply with tissue bank licensing regulations, we cannot accept donor applicants who have been exposed to or infected with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HTLV, syphilis, genital herpes, or genital warts.
Can I still receive oral with herpes? ›You avoid having vaginal, anal, or oral sex when your partner has herpes symptoms (i.e., during an “outbreak”).
What kind of leg pain does herpes cause? ›Radiculopathy caused by HSV-2 infection typically affects the lumbar or sacral nerve roots and is often recurrent. In addition to radicular pain, paresthesias, urinary retention, constipation, anogenital discomfort, and leg weakness may be observed.
Is herpes less contagious over time? ›Someone who has had the virus for a long time is less contagious than someone who has just been infected. In general, women have a higher risk of becoming infected than men. Having other sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV also increases the risk of transmission.
What soap is best for herpes? ›Self-Care Procedures for Genital Herpes: Bathe the affected genital area twice a day with mild soap and water. Gently pat dry with a towel or use a hair dryer set on warm. Using Aveeno (colloidal oatmeal soap or bath treatments) may also be soothing.
What foods should be avoided with herpes? ›As such, it's best stay away from foods high in arginine like turkey breast, pork loin, chicken breast, nuts (peanuts in particular), pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, soybeans, dairy products and lentils during an outbreak of herpes.
How do I make sure I don't get herpes back? ›
Always use condoms and dental dams during oral, anal, and vaginal sex. Talk with your doctor about taking herpes medication every day, which can lower your chances of spreading herpes. Don't have sex during a herpes outbreak, even with a condom. There may be sores on places the condom doesn't cover.
Can the shingles vaccine help with herpes? ›Does the herpes zoster vaccine protect you from genital herpes? No. The herpes zoster vaccine protects you against shingles (herpes zoster), a viral infection that is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus. 14 There is currently no vaccine to protect against genital or oral herpes.
How many 20 year olds have herpes? ›Prevalence increased linearly with age, from 27.0% among those aged 14–19, to 41.3%, 54.1%, and 59.7% among those aged 20–29, 30–39, and 40–49, respectively. Age-adjusted prevalence was higher among females (50.9%) than males (45.2%).
How long does it take for herpes to show up in a man? ›Initial herpes symptoms usually show up 2 to 20 days after you're infected. But it may be years before the first symptoms appear. Herpes sores usually heal in a few weeks. But the virus stays in your body – and it can flare up and cause sores again.
How many Americans have herpes? ›It is estimated that, in the United States, 47.8% of people aged 14–49 have HSV-1, while 11.9% of Americans in the same age group have HSV-2 (WHO, 2017). Theoretically, this means that over 195 million people in the United States might have genital herpes.
Does herpes cause early death? ›Deaths from herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) are rare. A major exception is perinatally acquired HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection where the neonatal death rate is substantial. Fatal HSV infection also occurs occasionally in pregnant women.
Where does herpes live in the body? ›The herpes simplex viruses are latent, meaning they can live in the body without causing symptoms. After the initial infection, the virus gets into the nerve roots and spreads to the sensory nerve ganglia, the junctions where nerves from different parts of the body come together.
Why is herpes incurable? ›Why creating a cure is difficult. Herpes is challenging to cure because of the nature of the virus. The HSV infection can hide away in a person's nerve cells for long periods of time before reappearing and reactivating the infection.
How many people have herpes in their lifetime? ›About half a billion people worldwide are living with genital herpes, and several billion have an oral herpes infection, new estimates show.
What is the new treatment for herpes? ›Pritelivir is a new class of drugs that targets the DNA of the virus and stops it from replicating. It has received FDA approval and is taken orally each day. Scientists also are working on other new drugs that keep the herpes virus from replicating.
What helps herpes outbreak go away faster? ›
Antiviral medicine (acyclovir and related drugs) may relieve pain and discomfort and help the outbreak go away faster. It may also reduce the number of outbreaks.
Can herpes cause other health problems? ›Rare complications of HSV-2 include meningoencephalitis (brain infection) and disseminated infection. Rarely, HSV-1 infection can lead to more severe complications such as encephalitis (brain infection) or keratitis (eye infection).
Can herpes be transmitted through saliva? ›“Having sex” means having anal, oral, or vaginal sex. You can also get genital herpes if your genitals touch the infected skin or secretions (like saliva through oral sex) of someone who has it. You can get genital herpes even if your partner shows no signs of the infection.
What STD Cannot donate blood? ›You cannot give blood if you have ever had syphilis or gonorrhoea. You can give blood 4 months after complete recovery and conclusion of treatment for chlamydia and genital herpes. You can give blood 2 weeks after complete recovery and conclusion of treatment of genital/anal warts.
Can you donate eggs of you have herpes? ›2. Can I donate eggs if I have herpes? Yes, you can still donate your eggs, even if you have been treated for an STD in the past. However, doctors probably won't start you on a cycle if you're having an active herpes outbreak.
Do I have herpes life? ›Once someone is infected with herpes simplex, the virus goes into hiding and stays in the body for the rest of their lives. The virus can re-emerge at any time and cause an outbreak. Some people have outbreaks several times per year.
How much of the population has some form of herpes? ›More than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50 – or 67% of the population – are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), according to WHO's first global estimates of HSV-1 infection published today in the journal PLOS ONE.
What population of the world has herpes? ›Two-thirds of the globe's population has herpes, according to the World Health Organization. That's more than 3.7 billion people under the age of 50, or 67% of the population, the organization said Friday. There are two types of the herpes simplex virus, an infectious and incurable condition.
What are the odds its herpes? ›Genital herpes is a common sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the herpes simplex virus. It is estimated that at least one in five adults in the United States is infected with the virus, but many people have mild or no symptoms and do not realize that they are infected.
Does everyone in America have herpes? ›It is estimated that, in the United States, 47.8% of people aged 14–49 have HSV-1, while 11.9% of Americans in the same age group have HSV-2 (WHO, 2017). Theoretically, this means that over 195 million people in the United States might have genital herpes.
Is herpes the end of the world? ›
A diagnosis of herpes is not the end of the world, but women should know where they stand. We encourage testing for all sexually active women. If you suspect you may have had exposure to the herpes virus, you should come see us for an evaluation.
Where is herpes most common in the world? ›Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a common infection in many countries, with prevalence in some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa, higher than in the USA. Prevalence in adult general populations in sub-Saharan Africa ranges from 30% to 80% in women, and from 10% to 50% in men.