Medication
There's no cure for shingles, but prompt treatment with prescription antiviral drugs can speed healing and reduce your risk of complications. These medications include: Shingles can cause severe pain, so your doctor also may prescribe: Numbing agents, such as lidocaine, delivered via a cream, gel, spray or skin patch.
Self-care
Natural remedies
- Essential oils. Essential oils can help with skin irritation and healing. ...
- Cold compresses. Holding cool cloths or compresses against the rash site may assist in relieving itchiness and reducing inflammation.
- Witch hazel. ...
- Cool baths. ...
- Oat baths. ...
- Gentiana scabra. ...
- Diet. ...
- Vitamin supplements. ...
- Quit smoking. ...
- Reduce stress. ...
Nutrition
Varicella Zoster Virus and the Nervous System
- Herpes Zoster. Herpes zoster, also called shingles, is one of the most widely recognized forms of VZV infection. ...
- Postherpetic Neuralgia. ...
- Zoster Sine Herpete. ...
- Retinal Necrosis. ...
- Meningoencephalitis. ...
- Myelopathy. ...
- Vasculopathy. ...
- Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. ...
- Prevention of Zoster Related Illness. ...
Does shingles always need treatment?
Over the Counter Medications
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
- Antipruritics Diphenhydramine Caladryl
- Antibiotic ointment: Polysporin Neosporin
- Capsaicin cream: Zostrix
What are the best natural remedies for shingles?
How does shingles affect the nervous system?
What is the best over the counter for shingles?
What is the main cause of shingles?
Shingles is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant (inactive) in their body. The virus can reactivate later, causing shingles.
What is shingles and how is it treated?
Several antiviral medicines—acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir—are available to treat shingles and shorten the length and severity of the illness. These medicines are most effective if you start taking them as soon as possible after the rash appears.
What are the first signs of having shingles?
Although not every person with shingles will experience them, early symptoms include:tiredness.aching muscles.headaches.nausea.general feeling of being unwell.fever.
How do you catch shingles?
The blisters that develop as a result of shingles contain virus particles. If you have not had chickenpox before, you can catch it from direct contact with the fluid from the blisters of someone who has shingles, or from something that has the fluid on it, such as bed sheets or a towel.
What is the most common treatment for shingles?
Shingles is often treated with an antiviral medicine. These medicines can reduce the severity and duration of your symptoms. Acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir are commonly prescribed. Your doctor will decide whether one of these medicines is right for you.
Can shingles spread?
Answer: Shingles cannot spread from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles (varicella-zoster virus) can spread from a person with active shingles to someone who is not immune to chickenpox (most people have had a chickenpox infection or vaccinated against chickenpox).
How long does shingles normally last?
Most cases of shingles last three to five weeks. The first sign is often burning or tingling pain; sometimes it includes numbness or itching on one side of the body. Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear.
Is it OK to be around someone with shingles?
Shingles itself is not contagious. It can't spread from one person to another. However, the varicella-zoster virus is contagious. If you have shingles, you can pass the virus to another person, which could then cause them to develop chickenpox.
What is the best treatment for shingles?
These medications include: Acyclovir (Zovirax) Famciclovir. Valacyclovir (Valtrex) Shingles can cause severe pain, so your doctor also may prescribe:
How to stop blisters from itching?
Taking a cool bath or using cool, wet compresses on your blisters may help relieve the itching and pain. And, if possible, try to reduce the amount of stress in your life.
What is a topical patch?
Capsaicin topical patch (Qutenza) Anticonvulsants, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline. Numbing agents, such as lidocaine, delivered via a cream, gel, spray or skin patch. Medications that contain narcotics, such as codeine.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
Shingles results from the same virus that causes chicken pox. Shingles usually affects one side of the body. This is most often the waist, chest, abdomen, or back. Symptoms can also appear on the face and in the eyes, mouth, ears. The virus can also affect some internal organs.
What is shingles in a chicken?
Shingles is a viral infection that results from the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chicken pox. It typically affects a single sensory nerve ganglion and the skin surface that the nerve supplies. Anyone who has had chickenpox can later develop shingles. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control ...
How long does shingles stay dormant?
This virus can lie dormant for years. Most adults with the dormant virus never develop shingles, but for some, the virus reactivates several times. Shingles is most common after the age of 50 years, but it can appear at any age if a person has previously had chickenpox. In this article, learn more about shingles, including symptoms, complications, ...
How do you know if you have shingles?
Common symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of shingles include: Trusted Source. a constant dull, burning, or gnawing pain, or a sharp, stabbing pain that comes and goes. a skin rash that resembles a chickenpox rash but only affects certain areas. fluid-filled blisters that develop as part of the rash.
