Laser hair removal, fillers and tattoos with herpes

Can you get laser hair removal if you have herpes?

Herpes is not a reason dermatology sources give for avoiding laser hair removal. The American Academy of Dermatology asks you to tell your dermatologist this first: A tendency to get outbreaks of cold sores or genital herpes. If a sore is active on the day, ask the clinic before you go in.

Other possible side effects are rare when laser hair removal is performed by a dermatologist or under the dermatologist's direct supervision. The academy says that following both the before-treatment instructions and after-treatment instructions will greatly reduce your risk of side effects.

If you get cold sores, it's likely that something triggers the virus to wake up. The laser hair removal FAQ names this among other possible side effects: Herpes simplex (cold sores) outbreaks.

Cosmetic surgery or laser treatment can be a trigger. So can an injury, such as a cut, to the area where you have had cold sores. What triggers cold sores in one person may not trigger them in another person.

The HSV-1 vs HSV-2 guide separates the two kinds of herpes this section discusses.

Can you get lip fillers if you have herpes?

Not while herpes is active on your face or mouth. Among the times the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery does not recommend hyaluronic acid filler: Active facial or oral herpes infection, and an infection in the treatment area. The RHA 3 brochure says any injection in the general area, including that filler, may trigger a recurrence of your cold sores (herpes).

Tell your doctor if you have a history of cold sores (herpes). Before any filler, the American Academy of Dermatology says to tell the dermatologist every medical condition you have. Cold sore breakouts are especially important to mention.

Tell your doctor if you have an injury, or other skin condition, near the injection site. Injection of a dermal filler in this situation may lead to a worsening of your condition or infection. You may have to wait until you are completely healed before using RHA 3.

The brochure for Restylane Lyft, a different hyaluronic acid filler, puts it this way: Cold sores - If you have had cold sores in the past, there is a risk that they will return as a result of facial injections.

If you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor may consider prescribing a medication to minimize recurrences. Needle punctures could contribute to another occurrence, so speak to your physician about medicine to prevent that.

Blisters or skin sores that recur may signal a herpes infection that must be treated. The Restylane Lyft brochure also lists symptoms of reactivation of herpes infection. The outbreak guide describes a recurrence.

Can you get a tattoo if you have herpes?

Herpes is not among the reasons the FDA or the American Academy of Dermatology gives to avoid a decorative tattoo. For permanent makeup, which the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery says is similar to tattooing, the society's list of who is not a candidate includes this: Patients with active skin disorders, such as pink eye, warts or herpes simplex.

The tattoo warnings on those pages are about infection from the tattoo itself. You can get serious infections from unhygienic practices and equipment that isn't sterile, and infections can also result from ink contaminated with bacteria, mold, or other microorganisms. Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit HIV, hepatitis, and skin infections caused by staph and other bacteria. Infections have also resulted from contaminated tattoo inks even when the artist followed hygienic procedures, and those infections can require prolonged treatment with antibiotics.

The FDA says to contact the tattooist and your health care professional if the area seems not to be healing or you notice a rash (redness or bumps) near your tattoo, especially if you develop a fever. Separately, the American Academy of Dermatology lists open sores as one sign of infection, and says to see your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist right away if you have any signs or symptoms of an infection. The sooner treatment starts, the less damage it can do to your health and your tattoo.

Should you take an antiviral before a procedure?

Only for some procedures. An antiviral comes up before ablative laser resurfacing and laser treatment of a scar, and in the at-home care after a medium or deep chemical peel. For filler, the medication the Restylane Lyft brochure mentions is your doctor's call, and the laser hair removal and tattoo instructions do not include one.

Before ablative laser resurfacing, tell the dermatologist if you're prone to cold sores or fever blisters around the mouth, since the procedure can trigger breakouts in people at risk. An antibiotic or antiviral medication is sometimes prescribed prior to the procedure.

Before laser treatment of a scar, tell the dermatologist if you get cold sores. Take medication to prevent getting cold sores if you're prone to developing cold sores.

For a chemical peel, tell the dermatologist if you frequently get cold sores or have had cold sores in the past. Reactivation of cold sores is a listed risk.

After a medium peel and after a deep peel, at-home care includes an antiviral. Take an antiviral medication for 10 to 14 days. The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery describes the same 10 to 14 days while those peels heal.

Prescription antiviral medicines approved for the treatment of both types of herpes simplex include acyclovir, famciclovir, and valacyclovir. Cold sores are caused by a virus, so antiviral medications are used to treat them. The oral names on the cold-sore page are acyclovir (Sitavig, Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir).

A consent form for non-ablative fractional resurfacing warns: Herpes Simplex Virus (cold sore) eruption may result in rare cases in a treated area that has previously been infected with the virus.

When should you reschedule?

A skin infection means hyaluronic acid filler waits. If there is a skin infection, then treatment needs to be postponed until it resolves.

Alert your provider if your skin is inflamed or infected. If you have an active inflammatory condition (cysts, pimples, rashes, or hives) or infection, dermal filler injection should be delayed until this inflammatory condition has been managed.

Microneedling has its own rule. The American Academy of Dermatology says at-home microneedling can accidentally spread warts, herpes, and other viruses across the skin. Before your dermatologist will treat you with microneedling, you must wait until your tan, sunburn, infection, or pimples have cleared.