To her, she may not, in fact, have a problem. Recurrences of herpes simplex virus are characteristic of infection with this virus. They occur because the virus goes into hiding inside of a collection of nerve cells inside of the skull called the trigeminal ganglion. HSV does not harm the ganglion but from that site, it characteristically recurs by reactivating itself and traveling down the nerve fibres to the general area of the face which was affected previously. Recurrences vary quite a bit in frequency and may be triggered in some people by a variety of things from sunlight to stress to menses.
Triggers are different for each person and often, none are identified.
If your herpes recurrences are triggered by sunlight, however, you will help yourself immensely by using sunblockers and by considering the use of oral acyclovir suppression prior to and during your period of intense sun exposure. Other triggers are more difficult to predict with that type of accuracy. It is important to avoid direct contact with herpes lesions while there are any signs or symptoms of infection present. This would mean taking increased care while warning symptoms of a possible outbreak are occurring and waiting until a lesion has healed and any crusts are completely gone. While symptoms or signs of an infection are present, you need to avoid kissing, performing oral sex, and sharing intimate articles which may have come in contact with the lesion area such as tooth brushes, face towels, face cloths, lipstick or other cosmetics used on the area, and shaving equipment.