Does L-lysine Help In Curing Vascular Rosacea?

Posted on Tue, 1 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 1 Apr 2014 Answered on

Mon, 21 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I have severe vascular rosacea. In addition to the Mirvaso and Aczone prescribed by my dermatologist, a friend (who also has rosacea, although I don't think the vascular kind) recommended L-lysine 1000mg per day - especially since I do not eat much meat. It helped them. The dermatologist said it was worth a try but didn't have high expectations. I've only been taking it for a week and now I've noticed a tingling in my lips and small blisters around the edges of my upper lip. I have been prone to cold sores in the past but haven't' had on in years. I've read that Lysine is helpful in preventing and treating cold sores...but can it induce them? My lips have become terribly sensitive to touch as well. Like my entire lip is going to turn into a cold sore. Please, if you can, let me know what to expect. My direct questions are: Does L-lysine help vascular rosacea to begin with? Can L-lysine induce cold sores? Can I combat a L-lysine induced cold sore with Acyclovir and Zovirax? Lastly, should I discontinue the lysine immediately and if so will my lips clear up and start to feel normal again?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer: L-Lysine does'nt work in rosacea & herpes Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your concern and I have understood it. Lysine will do nothing. L-Lysine is an amino acid, present in most of your foods anyway. Available medical treatments for rosacea include topical creams, antibiotic pills, lasers, pulsed-light therapies, photodynamic therapy, and isotretinoin. Rosacea is complex condition and for Vascular rosacea, IPL(Intense pulsed light) works best. Regarding herpes labialis, there has been a conflicting role of L-Lysine supplementation on herpes with studies in the past. Some claiming success and others claiming failure. Although in some studies participants suggested that the lysine supplements did reduce their symptoms, other studies have not come to the same conclusion. I won't recommend it to my patients. In my view L-lysine has no role, whatsoever, in either herpes labialis OR Rosacea. Yes, either Acyclovir/Zovirax or Valacyclovir would be effective in cold sore. I hope this answers all your queries. regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar