The treatment of periocular and facial pain with topical capsaicin.

This article describes the effects of topically applied capsaicin (a nociceptive substance-P suppressor) in patients with neuropathic periocular or facial pain. Peripheral neuropathic pain is a major cause of periocular or facial discomfort and usually follows injury to a subcutaneous peripheral nerve. Though the damage is local, the pain tends to radiate. We studied three patients who complained of a 2- to 30-year history of fluctuating pain in the periocular area. All three had an area of point tenderness that responded to the topical application of capsaicin cream.