Many sufferers of Herpes Simplex 1 will have contracted the virus in childhood from an adult, it is also estimated that at least 65% of the worlds population have it. The lucky majority will never suffer the symptoms, or an outbreak, as the virus will lay dormant for long periods of time, and in many cases never appear.
It is the unlucky minority that have to deal with the symptoms associated with Herpes Simplex 1.
As for the cause of an outbreak, different people have different triggers that can activate the virus. Here are some of the more common ones.
Excessive Exposure To Sunlight
Sunburn, or too much sun can trigger an outbreak very easily, always take care to protect yourself with decent strength sun screen. Applying a lip salve with an SPF rating all year round is a good idea.
Low Immune System
Getting run down, lack of sleep, a cold or flu can trigger the virus. Take care to boost your immune system with a healthy diet, the right supplements, and plenty of sleep at these times.
Stress
Stress is a major contributor to the cause of an outbreak. Money worries, relationship problems, any high stress event in your life can activate the virus. I have read alot from different sources about the need to avoid stress when dealing with Herpes, this is much easier said than done as life is unavoidably stressful at times, but keeping it to a minimum will help.
At times there will be no apparent cause of a Herpes Simplex outbreak, the symptoms will just suddenly appear, but making sure you keep in mind the above points will definitely help to keep the virus at bay.