Herpes after lip PMU: causes, prevention and treatment
Why cold sores appear after lip permanent makeup, whether aciclovir prophylaxis is needed, how to talk to the client and what to do if an outbreak appears.
Herpes and permanent makeup: what does an artist need to know?
Herpes is a common complication after lip permanent makeup. This viral infection can be activated by skin trauma and lead to discomfort and temporary complications. To prepare the client professionally and minimise the risks, the artist needs to understand the causes, prevention and treatment of herpes.
Why can herpes appear after a permanent makeup procedure?
Herpes is caused by a virus that is often present in the body in an inactive form. It is activated by the following factors:
Skin trauma
During lip PMU the upper layer of the skin is inevitably injured, which can trigger activation of the virus.
Cosmetic procedures
Similar complications are seen after:
- chemical peels,
- filler injections,
- other traumatic procedures.
Clients should be warned in advance that a herpes outbreak is possible after the procedure and that preventive measures are needed.
Preventing herpes before lip PMU
Many artists recommend that clients take antiviral medication (aciclovir and similar drugs) for a few days before the procedure. However, there is no evidence base for this kind of prophylaxis.
Why doesn't prevention always work?
Anti-herpes drugs work only while the virus is actively replicating. So it makes sense to take them when there is an active infection, while taking them prophylactically does not prevent the virus from activating later.
The right approach:
- If there are active signs of herpes on the day of the procedure, postpone the procedure until they have completely cleared. PMU must not be done while herpes is active.
- If herpes flares up after the procedure, the outbreak is treated; antiviral medication is prescribed by a doctor.
How should you talk to the client about herpes?
It is important for the artist to discuss the following points with the client in advance:
- The risk of complications.
Herpes can appear after the procedure, and taking antiviral medication prophylactically does not prevent this.
- The complication is temporary.
Herpes is a temporary condition that can be treated effectively and has no long-term effect on health.
- A touch-up of the result.
An outbreak can affect how well the pigment settles, and a touch-up after complete healing will be needed to achieve the ideal result.
What should you do if herpes appears after the procedure?
If the client gets a herpes outbreak, it is important to follow these recommendations:
- See a doctor: treatment is prescribed by the doctor, not by the artist.
- It usually consists of topical products (ointments with aciclovir or other anti-herpes ingredients) and antiviral tablets.
With timely treatment, the symptoms usually clear up within 5–7 days.
How does herpes affect healing and the PMU result?
During a herpes outbreak the skin becomes inflamed, which can make the pigment settle less well. The inflammation causes some of the ink to wash out, so the lips may lose saturation and brightness.
What should you do? After complete healing, a touch-up is needed to restore the colour and achieve the result you want.
Key takeaways
- Herpes after lip PMU is a temporary complication that can appear even with prevention.
- Taking antiviral medication prophylactically before the procedure has no evidence base: it is used when herpes is already active.
- If there is an active outbreak on the day of the procedure, lip PMU is postponed until it has completely healed.
- If an outbreak appears, timely treatment prescribed by a doctor clears the symptoms quickly.
- An additional touch-up may be needed after healing.
Frequently asked questions
Why does herpes appear after lip PMU?
Herpes is caused by a virus that is often present in the body in an inactive form. During lip PMU the upper layer of the skin is inevitably injured, which can trigger activation of the virus.
Should a client take aciclovir before lip PMU?
Taking aciclovir prophylactically before the procedure has no evidence base: anti-herpes drugs work only while the virus is actively replicating. If there is active herpes on the day of the procedure, it is postponed until the signs have completely cleared; if herpes appears afterwards, the outbreak is treated and medication is prescribed by a doctor.
What should you do if herpes appears after lip PMU?
See a doctor: treatment is prescribed by the doctor, not by the artist. It usually consists of ointments with aciclovir or other anti-herpes ingredients and antiviral tablets. With timely treatment, the symptoms usually clear up within 5–7 days.
How does herpes affect the lip PMU result?
During an outbreak the skin becomes inflamed, which can make the pigment settle less well: some of the ink washes out and the lips may lose saturation and brightness. After complete healing, a touch-up is done to restore the colour.
