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Ocular Herpes: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and How to Stay Safe
When you hear the word herpes, you probably think of oral cold sores or genital outbreaks. But herpes can also affect the eyes — a condition called ocular herpes or herpes keratitis.
The idea of herpes affecting the eye understandably sounds alarming, but the good news is:
✔ It’s treatable
✔ It’s usually mild when managed promptly
✔ It doesn’t happen just because you have oral or genital herpes
Let’s break it down.
What Is Ocular Herpes?
Ocular herpes is an infection of the eye caused b…
Can Herpes Really Cause Encephalitis (Inflammation of the brain)?
When people Google “herpes encephalitis,” anxiety skyrockets — fast.
Suddenly, a cold sore feels terrifying. A genital outbreak feels like a ticking time bomb.
But here’s the truth you deserve to hear clearly:
👉 Regular oral or genital herpes does NOT cause brain damage, encephalitis, or anything close to it.
Herpes encephalitis is a completely different medical situation than the everyday HSV-1 or HSV-2 infections millions of people live with.
Let’s break this down in a way that makes sens…
Do Herpes Outbreaks Always Occur in the Same Spot?
If you’ve had herpes for a while, you might have noticed something strange — your outbreaks often seem to appear in the exact same spot. But then, sometimes… they don’t. So what’s really going on? Why does herpes sometimes stick to one place, and other times decide to surprise you somewhere else?
Let’s break it down.
Where the Virus Hides
Once you’re infected with the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 or HSV-2), it doesn’t live on your skin — it hides inside your nerve cells near the spine.
- Fo…
💊 When Antivirals Suddenly Trigger More Outbreaks: What’s Going On?
If you’ve ever started taking antivirals like valacyclovir (Valtrex), acyclovir, or famciclovir — and suddenly found yourself having more outbreaks — you’re not alone. It sounds completely backwards, right? You take something that’s supposed to prevent outbreaks, and instead it feels like it’s making them worse.
Before you panic or toss your pills, let’s unpack what might really be happening.
⚙️ How Antivirals Work
Antivirals don’t kill the herpes virus — they simply stop it from replica…
How Herpes Distorts Our Identity
I remember once hearing that we never actually see ourselves, only reflections of ourselves through mirrors. It’s everyone else who sees us with the most accuracy, because it’s reality versus a reflection.
The opposite of that is also true too: no one who sees us ever actually knows all of us, only the appearance we project on the outside. It’s us who understands our inside world with the most accuracy, because it’s reflection versus a reality.
So, it is wild to think—if we can’t see ourselves…
Can Good Stress (a.k.a. Excitement) Cause a Herpes Outbreak?
Understanding how “happy stress” can still affect your body
We usually think of stress as something negative — deadlines, bills, conflicts, or sleepless nights. But what about good stress? You know, the butterflies before a big date, the thrill of a new job, or the excitement of a long-awaited vacation. Can that kind of stress trigger a herpes outbreak too?
Surprisingly… yes, it can.
That doesn’t mean you should stop feeling happy or excited (definitely not!). But understanding how all types …
Antivirals for Herpes: How They Work and What You Need to Know
If you’ve been diagnosed with herpes, you’ve probably heard about antivirals. They’re one of the most common tools doctors recommend to manage herpes outbreaks—and for good reason. But what exactly do they do, and how do the different brands compare? Let’s break it down.
What Antivirals do
Herpes is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), which stays in the body for life. Right now, there’s no cure, but antivirals can help by:
- Reducing outbreak severity – making sores smaller, less pain…
How Will I Ever Get Pregnant if One of Us Has Herpes?
Why Herpes Doesn’t Mean the End of Family Plans
One of the worries I hear in our community is this: “How will I ever get pregnant if I (or my partner) has herpes?” It’s a real fear, and it makes sense — we’re taught to associate herpes with risk, stigma, and complications. But let me reassure you: herpes is not a barrier to starting a family.
Pregnancy and Herpes — What You Should Know
Herpes doesn’t stop you from conceiving, and it doesn’t make you infertile. Plenty of people with herpes go …
I’m Brave Because I Talk About Herpes
People often tell me I’m “brave” because I talk openly about herpes. And every time I hear it, I can’t help but think: why should this even be considered brave? We’re talking about a virus — one that’s incredibly common, ridiculously easy to catch, and in no way a reflection of someone’s worth. Kids get it. People in committed relationships get it. Partners who cheat pass it on. People who have been assaulted carry it. Yet somehow, herpes is still wrapped in stigma and silence.
And please, don'…
I Shared With Somebody Who Gets Cold Sores. Do I Have Herpes Now?
We’ve all been there—you borrow a drink, share a bite of food, or maybe even use the same lip balm as a friend who casually says, “Oh, don’t worry, it’s just a cold sore.” Cue the panic: Did I just catch herpes?
Let’s break this down together.
First Things First: Cold Sores = Oral Herpes
Cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). It’s incredibly common—more than half the world’s population has it. Many people pick it up in childhood, often without even knowing.