What is Shingles & How to Treat It
Shingles is also called herpes zostrer, and the virus can also cause chicken pox. The condition can result in long-term skin and eye problems, including conjunctivitis (conjunctiva inflammation), iritis (iris inflammation) or scarring of your cornea. Normally, shingles is apparent as a type of rash that is often preceded by pain in the affected areas. You may experience problems with your eyes such as zoster keratitis if shingles occurs along the trigeminal nerve of your eye. However, most adults, as high as 95 percent, have antibodies to this varicella-zoster virus.
If you contract shingles, be sure to cover the lesions with a loose gauze or cloth after you have cleaned the area. You should also cut your fingernails to lower the chances of contracting a bacterial infection from scratching your lesions.
Taking a drug called Famvir or famciclovir can help you to lessen your pain and experience a faster recovery when you suffer a severe shingles attack. You can also obtain pain relief by taking a topical cream that contains capsaicin. Another pain relief option is to apply wet, cool compresses to the affected areas. To relieve your discomfort and itching, try taking a cool starch or colloidal oatmeal bath (not warm or hot which can increase itchiness) or applying a lotion such as calamine.
Keep any affected areas clean by using only water and soap. Domeboro solution, Burow’s or other aluminum acetate solutions can also help to stop the oozing and dry any blisters caused by the shingles virus.
Make sure you avoid any contact with the skin lesions of anyone who is already infected with herpes zoster. As soon as you notice any shingles rashes, be sure to visit your doctor immediately. If you are able to start treatment within 2-3 days of the initial outbreak, you can often reduce the possibility of suffering from postherpetic neuralgia. Most doctors prescribe antiviral medications to help you prevent later problems. If you leave the condition untreated, you may subsequently suffer serious problems that don’t respond to treatment; approximately 40 to 50 percent of individuals with postherpetic neuralgia can’t be treated for their condition.
Fast medical treatment is the most effective solution for treating shingles. The faster you can visit your doctor, the better. You will need to take antiviral drugs within 2 days of the first appearance of the rash, but the sooner the better. This will help you to reduce the duration and severity of your shingles outbreak. If you are able to obtain treatment within the first 24 hours, your outbreak will normally be much less severe, you will suffer fewer complications and you have a lower chance of suffering from PHN.
