A recurring skin condition affecting millions of people worldwide has drawn attention after Inés García, the girlfriend of Barcelona football star Lamine Yamal, shared details of her latest herpes outbreak.
The Spanish influencer recently posted a photograph showing a sore on her nose, explaining that she had gone for a considerable period without experiencing an outbreak. Her update also brought attention to a condition that remains widely misunderstood, particularly because many people associate herpes exclusively with sexual transmission.
García revealed that her symptoms had previously returned almost every month, making the latest outbreak an unwelcome experience after months without one.
In her Instagram post, she wrote: “It had been a long time since I’d had a herpes outbreak… Do you remember about a year ago?? I was getting at least one a month. Yesterday I woke up with one on my nose, and I’ve been looking like this 24 hours a day.”
Her disclosure attracted attention because of her relationship with Yamal, who plays for Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
However, García did not disclose how she contracted the infection, and her post does not establish that Yamal has the virus or that the condition was transmitted through their relationship.
Understanding herpes and how it affects the body
Herpes is a common viral infection caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The infection is lifelong because the virus remains inside the body even when visible symptoms disappear.
There are two main types, HSV-1 and HSV-2.
HSV-1 is primarily responsible for oral herpes, which causes cold sores around the lips, mouth and sometimes the nose. It is commonly transmitted through oral contact, including kissing, or contact with infected saliva and skin.
HSV-2 is mainly associated with genital herpes and is commonly transmitted through sexual contact. However, HSV-1 can also cause genital infections, meaning the two types are not restricted to particular parts of the body.
The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 3.8 billion people under the age of 50, representing 64 per cent of the global population in 2020, had HSV-1 infection. Another 520 million people aged between 15 and 49 were living with HSV-2.
Why herpes outbreaks keep returning
One of the most challenging aspects of herpes is that symptoms can disappear without the virus leaving the body.
After the initial infection, HSV travels into nerve cells, where it remains inactive for periods. It can later become active again, causing another outbreak.
Some people experience frequent recurrences, while others can go years without noticing symptoms. There are also people who carry the virus without ever developing visible sores.
Several factors can trigger another outbreak. These include emotional stress, fever, illness, exposure to sunlight, hormonal changes associated with menstruation, injuries and surgery.
Symptoms can begin with itching, tingling or a burning sensation around the affected area. Small blisters may then develop, eventually breaking open and forming painful sores before crusting over and healing.
Can herpes be treated or cured?
There is currently no cure for herpes. However, the infection can be managed using antiviral medication.
Commonly prescribed medicines include acyclovir, famciclovir and valacyclovir. These drugs help reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks but do not remove the virus from the body.
Treatment is generally most effective when started within 48 hours of the first symptoms.
People who experience frequent or particularly painful outbreaks may also be prescribed daily suppressive treatment. This can reduce the frequency of symptoms and lower the risk of transmitting the virus to sexual partners.
How can someone prevent spreading herpes?
Herpes can spread even when an infected person does not have visible sores, although transmission is more likely during an active outbreak.
People experiencing oral herpes symptoms should avoid kissing, oral sexual contact and sharing items that come into contact with saliva.
For genital herpes, avoiding sexual activity during outbreaks and using condoms consistently can reduce transmission risks. However, condoms cannot provide complete protection because infected skin may remain exposed.
Medical assessment is important for people with suspected genital herpes so they can receive appropriate testing and treatment.