When are people safe from cold sores?

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Once a person has been infected with HSV-1, they can have recurrent outbreaks of cold sores. There is no cure for HSV-1, but there are treatments that can help to reduce the frequency and severity of outbreaks. People are not safe from cold sores after just one outbreak. They can have recurrent outbreaks for the rest of their lives. However, there are some things that people can do to reduce their risk of having an outbreak, such as avoiding triggers (such as stress, fatigue, and exposure to sunlight), using sunscreen, and taking antiviral medication.