What STIs can cause a face rash?

Yes, but most face rashes are not caused by an STI. Herpes is the STI most likely to cause sores on the face, through cold sores on and around the lips, although most people catch the cold sore virus as children, not through sex. Syphilis and HIV can cause a rash that spreads across the body and sometimes includes the face, and the Mpox rash often begins on the face. Molluscum contagiosum can also affect the face in people with HIV.

A rash is more likely to be linked to an STI if it comes with other symptoms, such as sores on your genitals, a fever, swollen glands or feeling unwell, or if it appears in the weeks or months after sex with a new partner.

A rash is an area of skin that has changed colour or texture. A face rash can:

• look red, pink, purple or darker than the skin around it, depending on your skin tone
• be flat or raised, with spots, bumps or blisters
• feel dry, scaly, crusty or greasy
• itch, burn, sting or hurt, or cause no discomfort at all

Where the rash is, what it looks like and whether you have other symptoms can all help work out what is causing it.

Herpes

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is the usual cause of cold sores. A cold sore often starts with a tingling, itching or burning feeling, and within 48 hours painful blisters appear on or around the lips. The blisters then burst and crust over. Most people catch HSV-1 as children, through close contact such as kissing, but it can also be passed on through oral sex.

A first HSV-1 infection in young children can cause a fever and painful sores on the gums and inside the mouth. In people with eczema, Herpes can occasionally spread over a wider area of skin, causing many blisters. This is called eczema herpeticum and needs urgent medical care.

HSV-2, which mainly causes genital Herpes, can infect the mouth through oral sex, but it rarely becomes active again in the mouth. Read more in “What does a Herpes rash look like?”

Syphilis

A rash is one of the most common signs of the second stage of Syphilis. It usually appears a few weeks after the first sore, on the body, the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. It doesn’t usually itch. It can look rough, red or reddish-brown, and it is sometimes so faint that it is hard to notice.

The rash can appear anywhere on the body, but a Syphilis rash only on the face is rare. It may come with a fever, swollen glands, a sore throat, patchy hair loss, headaches, weight loss, muscle aches or tiredness. Read more in “What does Syphilis look like?”

HIV

Some people get a short flu-like illness 2 to 6 weeks after catching HIV. It can include a sore throat, a high temperature, swollen glands, tiredness and a skin rash. This early HIV rash is made up of flat or slightly raised red spots, and it can affect the face as well as the body, palms and soles.

People living with HIV are also more likely to get some skin conditions on the face. Seborrhoeic dermatitis, which causes red, scaly patches around the eyebrows and the creases around the nose and cheeks, is the most common skin condition in people with HIV. When HIV has weakened the immune system, some people get eosinophilic folliculitis, an itchy rash of small bumps and pus-filled spots on the face, scalp, neck and body. Skin problems like these often improve once HIV treatment helps the immune system recover.

Mpox

The Mpox rash often begins on the face before spreading over the body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It can also start where contact happened, such as the genitals. The rash usually appears 1 to 5 days after the first symptoms, such as a high temperature, headache or swollen glands. It starts as raised spots, which turn into small blisters filled with fluid, then form scabs that fall off.

If you think you might have Mpox, avoid close contact with other people. The Better2Know Monkeypox Swab home test checks a swab taken from one of the spots or blisters, with results in 3 days.

Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum contagiosum is a skin infection caused by a virus. It causes small, firm, raised spots, often with a dimple in the middle. When adults catch it through sex, the spots may appear on the lower tummy, genitals and thighs. In people with HIV, the spots can be larger and more numerous, often on the face.

Pubic lice

Pubic lice, or crabs, most often live in pubic hair, but they can also be found in hair on the face, including beards, eyebrows and eyelashes. They cause itching, which is usually worse at night, and their bites can leave small red or blue spots on the skin. Read more in “Are pubic lice an STI?”

Most face rashes are caused by common skin conditions rather than STIs.

Acne

Acne causes spots, such as blackheads, whiteheads and red bumps, which usually affect the face, chest and back. Read more in “Can STIs cause pimples?”

Rosacea

Rosacea is a long-term skin condition that causes redness across the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin that comes and goes, sometimes with small red bumps.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis

Seborrhoeic dermatitis causes red, scaly, itchy patches on the scalp and face, often around the eyebrows and the creases around the nose and cheeks. Most people who have it don’t have HIV. But if it is severe or hard to treat, and you might have been exposed to HIV, an HIV test may be worthwhile.

Eczema and contact dermatitis

Eczema causes itchy, dry, cracked skin, and in babies and toddlers it often affects the face. Contact dermatitis is a reaction to something that touches the skin, such as soap, cosmetics or nickel, and it most often affects the hands and face.

Impetigo

Impetigo is a contagious skin infection that starts with red sores or blisters, often around the nose and mouth. These burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches.

Shingles

Shingles starts with tingling or pain, followed by a rash of itchy blisters on one side of the body only. It can affect the face and eyes.

Lupus

Lupus can cause a rash over the nose and cheeks, which often comes on after being in the sun.

If you have a face rash and think you might have been exposed to an STI, the right test depends on your symptoms.

