Triggers can include illness, stress, and hormonal changes. When the virus is active again, it travels through the nerves, returns to where it first entered the body, and causes a new outbreak of sores and blisters (one of the symptoms of herpes). The symptoms usually go away after 1 to 2 weeks. However, cold sores can often come back.
The frequency and severity of sores usually decrease as you get older. If you do, you can ask your doctor for antiviral pills to prevent outbreaks; check out antiviral treatment or you can try self-help treatments. Despite popular myth, contracting herpes (cold sores) on surfaces, towels or washcloths has a very low risk, since the virus does not usually survive long on dry surfaces. Recurrent cold sores simplex, also known as oral herpes, is a condition of the mouth area caused by the herpes simplex virus.
Therefore, a person who has many recurrences of genital herpes is more likely to have herpes simplex type 2.Once a person contracts the herpes simplex virus (HSV), it usually causes an initial outbreak of cold sores. The virus is transmitted from person to person through kissing, close contact with herpes sores, or saliva, even when there are no sores. Sometimes, a person can learn to recognize why outbreaks appear, but for other people there doesn't seem to be any particular reason for this. Cold sores can occur when a person contracts the herpes simplex virus, which causes small, fluid-filled blisters around the lips and in the mouth.
The herpes simplex virus, also known as HSV, is a viral infection that causes genital and oral herpes. Tingling or warmth on or near the lips is usually a warning sign that recurrent oral herpes is about to appear in 1 or 2 days. For more guidance on how to relieve emotional stress, see How to tell your partner or What to do if your partner has herpes. For more information and to help you understand the words you may hear about genital herpes, see Resources and the glossary.
Remember that the triggers may not be the same for everyone, and doctors aren't sure how much lifestyle affects herpes symptoms.
