[Gas]

Just FYI for those who suffer from this, I've been reading that icing the shit out of it as soon as you feel it coming on (at least 30 minutes at a time) multiple times a day, and also pumping l-lysine supplements or eating a lot of high lysine food should knock the outbreak in a couple of days (yes, I've been paranoid af about getting my first cold sore/dick herpe and spent the whole next morning reading up on what to expect).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3115841

[Vinny]

More than 90% of people in the world carry herpes simplex in their systems. I would suggest that for people on this forum the number is 99.99% if you realize the amount of girls you kiss and the chances of picking up this germ.
The other thing is the cold sore itself, not all people ever have it. Depends on immunity. Sometimes the sores might appear not outside but inside of the body, anywhere on surface of mucous membrane.
I rarely have the actual cold sore outbreaks, but I notice that only if I am forced to work nightshift and my immune system is on the low I can get it.
Yes in Europe it is not a big deal. I was 23 when I first learned it is actually called herpes. We just call it cold sores. Nobody cares.

[Bluto]

(07-13-2016 12:13 PM)churros Wrote:  

Americans have an irrational obsession with contagion, germs and cleanliness; be it altering teeth, disinfectant handwash, paper towels in the bathrooms. I can't explain it, other than to say it derives from Puritanism.

Edit: almost forgot foreskins being considered dirty too.

I would honestly point to the AIDS scare from back in the 80's when it comes to American fear of STD's. You can thank the gay community for that actually.

[RougeNoir]

[mpr]

I don't think people consider the herp a big deal in Europe including the UK. Honestly I have HSV II and I only have to deal with it 1-2 times per year if that. Even then it's no more then 5 red bumps, usually less. Would I want to get the herp if I had to do it over again? Of course not, but it hasn't been a real determent to my life. I think catching oral herp would piss me off more because it's on your face, and everyone can see it. But even then people would probably just mistake it for acne.

[fiasco360]

Keep in mind, these are separate things as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_cheilitis

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphthous_stomatitis

Regardless a majority of people have either type 1 or type 2 herpes.