However, for many, the recurrence is unpredictable and has no recognizable cause. They can be set off by a variety of factors including fever, sun exposure, and a menstrual period. Recurrent infections tend to be milder than primary infections. The infections may recur every few weeks or less frequently. Others will have a recurrence either in the same location as the first infection or in a nearby site. It moves to nerve cells where it remains in a resting state. However, the virus that caused the infection remains in the body. The sores from the primary infection heal completely and rarely leave a scar. Eventually, crusts fall off, leaving slightly red healing skin. The blisters can break as a result of minor injury, allowing the fluid inside the blisters to ooze and crust. Before the blisters appear, the skin may itch or become very sensitive. The number of blisters varies from one to a group of blisters. The sores of a primary infection appear two to twenty days after contact with an infected person and can last from seven to ten days. Although most people when exposed to the virus get infected, only 10% will actually develop sores or cold blisters when this infection occurs. There are two kinds of infections – primary and recurrent. Nurses, physician, dentists, and other health care workers rarely get a herpetic sore after HSV enters a break in the skin of their fingers. Type 1 may also develop in wounds on the skin. Less frequently, Type 1 infections occur in the genital area. Often referred to as fever blisters or cold sores, HSV Type 1 infections are tiny, clear, fluid-filled blisters that most often occur on the face. With either type of herpes simplex, you can spread lesions by touching an unaffected part of the body after toughing a herpes lesion. The virus affects anywhere between 5 and 20 million people, or up to 20 percent of all sexually active adults in the United States. Most people get Type 2 infections following sexual contact with an infected person. Patients may barely notice any symptoms or need medical attention for relief of pain. The sores most commonly affect the lips, mouth, nose, chin or cheeks and occur shortly after exposure. It can be transmitted by kissing, sharing eating utensils, or by sharing towels. They usually catch it from close contact with family members or friends who carry the virus. Most people get Type 1 infections during infancy or childhood. There are two types of HSV – Type 1 and Type 2. For chronically ill people and newborn babies, the viral infection can be serious, but rarely fatal. HSV infections can be very annoying because they can periodically reappear.

Shingles on butt crack