Oral and injectable anabolic steroid use can occasionally harm your skin. The oil (sebaceous) glands may become prone to infection and inflammation as a result of systemic steroid use. This can consequently lead to or exacerbate skin conditions like acne. Furthermore, if the injection sites become infected, people who inject steroids may experience pain and the formation of an abscess there. 

Zovirax cream, which contains acyclovir (also known as Ekovir in oral tablet form), is a cutting-edge, highly effective antibiotic drug designed to fight viral infections. It can be used to reduce injection site inflammation topically to prevent these side effects of steroid use.

Cold sores, herpes, chicken pox, shingles, mononucleosis, and viral infections are frequently treated with Zovirax (acyclovir 5%) cream in immunocompetent adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older. Zovirax is a herpes simplex virus (HSV) nucleoside analogue DNA polymerase inhibitor. Acyclovir, an antiviral skincare ingredient, slows the growth of the virus but does not stop it from happening again, it does not treat herpes, and it does not stop you from infecting other people with it (only the symptoms are controlled).

Acyclovir is additionally used by some people to lessen the visibility of steroid acne or to treat post-injection pain (PIP).

Properties and effects of Zovirax

This medication is used to treat “cold sores/fever blisters” (herpes labialis), and it can speed up the healing process and lessen symptoms like: 

• Burning
• Itching
• Tingling
• Pain

Aciclovir cream application and dosage

At the first sign of infection (such as tingling, burning, or redness), the cream should be applied. Make sure the affected areas have been thoroughly cleaned and dried before administering Zovirax. Also, wash your hands thoroughly.

It should be gently massaged into the affected area five times a day (every three to four hours) for four days to treat cold sores.

This cream should only be applied to the skin. Applying near the mouth, nose, eyes, or genital area is not advised. 

The recommended dosage is determined by your general health, the type of infection, and how your body responds to the cream. Limit your treatment cycle to what is advised.

Side effects from generic Acyclovir cream

The negative effects of Zovirax Cream include:

• Dermatitis from contact
• Inflammation of the skin
• Application-related stinging or burning that lasts only briefly
• Reactions at the application site, like dry lips
• Skin flaking
• Dry skin
• Brittle lips
• Scalding skin
• Itching