Shingles Treatment and Care

Shingles Treatment (Herpes Zoster) Information

Shingles causes pain and often causes a rash on one side of the body, the left or right. The rash appears in a band, a strip, or a small area. Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again.

Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chicken pox starts up again in your body. After you get better from chicken pox, the virus “sleeps” (is dormant) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others, the virus “wakes up” when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system. It is not clear why this happens. But after the virus becomes active again, it can only cause shingles, not chicken pox.

The first sign of shingles:

The first sign of shingles is often burning or stinging

pain, or on occasion numbness or itch, in one specific location on only one side of the body. After several days or a week, a rash of fluid-filled blisters, related to chickenpox, appears in one area on one side of the body. Shingles pain can be mild or intense. Certain people have mostly itching; several feel pain from the gentlest touch or breeze.

Shingles Treatment:

There are several helpful treatments for shingles. Drugs that fight viruses (antivirals), such as acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), or famciclovir (Famvir), can reduce the severity and duration of the rash if started early on (within 72 hours of the form of the rash). In addition to antiviral medication, pain medications may well be needed for symptom control.

The affected area must be kept clean. Bathing is permitted, and the area can be cleansed with soap and water. Cool compresses and anti-itching lotions, such as calamine lotion, may also provide relief. An aluminum acetate solution (Burow’s or Domeboro solution, available at your pharmacy) can be used to help dry up the blisters and oozing.

>>See Also: Shingles Remedies Home Treatment