Teribble Cold Sore After Three Sessions of IPL, Can I Do IPL in the Future?

Question

I did three sessions of IPL last year, it was fantastic. However, I've got terrible cold sore a couple of weeks later before my period, and had another cold sore a month later. I've never had it before. It's really nasty that I even had to take antiviral pills. My GP told me that I should avoid doing IPL in the future. Is it true that I will get cold sore again if I do IPL in the future?

Sam Naficy, MD, FACS · Answer

When you do IPL in the future, I would recommend that you start taking the antiviral medication (i.e. acyclovir) a few days prior to your procedure.

Donna Bilu Martin, MD · Answer

Those prone to cold sores (herpes infections) can be treated with prescription oral antiviral medications prior to treatment and after treatment.

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

You can still get treatments but you should just pretreat yourself with antivirals several days before and continue after your treatment.  The virus lies dormant in your nerve endings so they can come out anytime there is trauma, decrease immune system, etc. 

	 

	Dr. Grant Stevens        Marina Plastic Surgery Associates          Marina del Rey, CA     

	The Institute

Martie Gidon, MD, FRCPC, FAAD · Answer

If you have a history of cold sores, you should start taking antiviral pills 2 days before your IPL treatment and continue for a week after your treatment to prevent a recurrence.  Be sure to avoid the sun as well.

Peter J. Jenkin, MD, FAAD · Answer

It is possible to have a flare of herpes after a wide variety of procedures on the face including peels, lasers IPL etc.  It is nothing to be too concerned about - but you should from now on take acyclovir ( or one of the other antiviral agents) from the day before any procedure for a total of 10 days.  This will prevent any further outbreaks related to the procedure.  This is standard practice and is nothing unusual.  I provide a prescription for acyclovir for all my laser cases even if they have never had a herpes outbreak.

Teribble Cold Sore After Three Sessions of IPL, Can I Do IPL in the Future?

Answers (7)

Answer: IPL and cold sores

Answer: IPL and cold sores

Answer: IPL, cold sores

Answer: IPL, cold sores

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Teribble Cold Sore After Three Sessions of IPL, Can I Do IPL in the Future?

Answers (7)

Answer: IPL and cold sores

Answer: IPL and cold sores

Answer: IPL, cold sores

Answer: IPL, cold sores

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about IPL

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