title: The treatment of periocular and facial pain with topical capsaicin.
abstract: This article describes the effects of topically applied capsaicin (a nociceptive substance-P suppressor) in patients with neuropathic periocular or facial pain. Peripheral neuropathic pain is a major cause of periocular or facial discomfort and usually follows injury to a subcutaneous peripheral nerve. Though the damage is local, the pain tends to radiate. We studied three patients who complained of a 2- to 30-year history of fluctuating pain in the periocular area. All three had an area of point tenderness that responded to the topical application of capsaicin cream.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo, USA.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Lincoff
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirano
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D002211:Capsaicin