Is there any relationship between the herpes virus and sun sensitivity?
There is a relationship between sun exposure and herpes infection. For people with the herpes simplex virus type 1 (the type that can cause cold sores on the lips), flare-ups may develop after sun exposure. Flare-ups can also occur when someone is under emotional stress, ill with fever or menstruating. An injury can also cause a flare-up. Often, flare-ups develop for no apparent reason. After a person has had chickenpox (due to another herpes virus), the virus can live in the body for many years and “reactivate.” This causes a skin infection called shingles. Sun exposure can also trigger shingles. One reason that flare-ups may develop after sun exposure is that ultraviolet light from the sun can hinder certain immune cells. In addition to triggering flare-ups, sun exposure may make the sores of a herpes infection more irritated. Many doctors recommend that people avoid direct or excessive sun exposure during herpes outbreaks. Herpes infections are common. They can be particularly serio
