What is "herpes labialis"

n. caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) [syn: oral herpes, cold sore, fever blister]

Herpes labialis, also called cold sores among other names, is a type of herpes simplex occurring on the lip, i.e. an infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV). An outbreak typically causes small blisters or sores on or around the mouth. The sores typically heal within 2–3 weeks, but the herpes virus remains dormant in the facial nerve branches, following orofacial infection, periodically reactivating (in symptomatic people) to create sores in the same area of the mouth or face at the site of the original infection.

Cold sore has a frequency that varies from rare episodes to 12 or more recurrences per year. People with the condition typically experience one to three attacks each year. The frequency and severity of outbreaks generally decreases over time.