Globally, about 67% of people below the age of 50 years have herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This is the virus that most often causes oral herpes.1 The virus is very contagious and is caught through close contact. Once a person has the virus, they will have it for life as it stays latent in the body in nerve endings. The most common areas that people suffer with cold sores are on the lips and around their mouth, but they can also develop on the nose and cheeks.2
Severe infective complications can occur in patients who suffer immune complications. It has been confirmed during a recent study that those with immune complications will be affected by flare-ups five to six times throughout the year, however those with stronger immune systems will notice on average two flare-ups in a year.3
HSV can be triggered when people are rundown, have been exposed to the sun or are particularly stressed, however, dermal filler injections can also exacerbate or trigger HSV due to the skin damage to…
