Treatment of recurrent herpes of the lower lip skin region with photodynamic therapy and photobiomodulation: case report

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to describe a case report on the treatment of recurrent herpes using Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and Photobiomodulation as the treatments of choice. A 21-year-old white man checked in in the clinic for evaluation of vesicles arranged in the lower lip skin region. The clinical diagnosis was recurrent herpes and, for treatment, PDT was chosen, using 0.1% methylene blue as a photosensitizer and a pre-irradiation time of five minutes. The Therapy XT laser was used, with a wavelength of 660 nm, power of 100 mW, in a spot area of 0.028 cm², using 4 J energy per point, having been applied on 4 points, one in the center of the lesion and three on its laterals, so that it involved the entire extension of the lesion, totaling 16 J. After 24 hours after the application of the PDT, the patient returned for photobiomodulation with a low-power laser with a wavelength of 660 nm, power of 100 mW, using energy of 1 J per point, for 10 s, being applied on 4 points, totaling 4 J. It was possible to observe complete healing after 10 days of treatment, and the patient remains in follow-up for eight months without any recurrences.

Keywords: Herpes simplex; Low-level light therapy, Photobiomodulation; Photodynamic therapy.