Hello, this is more of a comment that i need assurance or correction with.
I just wanted to talk about my overview of herpes, both oral and genital, type 1 and type 2.
So it is to my knowledge that herpes spread primarily by skin to skin contact or by bodily fluids. The virus finds itself skin to infect, and is much more likely have a primary infection in thin skin as opposed to thicker skin... and of course much much more likely to infect thin mucous membranes just as the vagina, inside the urethra, or in the mouth, as opposed to outer skin.
Once the virus infects... the primary infection works by causing a water filled blister or lesion. This is the primary infection. As the blister increases in size it becomes more and more likely that it will come in contact with a sensory nerve and viral particles in the fluid of the blister travel along the sensory nerve into the nerve body so called the ganglia. The fluid in the developed water blister or lesion breaks, and the fluid released can potentially contaminate other uninfected sites depending on where the fluid of the blister goes and where it can potentially infect. The original lesion will become an ulcer when all fluid is released, and crusts over like a scab as the sore heals. The secondary outbreaks may now occur originating from the primary blister. The same thing happens... it is during this time that the body's immune system is now kicked in full gear, and you get the other symptoms involved in the immune response to a primary outbreak.
Now... is this correct so far? If so the one key point that I really need assurance about from a professional or an experienced herpes person... is how the virus spreads. As of now it is to my knowledge that the virus spreads from nerve--> to skin--> to new skin site--> to a new uninfected nerve. Is this right? And NOT Skin--> nerve--> nerve--> whereever the outbreak goes... So basically what I need assurance... the herpes virus CANNOT travel from nerve to nerve am I right? So based on this... the herpes virus can only outbreak only from the particular nerves that are infected... I realize some Ganglia have upwards of hundreds of nerve extensions, but only these nerve extensions can transmit the virus... so some people may have only 1 nerve infected and they get less symptoms and may not outbreak, while others may have 100's of nerve cells infected and have more frequent outbreaks because so many more nerves are infected.
Then when the virus in an infected nerve awakens, it replicates itself and sends out copies along the sensory nerve pathway, and you get a strange sensation as either the pathway becomes plugged like a pipe with viral particles, or as the herpes virus is released from the end of the nerve tip at the skin. (an aside question how does the herpes know the end of the nerve, and why is it only released here?)
It seems as if herpes will only outbreak in areas where an infected nerve travel. But can still be spread by means of shaving esspecially in assymptomatic patients. You don't see many women outbreaking oral herpes on their cheeks do you? It's men who outbreak on their cheeks or upper lips usually because they tend to shave in those areas...
So yes, I just would like a health professional or experienced herpes patient to let me know if the way I envision herpes is correct. Thank you very much for reading and your feedback.