archman,
Hurrah! I'm not a quack! At my practice the laser pointer is amazing. It usually stops cold sores in their tracks (when caught early enough).
BTW, a canker sore and a cold sore are different. The cold sore (herpes labalis) is causes by a virus (herpes simplex). It generally affects only the keratinized oral tissues...lips, top of the tongue, gums. It does not affect the mucous membranes of the insides of the cheeks, under the tongue and the insides of the lips. The viral infection is stimulated to recur following exposure to an injuring agent like the sun, wind, salt, or illness and fever, or, on occasion, trauma. After the primary infection, recurrent bouts usually involve the same area time after time. It is contagious so be careful...infection is for life.
The canker sore is not caused by a virus...although it can be associated with trauma, stress, food allergies, etc., but it not caused by an infective agent. This lesion affects mucous membranes rather than keratinized tissue...the opposite of the viral infection. An ulcer is formed that becomes rather painful. There is a raised, red margin with a depressed ulcer that has a yellowish greywhitish membrane. If the membrane is rubbed off, a reddish or bleeding surface is left. This will not resond to antibiotics well and will resolve in a week to 10 days by itself. Trauma from the snorkel or regulator can cause an abrasion to the lips that can turn into a canker sore.
The laser pointer can be used on either. Generally, I find that the laser on the viral lesion is very effective if caught before any scabs have appeared. It is about 70% effective for canker sores. It is used the same way for either lesion.
Canker sores can be treated another way...take a Q-tip..."spin it" on the ulcer membrane to reveal the red or bleeding surface. Then apply anything from betadine, peroxide, iodine, (not to be used if allergic to any of these agents) to the open ulcer. Yeah, this part hurts a little...SUCK IT UP! This will usually accelerate the healing. The laser, in addition to the debridement, will help.
I have NO experience treating lesions caused by multiple exposures to sun and the elements that results in recurrent viral sores. I have no idea if treatment on one day to prevent a cold sore will be effective the next day when you re-expose yourself to the same causal elements. You tell meI would be interested to know.
00scuba is correct, L-lysine or Abreva may help. The L-lysine is taken like a daily vitamin in persons susceptible to cold sores. If you wait till after you get the cold sore, it won't do much good. The Abreva is used once a sore is present and may decrease the healing time. Either treatment has variable effectiveness. IMHO, L-lysine daily is a better choice for those who get these sores on a regular basis...ie, during mentruation.
The dosage of the L-lysine is variable...use the lowest dose you can find once daily. Some people report diarrhea. VERY IMPORTANT: YOU MUST USE L-LYSINE. If you happen to find D-lysine, it will not work. The D and L designations refer to stereoisomers of the same compound...they have the same chemical formula but are "mirror images" of each other. The shape of the compound determines whether it is biologically active. L-lysine is active but not D-lysine.
Again, let me know how the laser works.
Regards,
Laurence Stein, DDS
Yikes, I just read you profile...really nice picture! YOU DON'T LIKE BAD SCIENCE...maybe I'm in too deep here! Actually, if you do a search for low level laser light therapy, some of the references are for dental applications. Low level treatment is also being used for arthritis, inflammatory lesions, etc. You will find the mechanism of action as well...speculative tho it is.
