text: To sum up what most of these people are saying, cold sores are in fact a form of herpes. There are herpes simplex-2 which is a serious VD (Vanarial Disease), is totally contagious when there is an outbreak, and is  TREATABLE BUT NOT CURABLE.\n\nThen there is Herpes simplex-1 is is generally above the waste, usually marked by coldsores, not nearly as serious but still TREATABLE BUT NOT CURABLE.\n\nThere are treatments for either simplex-1 or 2 but remember this!!!!!! YOU CAN SPREAD ONE TO ANOTHER, MEANING A PERSON CAN HAVE A COLD SORE ON THEIR MOUTH AND TRANSFER IT TO SOMEONE ELSE'S GENITALS THROUGH ORAL SEX...THUS HERPES SIMPLEX-1 (A MILD PROBLEM) CAN TURN INTO SIMPLEX-2 (A SERIOUS PROBLEM).