When the herpes virus infects the body, it then "replicates" the virus, entering the body's cells and attempting to spread to other cells. An outbreak occurs when the virus is triggered--an event which causes the virus to go down a nerve and reach the skin.
What would cause a herpes outbreak? Some (though not all) triggers are:
- physical stress
- extreme emotions
- prolonged tension
- anxiety
- fear
- menstruation
- fatigue