Conditions

This content is merely informational, it is not a proper substitute for seeing an experienced medical doctor.

Cold Sores

Perioral herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is a chronic malady that affects more than 40 million people in the USA12. This infection typically causes painful and very visible sores near the border of the lips and/or around the nose. Perioral HSV can be induced by fever, strong sunlight, and local trauma, and is said to occur more commonly at times of increased stress8, 9. Perioral HSV has been treated with topical applications of anti-viral therapy such as acyclovir, pencyclovir, valacyclovir, docosanol, and undecylenic acid. The resulting reduction of lesion duration is generally one-half day. Similar minimal reduction in duration and pain is achieved with the use of oral anti-herpes drug therapies10, 11. The following study examines the safety and efficacy of an iontophoretic device (ID) (DermaSeptic) that injects antiviral silver ions below the surface of the skin at the presumed site of the HSV replication. More than 10,000 ID’s have been used without any serious adverse events being reported2.

Reference

  1. Evans, T. G., Bernstein, D. I., Raborn, G. W., Harmenberg, J., Kowalski, J., Spruance, S. L. 2002. Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of topical 5% Acyclovir-1% Hydrocortisone cream (ME-609) for treatment of UV radiation-induced Herpes Labialis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 46(6):1870-1874.
  2. Frank, S.R. 1998. Peaceful Mountain, Inc. Data.
  3. Jensen, L. A., Hoehns, J. D., Squires, C. L. 2004. Oral antivirals for the acute treatment of recurrent herpes labialis. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 38: 705-709.
  4. Madigosky, W. S., Meadows, S. 2004. Does acyclovir help herpes simplex virus cold sores if treatment is delayed? The Journal of Family Practice 53(11): 923-924.
  5. Saffell, B.K. 2005. Review board procedures, protocols and raw data. Klearsen Corporation.
  6. Spruance, S. L., Jones, T. M., Blatter, M. M., Vargas-Cortes, M., Barber, J., Hill, J., Goldstein, D., Schultz, M. 2003. High-dose, short-duration, early valcyclovir therapy for episodic treatment of cold sores: Results of two randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter studies. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 47(3): 1072-1080.
  7. Spruance, S. L., McKeough, M. B. 2000. Combination treatment with Famciclovir and a topical corticosteroid gel versus Famciclovir alone for experimental ultraviolet radiation-induced Herpes Simplex Labialis: A pilot study. J. Infectious Diseases 181:1906-10.
  8. Spruance, S. L., Nett, R., Marbury, T., Wolff, R., Johnson, J., Spaulding, T. 2002. Acyclovir cream for treatment of herpes simplex labialis: Results of two randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, multicenter clinical trials. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 46(7): 2238-2243.
  9. Spruance, S.L., Rea, T.L., Thoming, C., et al. 1997. Penciclovir cream for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis. A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. JAMA 277” 1374-1379.
  10. Spruance, S.L., Stewart, J.C.B., Freeman, D.J., et al. 1990. Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis with oral acyclovir. J Infect Dis 161: 185-190.
  11. Valacyclovir (Valtrex) for herpes labialis. Med Lett Drugs Ther, 2002; 44: 95-96.
  12. Yeung-yee KA, Brentjens MH, Lee PC, Tyring SK. 2002. Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2. Dermatol Clin. 20:249-266.