Herpes guide
What Is Herpes Simplex Virus? HSV-1, HSV-2 and the Truth About a Cure
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common, lifelong viral infection with two types, HSV-1 and HSV-2. There is no cure, but prescription antivirals can shorten outbreaks and lower how often they return, according to WHO and CDC. Many people with HSV have no symptoms. Reviralis is a capsule supplement, not an antiviral, and no source we found shows it affects HSV.
Written by the Goreviralis label deskUpdated
The virus01
What is herpes simplex virus?
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common virus that stays in the body for life after the first infection. It comes in two types, HSV-1 and HSV-2, and either one can cause sores on the mouth or on the genitals (WHO, Herpes Simplex Virus Fact Sheet).
After the first infection, the virus rests in nerve cells. It can wake up later and cause a sore, or wake up quietly and cause nothing anyone can see. A return of sores is called a recurrence, or an outbreak.
Many people never notice an infection at all. CDC says many people with genital herpes have no symptoms or only mild ones, so the virus is often passed on by someone who does not know they carry it (CDC, About Genital Herpes).
Type 1 (HSV-1)
Best known for cold sores around the mouth. It can also reach the genitals.
Type 2 (HSV-2)
Mostly linked to genital herpes. It can also appear on the mouth, though that is less common.
HSV-1 vs HSV-202
What is the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2?
The two types are close relatives. HSV-1 is the one usually behind cold sores, and HSV-2 is the one usually behind genital herpes, but neither type is tied to one body site.
WHO estimates that 3.8 billion people under 50, about 64%, carry HSV-1, and that 520 million people aged 15 to 49, about 13%, carry HSV-2 (WHO, Herpes Simplex Virus Fact Sheet). Put simply, most adults have met at least one type.
| Question | HSV-1 | HSV-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Usual place for sores | Lips and mouth | Genital area |
| Can it show up at the other site? | Yes, on the genitals | Yes, on the mouth, less often |
| Passed by | Kissing, shared items, oral sex | Sexual contact |
| WHO estimate | 3.8 billion under age 50 (64%) | 520 million aged 15 to 49 (13%) |
| Cure | None | None |
The type belongs to the virus. "Cold sore" and "genital herpes" only say where the sore appears. Read the details in the cold sores guide and the genital herpes guide.
Care03
Is there a cure for herpes?
No. WHO states that HSV has no cure, and CDC says the same about genital herpes (WHO, Herpes Simplex Virus Fact Sheet). What exists is medicine that makes symptoms milder and less frequent.
The proven medicines are prescription antivirals: acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir. They are used two ways. In episodic use, a person starts them at the first sign of an outbreak. In suppressive use, a person takes one every day. CDC's guidelines say daily suppression reduces recurrences and lowers the chance of passing the virus on, while condoms lower but do not remove that chance (CDC, STI Treatment Guidelines: Herpes).
A clinician decides which plan fits, based on how often sores return and on the person's health. A Cochrane review of cold-sore prevention found no evidence that lysine or one other supplement worked (Chi 2015, Cochrane: Preventing Cold Sores).
Do not stop, skip or swap a prescribed antiviral because you started a supplement. Change a plan only with the clinician who wrote it.
What to ask your prescriber or pharmacist
- Is episodic or daily use the better fit for me?
- Does this medicine interact with anything else I take, including supplements?
Spread04
Can herpes spread when there is no sore?
Yes. The virus can pass from one person to another even when no sore is visible, which is why a clean-looking patch of skin is not proof of no risk (WHO, Herpes Simplex Virus Fact Sheet).
Spread needs skin-to-skin or mucous-membrane contact. Cold sore virus travels by kissing and by sharing items that touch the mouth. Genital virus travels by sexual contact. HSV-1 from the mouth can reach the genitals during oral sex, which is one reason HSV-1 is now a common cause of new genital infections.
Mayo Clinic adds a plain rule for cold sores: do not share cups, utensils, towels or razors while a sore is active (Mayo Clinic, Cold Sore Symptoms and Causes). The partners and CDC guide covers how to talk it through.
Triggers05
What makes herpes sores come back?
Fever or illness, stress, sun, hormone changes, tiredness and skin injury are the usual suspects. Mayo Clinic lists them for cold sores, and WHO lists similar ones, including menstruation and surgery (Mayo Clinic, Cold Sore Symptoms and Causes).
These are patterns people notice, not proof of cause. A trigger list tells you what to watch for, not what to fear. CDC adds some reassurance: outbreaks tend to lessen over time (CDC, About Genital Herpes).
