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Can a Chemical Peel Cause a Cold Sore?

asked 3 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Monica Halem, MD
Question viewed 10,013 times
Tags: cold sore, side effects

I have a tendency to get cold sores and I was wondering if having a chemical peel can bring these out.  I am thinking about starting a series of glycolic acid or possibly salicylic acid peels and need to know.

22 answers to Can a Chemical Peel Cause a Cold Sore?

+3

Chemical Peels can cause cold sores

Any trauma (including laser or peels) can cause reactivation of cold sores. It is important that your plastic surgeon or dermatologist take a complete history including whether you have had cold sores. If you have you may be at increased risk for reactivation. Typically medications can be started prior to your treatments that will minimize the chance of reactivation. I hope this helps! Steven Williams, MD
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+2

A chemical peel can definitely lead to a cold sore

Whenever any treatment is done to the face or lips including procedures such as a chemical peel, filler injections, or laser resurfacing there is always a chance that a cold sore can develop. It is very important that you tell your physician that you have a history of getting cold sores. in this way the doctor can prepare you before hand by giving you a medication called Valtrex which will prevent the outbreak. The reason being is that if you do have an outbrak after a... more
Monica Halem, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon

vesta.cumc.columbia.edu

+2

They can, but there can be ways to cure it!

Unfortunately cold sores can occur when the skin receives a chemical peel. The best way to prevent this is to tell your doctor so she can put you on an anti-viral medication to prevent them from stirring up. Cold sores are uncomfortable but they can be treated and prevented.
Yael Halaas, MD

Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

A chemical peel can cause a reactivation of the herpes virus that leads to cold sores

A chemical peel can cause a reactivation of the herpes virus that leads to cold sores. Some 90% of people are infected or have been infected by the Herpes Virus simplex 1 that cause oral herpes. Chemical peels, resurfacing, dermabrasion all stimulate the skin that can reactivate the virus that usually resides in the sensory nerves (dorsal ganglion). These peels or procedures stimulate the nerves, decrease barriers and active the virus to come down the nerves to the cause the cold sores. ... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Any Form of Trauma to the Lip Can Cause a Cold Sore

The fact is that any form of lip trauma, in the form of scratch, burn, or bruise can trigger a cold sore. More specifically, I have seen patients have cold sores after injectables, chemical peels, laser treatments, Dermabrasion, etc. I generally pre-treat any patient having a skin resurfacing procedure with anti-viral medication (Valtrex, etc.) to minimize occurrences.
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cold Sore with Chemical Peel Skin Resurfacing

Yes, one can have a breakout of their cold sores with any skin resurfacing, such as lasers, chemical peels, or dermabrasion. Cold sores are due to a virus, and may come out during times of stress or skin treatment. Any skin resurfacing treatment (laser, peel, or dermabrasion) has a preparation guide and post-treatment guide provided by your cosmetic specialist or dermatologist. To reduce the incidence of cold sore eruption, your aesthetic specialist will provide antiviral medication prior... more
Houtan Chaboki, MD

Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Chemical peels and laser treatments can cause cold sores... Precautions may be appropriate

Hi there- Yes, if you carry the virus that causes cold sores it is possible, but not certain, that you will develop them after having a chemical peel. Make your Aesthetician aware of this concern and typically if the problem develops a prescription for an anti-viral medication can be prescribed for you. If it seems that you develop them with each peel it is a good idea to take the anti-viral for 3 days- the day prior to your treatment, the day of and the day following. This can work to... more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cold sore activation after chemical peels or laser resurfacing can scar

Any kind of chemical peel, e.g. salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel or laser resurfacing, should be performed under supervision of board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Prophylactic administration of antiviral medication such as acyclovir, valcyclovir or famciclovir is important, particularly for those with prior history of cold sores as the herpes virus can be scattered to the entire treated area and if not intervened appropriately, can lead to... more
William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Chemical Peel and Cold Sore

Chemical peeling can trigger a cold sore (fever blister) not only on the lips but elsewhere on the face. We treat all our patients undergoing chemical peeling with anti-viral medication, even if they have no history of cold sores. It can be very problematic to have an outbreak while healing from a chemical peel. One can get serious infecions, which can result in scarring and/or permanent discoloration.
Channing R. Barnett, MD

New York Dermatologist

www.barnettdermatology.com

+2

Yes, TCA peels can cause cold sores

Yes, TCA peels can certainly induce the development of a cold sore particularly in patients that have a propensity for developing them. In these cases we typically place the patient on an anti-viral medication to prevent cold sores. That's why it is so important to provide a complete history to your doctor prior to undergoing any procedures.
Ritu Saini, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Peels can trigger fever blisters