• A rash with flu-like symptoms, or a rash on your body, palms or soles in the weeks or months after sex: the Better2Know Full Screen tests for 7 infections, including HIV and Syphilis, from 28 days after possible exposure, with results in 3 days. You can book it at one of our clinics or order a Full Screen home test.
• A blister or sore on or around your lips: the Herpes Simplex Type 1 and 2 (Swab) test checks a swab from the sore for Herpes.
• A sore, blister or lump on or around your genitals as well as the rash: the Blemish Screen tests a swab for Herpes 1, Herpes 2, HPV and Syphilis.
• Spots or blisters that could be Mpox: the Monkeypox Swab home test checks a swab from a spot or blister for Mpox.

If you are only worried about HIV, the HIV home test checks for HIV and the p24 antigen from 28 days after possible exposure, with results in 1 day. If it has been less than 28 days since you might have been exposed, our Patient Care Team can advise you on when to test.

If you have a rash and feel very unwell, for example with a high temperature or painful, swollen joints, get urgent medical care. Not sure which test you need? Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Can Gonorrhoea cause a rash on your face?

It is very unlikely. Rarely, Gonorrhoea spreads through the blood and causes disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI). Older estimates put this at 0.5% to 3% of untreated Gonorrhoea infections. DGI can cause a rash, but it usually affects the hands, feet, arms, legs and body and spares the face. It often comes with a fever and painful, swollen joints, and it needs urgent medical care. Read more in “What is a Gonorrhoea rash?”

Is a cold sore an STI?

Cold sores are usually caused by HSV-1, a type of Herpes. Most people catch it as children through kissing or other close contact, not through sex. But HSV-1 can be passed on through oral sex and cause genital Herpes, so avoid oral sex until a cold sore has completely healed. Read more in “How long after a cold sore can you give oral sex?”

Can an STI rash come and go?

Yes. A Syphilis rash goes away on its own, even without treatment, but the infection stays in the body and can cause serious problems later if it isn’t treated. Cold sores also come and go, because the Herpes virus stays in the body after the first infection.

Most face rashes are caused by common skin conditions, not STIs. But Herpes, Syphilis, HIV and Mpox can all cause a rash or sores on the face, especially alongside other symptoms.

If you have a rash and are worried about an STI, get tested. Book a Full Screen at a clinic near you or order a home test kit. Our Patient Care Team is available 24/7 on 020 7099 0955.

Not in the UK? Choose your country from the selector at the top of the page for local tests and prices.

This article originally appeared on 14 June 2024 and was last updated on 29 September 2026.

Medical review. This article was medically reviewed by Dr Steve Chapman, Doctor with a wealth of clinical experience in the field of STIs, on 29 July 2024. It is general information and not a substitute for personal medical advice.

Sources

1. NHS, Cold sores, reviewed 19 February 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cold-sores/
2. DermNet, Herpes simplex, October 2015. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/herpes-simplex
3. Wald A, Ericsson M, Krantz E, Selke S, Corey L. Oral shedding of herpes simplex virus type 2. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2004;80(4):272. https://sti.bmj.com/content/80/4/272
4. World Health Organization, Herpes simplex virus, fact sheet, 30 May 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
5. NHS, Syphilis, reviewed 17 March 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/syphilis/
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About Syphilis, reviewed 30 January 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/syphilis/about/index.html
7. DermNet, Syphilis, March 2018. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/syphilis
8. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, BASHH UK guidelines for the management of syphilis 2024. https://bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/syphilis_2024.pdf
9. Yu T, et al. Annular rupioid secondary syphilis confined to the face. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2022.07.028
10. NHS, HIV and AIDS, reviewed 9 July 2025. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/
11. DermNet, Skin conditions relating to HIV infection, November 2021. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-conditions-relating-to-hiv-infection
12. DermNet, Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis, April 2014. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/eosinophilic-pustular-folliculitis
13. British Association of Dermatologists, Seborrhoeic dermatitis, January 2023. https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/condition/seborrhoeic-dermatitis
14. NHS, Mpox, reviewed 9 April 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mpox/
15. World Health Organization, Mpox, fact sheet, 26 August 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mpox
16. NHS, Molluscum contagiosum, reviewed 14 May 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/molluscum-contagiosum/
17. NHS, Pubic lice, reviewed 15 May 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pubic-lice/
18. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About pubic ‘crab’ lice, reviewed 4 June 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/lice/about/pubic-lice.html
19. NHS, Gonorrhoea, reviewed 16 December 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gonorrhoea/
20. DermNet, Gonorrhoea, March 2018. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/gonorrhoea
21. British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, BASHH national guideline for the management of infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 1 April 2025. https://www.bashh.org/_userfiles/pages/files/gc_guideline_2025_final.pdf
22. UK Health Security Agency, Disseminated gonococcal infection in England, 2019 to 2023, 7 November 2023. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disseminated-gonococcal-infection-dgi-in-england/disseminated-gonococcal-infection-in-england-2019-to-2023-data-from-voluntary-reporting
23. NHS, Acne, reviewed 22 September 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/
24. NHS, Rosacea, reviewed 17 March 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rosacea/
25. NHS, Contact dermatitis, reviewed 3 May 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contact-dermatitis/
26. NHS, Atopic eczema, reviewed 6 September 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atopic-eczema/
27. NHS, Impetigo, reviewed 6 June 2024. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/impetigo/
28. NHS, Shingles, reviewed 23 November 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/shingles/
29. NHS, Lupus, reviewed 19 July 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lupus/