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

Question

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

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.

Mark Taylor, MD · Answer

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.

Susan Van Dyke, MD · Answer

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.

Emily Altman, MD · Answer

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.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Medication pre treatment does not preclude the occurrence of an outbreak. It only helps to statistically decrease one.

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

Answers (8)

Answer: Antiviral medications do not guarantee avoidance of herpes breakouts

Answer: Antiviral medications do not guarantee avoidance of herpes breakouts

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

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

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Laser Resurfacing

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

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

Answers (8)

Answer: Antiviral medications do not guarantee avoidance of herpes breakouts

Answer: Antiviral medications do not guarantee avoidance of herpes breakouts

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

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

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Laser Resurfacing

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.