Can a chemical peel cause a cold sore?

 Before receiving any cosmetic treatment, a thorough consultation, including health history and skin analysis, should be given.  It is imperative that pertinent health issues be disclosed, such as tendency to get cold sores.  Herpes viruses take advantage of any interruption in cellular function.  Even the mildest chemical peel will disrupt the epidermis (which is what you want it to do!), and trigger a dermal response.  Anti-viral medications can be prescribed by a physician as well as other proactive measures before your chemical peel.

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 compromised if the outbreak is caught and treated early. At times though, the outbreak may increase the risk of scarring after a chemical peel.

Yes, having a chemical peel to the face can exacerbate an onset of cold sores if someone is pre-disposed to cold sores.  

It's not a sure thing, but definitely a cause for concern. Talk to your doctor or the doctor at the place where you will be administered the chemical treatment and they may decide to prescribe an anti-viral oral medication for you.

If you get "cold sores" or "fever blisters" often, there’s a good chance these are being caused by a past exposure to a virus that causes blisters. These "fever blisters" can then recur when your body or skin is stressed. Exposure to a chemical peel is just one of many types of stresses. Other cosmetic medicine procedures, surgery around the mouth, or intense light exposure can also stress your skin.

If you’ve had "cold sores" or "fever blisters" in the past, tell your doctor before undergoing a chemical peel. Your doctor can prescribe an anti-viral medication. My preference is for Valtrex. Usually I’ll prescribe the medication for several days before and after the procedure. "Fever blisters" may still erupt, but they’ll be there for a shorter period of time.

Remember - It’s Your Face! Seek out an Experienced Medical Doctor who treats patients him- or herself for Best Results!

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. 

Absolutely any facial procedure can provoke a cold sore. If you are prone to cold sores then you should be proactively treating with anti-virals prior to the treatment. We always ask if patients are prone to cold sores and then pre-treat if needed.