Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine may Cause Allergies for People with Facial Fillers

Dermatologists caution their patients that Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine may cause relatively minor allergic reactions for people who receive cosmetic facial fillers.

To be clear, that doesn’t mean you should avoid getting vaccinated against the coronavirus. The risk of allergic reaction appears to be limited to a small percentage of dermal filler patients and is far less serious than the health risk posed by the virus itself.

​​​​Currently, there are two main vaccines in use for inoculating people in the United States against coronavirus: the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s vaccine. So far, only the Moderna shot appears to trigger an allergic reaction.

Each vaccine has different contents, although both of these FDA-approved vaccines contain polyethylene glycol, an allergen seen with some regularity in dermatology, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

I get facial fillers. How does this impact me?

Chances are, not very much. Cases of facial swelling were reported in the Moderna vaccine trials. In every instance, the patients experiencing an allergic reaction had received dermal filler treatments ranging from two weeks to six months before getting the vaccination. Reactions ranged from facial swelling to angioedema, which is also a swelling condition often associated with hives. There may be discomfort associated with the facial swelling, as well as potential embarrassment over the patient’s temporary appearance.

At the same time, the popularity of dermal injectables has only increased over the last year as people are looking at themselves – and being seen by colleagues and friends – all day long on video conference calls during the pandemic. This self-conscious concern for appearance appears to have sparked the explosion of dermal treatments in recent months. Facial filler treatments are becoming so popular, in fact, that consumer demand is expected to grow nearly 12 percent worldwide in the next two years.

Meanwhile, three more Covid-19 vaccines are completing Phase 3 clinical trials. These formulations were developed by AstraZeneca, Janssen and Novavax. No word yet on allergic reactions, if any, from these vaccines.

What should I do about the vaccine and dermal filler treatments?

While the number of patients experiencing an allergic reaction after receiving a vaccine is minuscule, it remains a possibility that people should be aware of, dermatologists say.

The main reason for the allergic reaction is the way the vaccine ramps up the body’s immune system. When your immune system is on high alert, it may attack any foreign substance in the body, including dermal fillers.

If you’re concerned about getting vaccinated, see if you have a choice between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Choose the Pfizer option if available, since there were no allergic reactions reported during the Pfizer vaccine’s clinical trials. The most important thing you can do, though, is to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as you’re able. Any allergic reaction to the Covid-19 vaccine will most likely result in minor discomfort and, perhaps, feeling self-conscious about the temporary swelling that may occur in areas treated with dermal fillers. The benefits of getting vaccinated far outweigh any risks.

Let Walk-in Dermatology Take Care of Your Skin

If you’re concerned about any skin condition, there’s no need to wait, worry or wonder. Walk-in Dermatology can help. Our team of board-certified dermatologists and experienced medical staff will address your concerns and provide the necessary treatment for all your skin conditions. You can also schedule an appointment with us. Best of all, there’s no waiting.

If you can’t make it to one of our offices, we can set up a Video Visit and even prescribe medications remotely. You can also schedule a treatment for injectable cosmetic fillers with our board-certified dermatologists to refresh and rejuvenate your appearance. Contact us today.