genital herpes and neck herpes

[panosM.]

Good evening everyone, I have had genital herpes for the last 10 years, it has stopped bothering me. A week ago I had an episode in my neck , I have never had herpes outside of my genitals. I am trying to understand why. It has made me very sad!!! What could have happened?   

[mr_hopp]

Hey @panosM.

I’m sorry you’re going through this — it makes sense that it’d feel upsetting after 10 years of stability. First off, this might not even be herpes-related. A rash or irritation on the neck could come from so many other things, so it’s worth checking with a doctor to confirm.

If it does turn out to be HSV, it doesn’t mean anything went wrong. The virus can occasionally pop up in new areas along different nerve pathways, especially if stress or illness weakens your immune system. That doesn’t mean it’ll happen again, though; it might just be a one-time thing.

You’ve managed this for a decade, and you know how to navigate it. Give yourself a little grace. You’ve got this. ❤️