A randomized clinical trial on the treatment of oral herpes with topical zinc oxide/glycine.

CONTEXT

A zinc preparation that provides a higher concentration of solubilized zinc in a minimally irritating formulation allowing controlled absorption would be of great clinical value for treating oral herpes.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of zinc oxide/glycine cream as a treatment for facial and circumoral herpes infection by measuring duration and intensity of signs and symptoms and assessing adverse effects.

DESIGN

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial.

SETTING

Subjects were enrolled from the general community through advertisements.

PATIENTS

Forty-six subjects with facial or circumoral herpes infections.

INTERVENTION

Application of a zinc oxide/glycine cream or a placebo cream every 2 hours until cold sore resolved or 21 days elapsed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Duration of cold sore lesions, severity of signs and symptoms, and frequency of adverse effects.

RESULTS

Subjects who began treatment with a zinc oxide/glycine cream within 24 hours of onset of signs and symptoms experienced a significantly shorter duration of cold sore lesions (mean, 5.0 days) than did subjects treated with a placebo cream (mean, 6.5 days). Subjects treated with the zinc oxide/glycine cream also experienced reduction in overall severity of signs and symptoms, particularly blistering, soreness, itching, and tingling. Side effects among subjects treated with zinc oxide/glycine cream were those expected from an ionic zinc salt solution. All were completely reversible and of short duration.

CONCLUSION

Zinc oxide/glycine cream is an effective treatment for facial and circumoral herpes infection with predictable adverse effects that are completely reversible.