Can a person with skin herpes give genital herpes ?

Herpes: What is genital herpes? Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (std) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (hsv-1) or type 2 (hsv-2). Most genital herpes is caused by hsv-2. Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from hsv-1 or hsv-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum.