Im 20 years old, a virgin, and yet I get frequent cold sores on the outside of my mouth. By frequent I mean that 90% of the time there is a small cold sore on my mouth, with small periods (a few days) when the cold sore disappears. Also, the cold sores are completely painless, and very small. Since I know I don't have genital herpes (For one because I am a virgin and also because I have never gotten any warts or anything), why am I getting such a severe case of oral herpes? I have heard that UV light ca cause these frequent cold sores, but I have stayed out the sun religiously since the age of 14 and wear 45 SPF sunscreen everyday. I would ideally like these cold sores to disappear.. . I think it would be uncomfortable explaining to a future boyfriend that despite my virginity I have a form of an STD. How can I get help for this? I would hate my future ability to kiss someone to be limited by stupid cold sores that I must have gotten years ago.. . Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Your oral cold sores (fever blisters) are not an STD and have nothing to do with your virginity. They are a herpes simplex virus.

Cold Sores Overview: Cold Sores Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Cold Sores (http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/cold-sores-topic-overview)

If they are always tiny and don't hurt, don't turn into blisters and ooze, you may not have cold sores. Let your doctor look at them when they are at their worst.

Hi
I have to agree with the above comment I doubt very much if they are cold sores speaking as a long term sufferer cold sores always hurt.
I would go and see your GP or ask to see the practice nurse there should always be a female Dr or nurse who can see you.
Hope you get it sorted soon.

Oral cold sores are not a STD. It is a virus which can be passed without you knowing and can come out when triggered. Firstly most common way of it being passed is by being kissed by someone who has a cold sore. This could stay hidden on you self for sometime. Most often cold sores appear when people are ill, tired, a lot of sun light or run down so the virus comes out. You can get great treatments from your doctor. Hope this is helpful and remember it is really common:)

Just to address a couple of the above posts, orofacial herpes can be caused by both HHV-1 and HHV-2, the latter usually being the result of oral sex.