How HSV Spreads
Herpes is most often spread from person to person
through contact. Herpes cannot spread through the air like the common cold. Direct skin
contact in an environment that contains heat and moisture is necessary for transmission.
In addition, physical symptoms do not have to be
present to spread herpes to another person. Some people are unaware that they have herpes
because their symptoms are so mild (e.g., bump or rash), and they unknowingly spread the
virus to others. You can also be contagious and spread the herpes virus, but not have any
signs or symptoms at all. This is called asymptotic viral shedding. It's also important to
know that transmission of the herpes virus can occur in heterosexual and homosexual
relationships (both men and women).
After the virus has finished being active, it then
travels to the nerves at the end of the spine where it stays for a while. Even after the
lesions are gone, the virus stays inside the nerve cells in a still and hidden state,
which means that it's inactive.
In most people, the virus can become active several
times a year. This is called a recurrence. But scientists do not yet know why this
happens. When it becomes active again, it travels along the nerves to the skin, where it
makes more viruses near the site of the very first infection. That is where new sores
usually will appear. HSV remains in certain nerve cells of the body for life, and can
produce symptoms off and on in some infected people.
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