Body Location

“Common things happen commonly,” the saying goes. Most people know that herpes simplex “cold sores” frequently occur on the lips, and that they are often found on the genitals when sexually transmitted.

However, herpes lesions can occur in any body location. Knowledge of the morphology of herpes infections, grouped vesicles, will help the skin diagnostician avoid missing variants of this disease.

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  Classic labial/orofacial herpes simplex with involvement of the lips.

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  Classic genital herpes simplex with involvement of the shaft of the penis.

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  The eyelid is an uncommon location for herpes simplex.

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  Grouping of tiny erythematous papules with hemorrhagic crusts suggests herpes simplex, despite the unusual location at the leg.