What causes herpes simplex?

Herpes simplex viruses are spread through close skin-on-skin contact with a person carrying the virus. You can also get the virus simply by touching a herpes sore, but most other people are infected by a person who does have the virus but does not have the sores on his body. A dermatologist would term this asymptomatic viral shedding.

What ways can you get oral herpes?

• Sharing a kiss with an infected person.
• Contact with a person’s skin, usually through touch.
• Sharing objects with an infected person. This could be food utensils, a lip balm, or a razor.

What ways can you get genital herpes?

Most people contract genital herpes from persons infected with HSV-2, although you can also become infected from contact with HSV-1.

• Genital herpes usually is contracted during sex: Through oral sex from someone with a cold sore, HSV-1 could be spread to the genitals, causing herpes sores in that region.
• Through childbirth: babies can be infected with the virus by their mothers. If the infection is spread to the newborn during the period of the mother’s first outbreak of genital herpes, problems resulting from the virus could be severe to the child.

What happens to you if you are infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2?

The herpes virus remains in the body of an infected person throughout the lifetime of that person. The virus never leaves. The first outbreak of herpes sores causes the virus to leave the skin cells, and relocate to the nerve cells, where it remains forever. The virus stays dormant, but it can become active again, causing a second outbreak of herpes sores.

What can cause the virus to become active?

• Stress.

• Illness.
• Fever.
• Sun exposure.
• Menstrual periods.
• Surgery.

If unsure about any information concerning the HSV-1 and HSV-2, you can call 020 71833648, and a friendly health professional will be at the end of the line to provide you with a helpful answer. Or you can simply walk into our Harley Street Dermatology Clinic, and you can make an appointment to see an expert dermatologist.