Why do cold sores keep coming back? - Nebraska Medicine
Cold sores are painful blisters in or around the mouth. These sores are a marker of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which comes in two forms, HSV-1 and HSV-2. Anyone with either type of HSV is at risk of developing cold sores, but type one is most often responsible. According to the World Health Organization, about two out of three people under 50 have HSV-1. So, despite whatever stigma HSV has, it's important to remember this virus is extremely common and nothing to be embarrassed about. With proper medical attention, it's relatively easy to effectively treat and limit HSV's effects, including cold sores. What are cold sores? Cold sores are small, fluid-filled blisters, usually around the lips and in the mouth. Because there's no known cure for HSV, the virus that causes cold sores, it will remain in your body for the rest of your life. "It's generally a virus that lays dormant and then can be reactivated at times," says Zachary Genant