Shingles, known by the medical term herpes zoster, is an annoying skin irritation caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus responsible for chickenpox. Once a person has had chickenpox, the VZV remains in the body. Usually it does not cause problems, but every now and then it can reactivate, causing annoying skin rashes characterized by the appearance of red spots, which evolve into blisters. The following article describes the treatments for shingles.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Diagnosing Shingles
Step 1. Learn to recognize the symptoms associated with shingles
When a person contracts chickenpox, the virus stays inside the body and, in some cases, causes rashes and blisters. The most common symptoms are:
- Headache;
- Parainfluenza symptoms;
- Sensitivity to light;
- Itching, irritation, tingling and pain in the area affected by the rash, but only on one side of the body.
Step 2. Keep in mind that there are three stages associated with shingles
Knowing the symptoms of each stage, you can discuss the most suitable treatment with your doctor.
- Stage 1 (prodromal phase): the appearance of the rash is preceded by itching, tingling, numbness and pain. Diarrhea, stomach pain, and chills (usually without fever) accompany the irritation. Lymph nodes can hurt or swell.
- Stage 2 (rash and blisters): The rash develops on one side of the body, accompanied by the appearance of blisters in the last stage. The fluid inside the pustules is clear at first, but over time it becomes opaque. If the rash develops around the eyes, see your doctor right away. In some cases it is accompanied by a rather intense stinging pain.
- Stage 3 (remission of the rash and blisters): localized pain may develop in the area affected by shingles. In these cases, it is post-herpetic neuralgia that can last for weeks or even years. It is associated with severe sensitivity, chronic pain, and aching and burning sensations.
Step 3. Try to understand to what extent you are exposed to the infection
If you are on immunosuppressive therapy, such as steroids, following an organ transplant, you are at an increased risk of getting shingles. You are more at risk even if you suffer from the following conditions:
- Tumor;
- Lymphoma;
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV);
- Leukemia.
Part 2 of 4: Treating Shingles
Step 1. See your doctor immediately
The sooner you get a diagnosis, the better it will be for you. Self-diagnosis is not recommended. Patients who start drug therapy in the first three days of the onset of symptoms achieve better results than patients who exceed this time threshold to start treatment.
Step 2. Ask your doctor how to treat the rash and keep the pain at bay
Most shingles treatments aren't very complicated. They consist of curing the symptoms of the rash and relieving the pain. Your doctor can prescribe you:
- An antiviral drug (such as aciclovir, valaciclovir, famciclovir) to reduce the pain caused by the rash and shorten its duration;
- Non-steroidal pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen, to manage pain
- Topical antibiotics to prevent infections and the spread of the rash and blisters.
Step 3. If you have chronic pain once the rash is gone, see your doctor again to assess the problem
He will likely diagnose you with post-herpetic neuralgia. To treat this chronic condition, which affects 15% of shingles patients, you may be prescribed:
- Antidepressants (neuralgia is often associated with depression because some daily activities cause pain or are difficult to perform);
- Topical anesthetics, such as benzocaine, and lidocaine-based patches
- Anticonvulsants because, according to some studies, they can help in the treatment of chronic neuralgia;
- Opiate pain relievers, such as codeine, to help relieve chronic pain.
Step 4. Make some home remedies to better manage shingles
While you should always treat it pharmacologically, there are some things to do with your doctor's prescriptions, including:
- Do not cover or scratch the rash and blisters. Let them breathe even when they heal. If the pain prevents you from sleeping, you can wrap the area with a bandage.
- Apply ice to the vent at 10-minute intervals, with 5-minute breaks, over several hours. Then dissolve the aluminum acetate in the water and apply it to the rash with a wet compress.
- Ask the pharmacist to prepare a solution consisting of: 78% of a cream based on calamine, 20% alcohol, 1% phenol and 1% menthol. Apply the mixture to the blisters until scabs form.
Step 5. Watch out for any worsening of your condition
In some cases, shingles causes long-term complications. Be aware of the following if you have shingles or post-herpetic neuralgia:
- Spread of the rash over a large part of the body. It is called disseminated herpes and can affect internal organs and joints. Treatment involves the use of antibiotic and antiviral drugs.
- Spread of the rash on the face. It is called ophthalmic herpes and can affect vision if left untreated. See your doctor or eye doctor right away if you notice it reaches your face.
