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I Have Herpes on my Cheeks. Will Laser Resurfacing Be Ok if I Take Valtrex Prior to Treat

asked 11 months ago by cariberry in sandiego
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 491 times
Tags: cheeks, herpes, medication

8 answers to I Have Herpes on my Cheeks. Will Laser Resurfacing Be Ok if I Take Valtrex Prior to Treat

+1

Can some laser be done around a cold sore

Active cold sores would prevent me from doing an ablative laser procedure but not necessarily a fractional nonablative laser if the patient is taking an antiviral and the laser does not treat the active site, although in this case I do offer to reschedule. If the cold sore virus seeds the lasered areas it can cause many cold sores that in an ablative procedure would not look typical and their diagnosis could be delayed while the risk of scarring increases. see video
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

If you start Valtrex the day before and continue for about one week after, you should be fine.

My protocol for my patients is to use Valtrex 1 gram by mouth daily starting the day before surgery and then continuing until the skin is healed, usually about one week. I have never had anyone break through and have a serious herpes infection using this protocol.
Mark Taylor, MD

Salt Lake City Dermatologic Surgeon

www.gatewaylasercenter.com

+1

Yes, it will be okay.

All patients who are going to have either chemical or laser skin resurfacing should be put on Valtrex prior to the procedures regardless of a history of past herpes sores.
Robert E. Zaworski, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Active Herpes on the Face is a Reason to Reschedule your Resurfacing

Many people get facial cold sores. That is why we always prescribe antiviral medications before doing resurfacing. If a patient has an active cold sore the procedure must be rescheduled until complete healing has occurred. It is not worth risking aggravating the viral infection. The procedure can be done safely after the cold sore is gone.
Susan Van Dyke, MD

Paradise Valley Dermatologist

www.vandykelaser.com

+1

Antiviral medications do not guarantee avoidance of herpes breakouts

Antiviral medications like Zovirax, Valtrex and Famvir, lessen the chances that there will be a breakout but do not guarantee it. If a breakout does happen after laser resurfacing, it can involve the entire resurfaced area, so you must be very cautious about having such a resurfacing. In addition, no cosmetic procedures or any procedures for that matter should be done in the area of an active herpes breakout.
Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

I Have Herpes on my Cheeks. Will Laser Resurfacing Be Ok if I Take Valtrex Prior to Treat

Medication pre treatment does not preclude the occurrence of an outbreak. It only helps to statistically decrease one.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Would be very cautious

Anyone with a history of herpetic lesions on the face is at greater risk for a pan-herpetic infection of the face anywhere up to two weeks following traditional laser resurfacing. While anti-virals may help ameliorate the severity of the infection, they in no way totally prevent an infection from taking place. With a history of frequent outbreaks, I would probably try to convince my patient to consider an alternative method of treatment other than skin... more
S. Randolph Waldman, MD

Lexington Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Laser Resurfacing in Herpes-prone patient

I want to clarify your statement of "having herpes on (my) cheeks". If you have ACTIVE lesions, I would have you wait till they cleared before performing any treatments. If you do not have active lesions, then I would start a pre-treatment regimen with an anti-viral like Valtrex.
Anifat Balogun, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

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