Efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy in recurrent herpes labialis management: a randomized controlled trial

This study is aimed at assessing the therapeutic efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) for the management of recurrent herpes labialis (RHL) by evaluating both pain and clinical recovery.

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted on 40 patients with RHL, and they were randomly divided into two groups, where 20 patients received treatment with PBMT (650 nm, 100 mW, 4.7 J/cm²), continuous mode, for 120 s, and placebo cream, while another 20 patients (control group) were treated with acyclovir cream 5% (5 times/5 days) and passive laser. Pain was assessed at five different times. The day when the complete disappearance of the pain was observed and the day when the crust fell off spontaneously were also recorded.

The pain level in the control group was significantly higher than that in the PBMT group after the second application of the laser, while the differences were not significant between the two groups at other times. The pain in the PBMT group disappeared faster than that in the control group, but the difference was not significant in terms of clinical recovery.

Photobiomodulation therapy of herpes labialis reduced pain significantly faster than acyclovir, but there was no difference in healing time between the groups in light of the parameters used in this study.

PBMT is a promising treatment that may be an effective alternative to acyclovir in the management of recurrent herpes labialis.

com ID: ISRCTN87606522.