Is It Common to Get Cold Sores After a Fraxel Treatment?

Hi cpt, All patients receiving laser treatments on the face should take prophylactic anti-viral medications for one week, beginning a day before their treatment. The heat of the laser may stimulate dormant virus into an active state. The virus will easily spread on the lasered skin; therefore all patients should take the pre-treatment anti-virals. Hope that you are over the out break. Be well. Dr. P

Yes, unfortunately cold sores are a well known problem after any laser treatment. Nearly 80% of adults have antibodies to the herpesvirus that causes cold sores. Almost everyone has been exposed to the herpes virus that causes common cold sores. The virus remains dormant in the nerve endings and may or may not be actively shedding. During times of stress, e.g. other illnesses, the virus for some reason becomes more active and you get a cold sore. Laser resurfacing is basically an... more