Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Recurrent orofacial herpes infection may be triggered by high altitude skiing, presumably because of solar ultraviolet radiation exposure. Six (12%) of a group of 51 subjects with a history of skiing-triggered herpes observed during 1 week of high altitude skiing experi enced reactivations of orofacial herpes a median of 3¹/₂ days after exposure. Within this group, application of a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 failed to influence the reactivation rate as compared with a placebo.

Reactivation of herpes triggered by skiing is common. As application of a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 did not appear to influence the reactivation rate, alternate approaches to the control of recurrent orofacial herpes are needed.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Berger DS: The sunburning UV meter Design and performance Photochem Photobiol 24 587-593, 1976

Blyth WA, Hill TJ, Field HJ, et al Reactivation of herpes simplex virus infection by ultraviolet light and possible involvement of prostaglandins J Gen Virol 33., 547-550, 1976

Food and Drug Administration: Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human drugs Proposed safety, effective and labelling conditions. Federal Register 43 38206-38269, 1978

Hawk Jlm, Parnsh JA Responses of normal skin to ultraviolet radiation, in Reagan JD, Parnsh JA (eds) The Science of Photomedicine New York, Plenum Press, 1982, pp 219-260

Heath D., Williams DR Man at High Attitude. The Pathophysiology of Acclimatization and Adaptation New York, Churchill Livingstone , 1977

Hill TJ, Blyth WA: An alternative theory of herpes simplex recurrence and a possible role for prostaglandins. Lancet I: 397-399, 1976

Krueger GG, Spruance SL, Overall JC: Pathogenesis of herpes simplex in labialis Experimental induction of liaisons with UV light J Clin Microbiol 22: 366-368, 1985

Overall JC Jr. Dermatologic viral diseases, in Galasso GJ, Mengan TC, Buchanan RA (eds) Antiviral Agents and Viral Diseases of Man Second edition, New York, Raven Press, 1984, pp 247-312

Spruance SL Pathogenesis of herpes simplex labialis: Excretion of virus in the oral cavity J Clin Microbiol 19: 675-679, 1984

10.

Wheeler CE Jr Pathogenesis of recurrent herpes simplex infections J Invest Dermatol 65 341-346, 1975

11.

Young SK, Rowe NH, Buchanan RA: A clinical study for the control of facial mucocutaneous herpes virus infections Oral Surg 41. 498, 1976

Recurrent herpes labialis in skiers

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References