“Your Sign Not to Kiss Him” #pain

HSV-1, or herpes simplex virus type 1, is extremely common, with a significant portion of the global population carrying it. While many people associate HSV-1 with cold sores, not everyone who has the virus experiences visible symptoms. HSV-1 lives dormant in the nerve cells and can periodically “shed” from the skin, even when no active sores are present. This viral shedding means that HSV-1 can be transferred through close contact, like kissing, even if the infected person doesn’t have visible symptoms at the time.

The virus tends to stay dormant in the nerves around the mouth and face but can reactivate during times of stress or weakened immunity—such as when someone is fatigued, sick, or experiencing emotional strain. During these flare-ups, the virus travels back to the skin’s surface, where it can become contagious again. This combination of silent shedding and reactivation makes HSV-1 highly transmissible and explains why it’s so widespread, even among people who rarely show any outward signs of infection.

#kissing #lips #teen