- See a clinician for a diagnosisSores can look like other conditions, and a test can confirm herpes. Many people with HSV have no symptoms at all. (CDC, About Genital Herpes)
- Antivirals at the first signAcyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir, started early as a clinician directs, can shorten an outbreak (episodic therapy). (CDC, STI Treatment Guidelines: Herpes) (Mayo Clinic, Cold Sore Symptoms and Causes)
- Daily suppressive antiviralsFor people with frequent outbreaks, a daily antiviral lowers the number of recurrences and the chance of passing HSV to a partner. (CDC, STI Treatment Guidelines: Herpes)
- Talk with partnersCDC advises telling partners, avoiding sex during an outbreak, and using condoms, which lower but do not remove the risk. (CDC, About Genital Herpes)
- Know your own triggersFever, stress, sun and hormonal changes are the triggers people most often name for cold sores. Keeping a note helps you and your clinician. (Mayo Clinic, Cold Sore Symptoms and Causes)
- Be wary of cure claimsWHO says there is no cure for HSV. Treat any product that promises one, or promises fewer outbreaks without a trial, with caution. (WHO, Herpes Simplex Virus Fact Sheet)
Reviralis: from $49 a bottle60 capsules a bottle · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 and 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsFinding out06
How do people find out whether a sore is herpes?
A clinician looks at the sore and, when possible, swabs it for a lab test. Other skin problems and infections look a lot like herpes, so a name guessed from a photo is not a diagnosis.
Blood tests look for antibodies to HSV-1 and HSV-2. They have limits: they show past contact with the virus, they may not say where the infection is, and a very recent infection can be missed. Ask the clinician what a result can and cannot tell you (CDC, STI Treatment Guidelines: Herpes).
When to get care07
When should someone get care for herpes right away?
Any painful or gritty eye, any sore in a newborn, and a sore in someone with a weakened immune system need prompt care. Call 911 for trouble breathing, a seizure, chest pain, swelling of the face or throat, or sudden confusion with a severe headache and stiff neck.
Anyone who is pregnant should tell a clinician about herpes, because infection around birth can be serious for a newborn (MedlinePlus, Herpes simplex). See a clinician too for sores that last more than two weeks or keep returning often.
- A first outbreak, or a sore you cannot nameSee a clinician. A test can tell herpes from other causes, and early antivirals work best.
- A sore in or near the eye, or eye pain or blurry visionGet care the same day. Herpes in the eye can threaten sight.
- A weak immune system, or outbreaks that are severe or slow to healTell your clinician. People with weakened immunity can have longer, deeper outbreaks and may need a different plan.
- Pregnant or about to give birthTell your obstetric clinician. HSV can pass to a newborn at birth, and your team has steps to lower that risk.
- A newborn with sores, fever or poor feedingCall the pediatrician right now. Call 911 if the baby is limp, very hard to wake or struggling to breathe.
- Call 911 nowTrouble breathing, a seizure, chest pain, swelling of the face or throat, or sudden confusion with a severe headache and stiff neck.
From CDC (CDC, About Genital Herpes), Mayo Clinic (Mayo Clinic, Cold Sore Symptoms and Causes) and WHO (WHO, Herpes Simplex Virus Fact Sheet). This list is not complete, and a supplement is never a reason to wait.
Where Reviralis fits08
Does Reviralis have anything to do with herpes?
Reviralis Complete is a dietary supplement in capsules, not an antiviral, and no source we found shows that it or any of its 40 label names affects HSV. The label never mentions herpes or any disease.
The sales page uses "flare-ups" wording that the bottle does not. We quote it only to answer it. Supplements are sold without FDA approval, and the label carries the standard line that its claims have not been evaluated (FDA, Structure/function claims).
What the capsules do hold is real and checkable: 22 vitamins and minerals with printed amounts, plus one 661 mg blend of 18 names with no single amounts. Compare it all on the supplement facts page, read the claims against the evidence and see what supplements and herpes research shows.
FAQ09
Herpes simplex virus questions
Is herpes simplex virus the same as shingles?
No. Shingles comes from the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Herpes simplex virus is a different relative in the same family. They are separate infections.
Can HSV-1 cause genital herpes?
Yes. HSV-1 can infect the genitals, usually through oral sex with someone who carries it on the mouth. WHO notes that HSV-1 is now a common cause of new genital infections, so the type does not decide the body site.
How common is herpes simplex virus?
Very common. WHO estimates 3.8 billion people under 50, about 64%, carry HSV-1, and 520 million people aged 15 to 49, about 13%, carry HSV-2. Many of them have mild symptoms or none, so most never know.
Do herpes outbreaks get milder with time?
Often, yes. CDC says outbreaks tend to lessen over time, and repeat outbreaks are usually shorter and milder than the first.
Is a first outbreak different from a later one?
It can be. A first outbreak may last longer and bring fever, body aches or swollen glands along with sores. Later outbreaks are usually shorter.
Should a pregnant person tell a clinician about herpes?
Yes. Herpes passed to a newborn around birth can be serious, so a clinician needs to know.
Who wrote this10
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, CDC, FDA, FTC, Mayo Clinic and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a U.S. stocking partner for Reviralis. It is not the manufacturer or the distributor named on the label. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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