Lip Blushing & Cold Sores – What You Need to Know Before Booking
- Miss Social
- Sep 2
- 2 min read
Let’s talk about lip blush and cold sores.
If you've ever experienced a cold sore (even just once in your life), this info is very important before getting lip blush done.
Lip blushing is a beautiful semi-permanent tattoo technique that enhances the natural color and shape of your lips. But because it involves working directly on the lip tissue, there’s a real risk of triggering a cold sore outbreak — even if you haven’t had one in years.
Why Does Lip Blush Trigger Cold Sores?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), which lies dormant in the body once you’ve been exposed. The trauma from lip blushing (even though it’s minimal) can activate the virus and cause an outbreak — often during healing, when your skin is vulnerable.
This doesn’t mean you can’t get lip blush — it just means you need to take the proper precautions.
What You MUST Do If You've Had Cold Sores:
If you’ve ever had a cold sore, here’s what I recommend:
Get a prescription antiviral medication (like Valacyclovir/Valtrex or Acyclovir) from your doctor or dentist.
Start taking it 1–2 days before your appointment and continue for 3–5 days after.
Let me know ahead of time so we can time your appointment properly.
Some clients prefer to take a high-dose on the day of the appointment, while others do a longer protocol (like 5 days). I’ll guide you based on your history and sensitivity.
What Happens If You Don’t?
Skipping antivirals increases your risk of:
A painful cold sore flare-up
Delayed or uneven healing
Poor pigment retention
Scarring or patchy results
This is not something you want to roll the dice with. Cold sores can not only interrupt healing — they can completely compromise your results.
What If You’ve Never Had a Cold Sore?
If you’ve never had one, you likely don’t need antivirals — but I still recommend being mindful. Some clients take L-lysine supplements the week before and after, just as a precaution.
Final Word
Lip blush is safe and beautiful — when done correctly.
As your artist, I’ll walk you through the whole process and keep your comfort and healing top priority.
If you’ve had cold sores before, be honest — and be prepared.
We’ll still give you gorgeous lips, safely.
Have questions? DM me “Lip Blush Prep” or head to my booking link [insert link] for more info.
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