Question: Hi,

Ive been getting these cracks in my skin. On the tips of my fingers I have these paper cut size splits caused by playing guitar. The problem is i have a blood borne illness phobia and im concerned about these cracks in my skin being an entry point for viruses. I know this is strange, but unfortunately this is just how my mind tends to wonder. Yesterday a customer was playing a guitar and then handed it to me. Seconds later, I was playing on the same guitar and one of the strings cut into the tip of my finger. If this customer had the same kind of splits in his skin from playing guitar could I catch anything from having that same string cutting into my finger? In my mind I just see the string cutting into his skin and then some microscopic amount of blood being left on the string which then cuts into my skin. I never saw any bleeding. The cut in my finger was red on the inside and I could feel it sting but it was not deep. If this is nothing to worry about how deep would the cut have to be for there to be a risk? I do realize this is irrational and something that most other people would not worry about. I'm just trying to talk to someone and work through it. Mostly what im worried about is HIV exposure.

Thank you. It would be fair to say that there was zero risk because there was no visible blood? Otherwise im worried about microscopic traces. In this case i never saw blood....i was just worried that the string might have cut into his skin and into mine. I think what you are saying is that i should only be worried if i actually SEE blood and we would both have to have cuts deeper than a paper cut?

Thank you again. Sorry that i worry about theoretcal risk