Part 3 of 4: Preventing Shingles
Step 1. Decide whether to get vaccinated
If you have already contracted chickenpox and are concerned about developing shingles or want to make sure that any episode isn't too painful, you can consider getting vaccinated. Adults after age 50 can do this with a single injection, whether they have already suffered from herpes or not.
Anyone who has never contracted chickenpox or shingles should avoid this vaccine and opt for the chickenpox vaccine instead
Step 2. Avoid contact with infected people
Anyone who has never had chickenpox or shingles should avoid contact with people with these conditions. Since the vesicles are contagious, you must avoid contact with them. Exposure to the fluid from the pustules transmits chickenpox, increasing the risk of developing shingles in the years to come.
Shingles is more common in people over the age of 50. They are subjects who should be very careful with this disease
Part 4 of 4: Using Home Remedies
Step 1. Take a cold bath
Cold water helps soothe the pain and discomfort of the rash. However, make sure it's not too cold! The skin reacts to any extreme temperature, increasing pain. When you're done, pat dry with a warm towel.
- You could also take an oatmeal or starch bath. In contact with warm water (not cold or hot), oat flakes and starch have a soothing and emollient effect. Read the wikiHow article to make an oatmeal bath!
- Wash used towels in the washing machine by selecting a program with hot water. Avoid any form of contagion!
Step 2. Use a wet compress
Like bathing, anything cool and wet feels good on the skin. Just take a towel, dip it in cold water, wring it out and apply it to the vent. After a few minutes, repeat the treatment to cool down.
- Don't use ice! It's too cold for the skin right now. If it is already sensitive normally, in such conditions it is even more so.
- Always wash towels after using them, especially if you have shingles.
Step 3. Apply calamine cream
Regular creams, especially scented ones, only risk making the situation worse. So, opt for a calamine-based lotion as it possesses soothing properties. Wash your hands after application. Remember to spread it only on the affected area.
Step 4. Try capsaicin
Believe it or not, it is present in hot peppers. It doesn't mean, however, that you have to spend the afternoon massaging them on your skin: you just need to buy a cream that contains this substance to get some relief. You can find it in the pharmacy.
Remember that this product does not get rid of shingles, but it will make you feel much better. For your information, the shingles should disappear within 3 weeks
Step 5. Use baking soda or cornstarch on the lesions
Only on the wounds, though! It will dry them out and speed up the healing process. Just prepare a paste made up of 2 parts of baking soda (or corn starch) and one of water. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, rinse and dry with a towel. Don't forget to wash it when you're done!
You can repeat the treatment a couple of times a day. However, don't overdo it! You could dry out the skin and aggravate the situation
Advice
- Anyone who has suffered from chickenpox can develop shingles, even children.
- Some people should get vaccinated, while others are better off avoiding. The latter are:
- Anyone suffering from HIV, AIDS or another disease that weakens the immune system;
- Those who undergo anticancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy;
- Those suffering from active and untreated tuberculosis;
- Women who are or may be pregnant. They should avoid the possibility of pregnancy in the three months following vaccination;
- Who can suffer from near-fatal allergic reactions to neomycin (an antibiotic), gelatin, or other components of the shingles vaccine
- Those who have suffered from cancers affecting the lymphatic system or bone marrow, such as lymphomas and leukemia.
- A person with shingles can only spread the virus when the rash is in the ulcerative stage (the pustules tend to burst to reveal the inflamed skin underneath). Once the scabs have developed, it is no longer contagious.
- The virus can be transmitted from a sick person to someone who has never suffered from chickenpox if the latter comes into direct contact with the rash. In this case, he would contract chickenpox, not herpes.
- The virus Not it is transmitted through coughing, sneezing or normal contact.
- The risk of shingles spreading is low if the rash is covered.
- Helps prevent the transmission of this virus. Affected people should keep the rash covered, avoid touching or scratching the blisters, and wash their hands frequently.
- The virus does not spread before the pustules appear.
- Vaccinated. The vaccine is highly recommended for people who are at least 60 years old because it reduces the risk of infection.
Warnings
- In 1 in 5 people, severe pain may continue even after the rash has disappeared. It's called post-herpetic neuralgia. Older people are more likely to develop it, moreover in a severe form.
- Very rarely, shingles can cause hearing problems, pneumonia, brain inflammation (encephalitis), blindness and death.