Why does my rash hurt but no rash?
This is why the symptoms occur in specific areas of the body, rather than all over it. The pain results from nerve involvement, rather than the rash itself . In fact, some people have pain but no rash. Others, meanwhile, may have a rash with pain that is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, chills, or headache.
Can you get varicella if you have shingles?
Those most at risk are people with a weakened immune system. Getting the varicella vaccination during childhood can prevent both chickenpox and shingles. For those who did not have the vaccination in childhood, other inoculations are available. People aged 50 and older should talk to their doctor about vaccination.
What is shingles caused by?
Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Even after the chickenpox infection is over, the virus may live in your nervous system for years before reactivating as shingles. Shingles may also be referred to as herpes zoster. This type of viral infection is characterized by ...
Why do I have shingles pain?
A 2017 study found that shingles pain may be due to our immune mechanisms, triggered by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, changing how our sensory neurons work.
What is shingles on the side of the eye?
Shingles in and around the eye, referred to as ophthalmic herpes zoster or herpes zoster ophthalmicus, occurs in about 10 to 20 percent. Trusted Source. of people with shingles. A blistering rash may appear on your eyelids, forehead, and sometimes on the tip or side of your nose.
How long does it take for shingles to clear up?
Shingles usually appears as a stripe of blisters on one side of the body, typically on the torso, neck, or face. Most cases of shingles clear up within 2 to 3 weeks.
How to prevent shingles from spreading?
To prevent spreading the varicella-zoster virus if you have shingles, be sure to keep the rash clean and covered. Don’t touch the blisters and wash your hands often. You should avoid being around at-risk people such as pregnant women and people with weak immune systems.
How do you know if you have shingles?
Symptoms of shingles. The first symptoms of shingles are usually pain and burning. The pain is usually on one side of the body and occurs in small patches. A red rash typically follows. Rash characteristics include: red patches. fluid-filled blisters that break easily. wraps around from the spine to the torso.
What does it mean when you have a rash on your face?
If the rash is close to or in your ear, it can cause an infection that could lead to loss of hearing, issues with your balance, and weakness in your facial muscles.
What is a shingle on the face?
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a common infection of the nerves. It is caused by a virus. Shingles triggers a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin. It can appear anywhere on the body, but it typically appears on only one side of the face or body. Burning or shooting pain and tingling or itching are early signs of the infection.
How long do shingles last?
Symptoms of shingles usually don’t last longer than 3 to 5 weeks. However, complications can happen. The main complications that can result from shingles include: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The most common complication of shingles is called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
What does a shingles rash look like?
Shingles starts with skin sensitivity, tingling, itching, and/or pain followed by rash that looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters. The rash is typically affects just one area on one side of the body or face. Treatment that is started as soon as possible helps reduce the severity of the disease.
What is the best treatment for a rash on the face?
Other treatments include antiviral drugs, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and topical agents. Bacterial infection. A bacterial infection of the skin where the rash happens is another complication.
Can a corneal infection cause blindness?
Rarely, infections can lead to more problems, such as tissue death and scarring. When an infection happens near or on the eyes, a corneal infection can happen. This can lead to temporary or permanent blindness.
What happens if you have shingles?
If there is any question about whether you have shingles, your dermatologist will scrape a bit of fluid from a blister. This will be sent to a lab where a doctor will look at the fluid under a high-powered microscope. When you have shingles, the fluid contains the virus that causes shingles.
What is the best medicine for shingles?
Lower your risk of developing long-lasting nerve pain and other health problems. One of three antiviral medications is usually prescribed—acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir.
How long does it take to cure shingles?
See your doctor for a prescription of antiviral medicines as soon as possible after symptoms develop. Treatment should be started within 3 days of the shingles rash appearing.
How long does it take for shingles to heal?
They can take several weeks to settle. In 1 in 10 people, the pain and tingling of shingles can last for months or even years. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia.
What to do if you have shingles in your eye?
If you do have shingles in your eye, your doctor may refer you to an eye specialist for treatment. The shingles rash could become infected and antibiotics may be needed. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Last reviewed: May 2020. Back To Top.
How do you know if you have shingles?
The initial symptoms of shingles include: pain. a burning, tingling or itching sensation. a stabbing sensation. sensitivity to touch. numbness in the affected area of the body. sensitivity to light. fever and/or headache. fatigue.
How to get rid of a rash on your face?
Try not to scratch the rash. Scratching may cause infection and scarring of the blisters. After a bath or shower, gently pat yourself dry with a clean towel. Do not rub or use the towel to scratch yourself and do not share towels. Wear loose cotton clothes around the parts of the body that are affected.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Preparing For Your Appointment
