The common cold sore virus, which is often caught in childhood, usually stays in the body for life – quietly dormant in the ...

Cold sores are painful blisters on the lips that can form unsightly crusts. They are very common and are caused by the herpes simplex virus. The medical name for facial cold sores is herpes labialis.

Most cold sores are caused by HSV-1, which affects about 67% of people worldwide under the age of 50. However, HSV-2, which is typically associated with genital herpes, can be transmitted to the ...