Hello. Thanks for writing to us at healthcaremagic Herpes is local infection. Once acquired the virus infects the regional nerve. From time to time it may multiply and travel down the nerve to form vesicles on the skin supplied by the affected nerve. However, It stays localized to the site where it was first acquired. It does not disseminate through blood or other routes. Most common sites of herpes lesions are oral mucosa, lips and the area around the mouth for Hsv Type 1 virus where it is usually acquired by kissing; genital mucosa and surrounding skin for Hsv Type 2 virus, where it is usually acquired by sexual contact with an infected person It may rarely affect other body parts like fingers where infection is usually acquired by direct contact with active lesions of herpes, the virus gaining entry through abraded skin surfaces. This is known as herpetic whitlow and is a localized infection. It may however spread by direct contact with other body parts during an active episode of whitlow . Regards