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 solubi lized zinc in a minimally irritating formulation allowing controlled absorp tion would he of great clinical value for treating oral herpes. Objective . To determine the effect of zinc oxide/glycine cream as a treatm ent for facial and circumoral herpes infection by measuring duration and in tensity 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 adverti sements. 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 an d symptoms, and frequency of adverse effects. Results - Subjects who began treatment with a zinc oxide/glycine cream with in 24 hours of onset of signs and symptoms experienced a significantly shor ter duration of cold sore lesions (mean, 5.0 days) than did subjects treate d with a placebo cream (mean, 6.5 days). Subjects treated with the zinc oxi de/glycine cream also experienced reduction in overall severity of signs an d symptoms, particularly blistering, soreness, itching, and tingling. Side effects among subjects treated with zinc oxide/glycine cream were those exp ected 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 c ompletely reversible.