Chemical peels can trigger cold sores, or fever blister outbreaks in patients. If you have a history of cold sores, be sure and tell your physician. You will need to take Valtrex (or an equivalent) antiviral medication prophylactically before your peel. Cold sore outbreaks can be more severe when they are triggered by chemical peels, so it is important to discuss this with your dermatologist. However, I would not let this history stop you from getting a peel. You just need to take medicine... more
Mandy Lynn Warthan, MD

Dallas Dermatologist
+2

Chemical peels may cause cold sore

Hello, All except the very lightest facial peels can bring on a cold sore outbreak. Tell your surgeon so you can have some prophylactic medication added.
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+2

Chemical Peels can cause cold sores

Yes, it's possible to get a cold sore from chemical peels. If you have a recent history of cold sores and are considering a package of peels, you may want to get a prescription for a maintenance dose of acyclovir (or equal) from your practitioner. Alternatively, it's possible to avoid the area immediately around the mouth to avoid causing a breakout.
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Chemical Peels and fever blisters

It is possible for a Chemical Peel to trigger a fever blister outbreak and this can cause spreading of the blisters to other areas of the face. While some peels are so superficial, they are unlikely to cause a problem. Others are deeper and require prophylactic treatment with antiviral meds before starting. Check with your doctor and tell them about your history of fever blisters and they should be able to help you choose the right approach to avoid an outbreak.
Shawn Allen, MD

Boulder Dermatologist
+2

Cold Sore from chemical facial peel

YES...anything that causes "stress", including a chemical facial peel, can cause an eruption of a cold sore. This actually can be fairly devastating as the viral infection can spread to other areas of the face. I recommend patients, even if they are not frequently bothered by cold sores, take a prophylactic antiviral oral medicine prior to a chemical or laser resurfacing of the face. Speak with you Board Certified Plastic Surgeon prior to proceeding for definitive directions. Good ... more
John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+2

Chemical Peel can cause cold sores

You can see that the responses are in 100% agreement that YES, any trauma to skin can cause "cold sores," and that includes Chemical Peels.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2

Chemical Peels can most definitely cause cold sores

Anything which traumatizes the skin can reactivate cold sores so it is important that you take antiviral prophylaxis prior to your treatment. Since a peel is intended for the whole face, it is possible to spread the virus to quite extensively. Glycolic peels and salicylic acids peels are superficial and far less likely to be a problem than say a phenol peel. However, Valtrex, Famvir and Zovirax are all very safe so why take a chance?
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+2

Very high risk of cold sores from chemical peel if you have history

If you have a history of cold sores/fever blisters, it would be very wise to have a prescription such as Valtrex before a chemical peel or an invasive laser procedure.  Please advise your physician of this. It's important to start a few days prior to a peel or ablative laser as a preventative measure.
William J. Hedden, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+2

Chemical Peels and Cold Sores

Our center performs a variety of chemical peels to reduce hyperpigmentation, fine wrinkles, and to restore overall skin health to the face. If you have a history of cold sores, it is imperative that you begin a prophylactic course of antiviral tablets before your procedure. The cold sores can occur immediately after your procedure and in some cases, can compromise the results. It is partially your responsiblity as a patient to ensure that your physician is aware of your history of cold... more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+2

Cold sores are a possibility

Yes. A cold sore can be brought out by stress including fatigue, illness, excessive alcohol consumption, excessive sun exposure or certain lasers and chemical peels. Very mild peels do not need treatment to prevent cold sores usually, but medium-depth peels, or strong glycolic acid peels might. Your physician can prescribe an anti-viral medication to take during the peel and after for several days to decrease the chance of a cold sore from occurring.
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+2

While a chemical peel cannot cause a cold sore, a...

While a chemical peel cannot cause a cold sore, a chemical peel, like any trauma to the face, can cause the onset of cold sores in someone who has the herpes zoster virus already present. In patients who have deeper chemical peels such as TCA or phenol peels, physicians should be warned if patients have previous outbreaks of cold sores and preventative antiviral medications should be started. Even if a patient has a cold sore outbreak after a chemical peel, often the results will not be... more
D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Yes, prior to any facial laser ablative procedure or...

Yes, prior to any facial laser ablative procedure or chemical peel, I place patients on anti-viral medications to avoid "cold sores" or herpetic lesions. These can cause devastating problems if not adequately treated. 
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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