Herpes simplex is a common viral infection. In fact, if you’ve ever had a cold sore or fever blister, you picked up the herpes simplex virus. Most cold sores are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Cold sores caused by HSV-1 are also called oral herpes, mouth herpes or herpes simplex labialis.
Shingles is a viral infection caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus in the body, causing a painful, blistering rash. You can get shingles if you’ve had chickenpox when you were young, as the virus that caused chickenpox is still inside your body. When the chickenpox cleared, the virus moved from your skin to your nerves. If this virus travels back to your skin, you’ll get shingles instead of chickenpox.
Warts are bumps that may show up on your body, often on your hands and feet. While not benign (not cancerous) skin growths, they can appear when a virus infects the top layer of the skin. Viruses that cause warts are called human papillomavirus (HPV). You’re more likely to get one of these viruses if you cut or damage your skin in some way.
