Shingles and Skin Care: 8 Tips for Managing

A prescription antiviral along with home care may help relieve pain associated with the shingles rash. This can include topical products and proper bandaging.

Remember that childhood bout of chickenpox that caused itching, burning, and a painful rash all over your body? If you’re experiencing similar symptoms as an adult, you may be dealing with shingles.

Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox as a child or teen, the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells.

For many people, it never makes a repeat appearance. But for about 1 in 3 adults in the United States, the virus reactivates and causes shingles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While most cases are in people over 50, shingles can occur before age 40, but the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) says this is rare.

Shingles rashes typically last between 2 and 4 weeks. And while it’s not life threatening, the virus can trigger a painful rash that causes a lot of discomfort. The good news, though, is that you can do things to take care of your skin and reduce pain while the rash heals.

Make an appointment to see your primary care physician and a dermatologist at the first sign of shingles, ideally within 2 to 3 days of getting the rash. They can assess the severity and prescribe an antiviral, if necessary.

You’ll likely notice these signs a few days before a rash appears:

• pain
• burning
• tingling

According to the AAD, starting an antiviral within 72 hours of the first symptoms can:

• reduce symptoms
• decrease the amount of time you have shingles
• lower the risk of complications

One of the best things you can do after making an appointment to see your doctor is to start caring for the rash at home until it clears.

In general, the blister-like rash will scab about 7 to 10 days after it appears. It typically takes between 2 and 4 weeks to go away entirely, according to the AAD.

During this healing period, follow these steps each day:

1. Gently wash the affected area with a fragrance-free cleanser.
2. Let it dry.
3. Apply petroleum jelly (optional).
4. Apply a sterile bandage or nonstick gauze.
5. Wash your hands thoroughly.

To help ease pain and itching, do the following as needed:

• Apply a cool compress for a few minutes.
• Soak in a soothing bath.
• Use calamine lotion, but only after the blisters have scabbed over.

It might be tempting to scratch or pick at the blisters, especially if they’re causing you discomfort. Know that they’ll eventually crust over and fall off if you leave them alone.

Scratching at blisters or scabs can lead to infection and scarring. Cleaning and covering them regularly with a new sterile bandage can help reduce the likelihood that you’ll pick at the rash.

Keeping the rash clean is one part of the process. The other is to make sure you bandage it properly, especially if the rash is still weeping (oozing).

When dealing with a painful shingles rash, your best bet is to use bandages that are:

• loose
• nonstick
• sterile

When you’re switching the dressing, allow the skin to dry before covering it with a new bandage.

In addition to keeping the rash protected, bandaging also prevents you from passing the varicella-zoster virus to another person. Be sure to keep bandages on any areas of the rash that haven’t scabbed over yet.

While shingles isn’t contagious, the virus that causes it can be passed to anyone who hasn’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. If they come into skin-to-skin contact with the fluid that oozes from a shingles blister, they could end up with chickenpox, according to National Institute on Aging.

Shingles can be very painful. If you need help managing pain, your doctor might prescribe a topical pain-relieving cream or patch. These contain lidocaine (Lidoderm, Xylocaine) or other nerve block medication for the skin.

A medicated anti-itch cream that includes an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), might also help you find some relief.

After the rash has scabbed over, you can try using creams or lotions to soothe any remaining symptoms. Look for products that contain:

• aloe vera
• calamine
• capsaicin
• colloidal oatmeal

Your doctor may also recommend an oral over-the-counter pain reliever such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Always follow the dosage instructions on the label or take according to your doctor’s instructions.

You don’t need expensive skin care products to relieve itchiness and pain. When a rash is active, reach for a few household products instead. For example, a paste made with baking soda and cornstarch applied directly on the rash can provide some much-needed relief.

Plus, this DIY treatment helps dry the sores out, so they may heal faster.

Use equal parts of cornstarch and baking soda mixed with water. Add just enough water to make a thick paste when mixing the ingredients. You don’t want it to be runny. Let the paste sit on the rash for several minutes until it’s dry, then rinse it off gently with water.

Using the right water temperature while bathing or showering can make a big difference in how your skin feels and heals. Ideally, you should bathe with cool or lukewarm water and avoid very hot water.

You can also apply a cool, wet compress to the rash and blisters. The AAD recommends you soak a clean washcloth in cold water and place the cloth on top of the affected area several times a day. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes.

You should avoid rubbing washcloths, sponges, or exfoliants on the area.

You can also add colloidal oatmeal or cornstarch to your baths to provide some much-needed itch relief. Just be sure to dry your skin gently after getting out of the bath. Then, follow up with a layer of calamine lotion to soothe your skin, or keep it dry and cover with a bandage if it’s still weeping.

Wearing loose-fitting, natural fiber clothing like cotton is critical while a shingles rash is healing. Clothing that’s too tight can rub up against the rash and irritate it if it’s not bandaged.

Since shingles rashes generally appear on your torso, you may only need to choose loose-fitting shirts, sweatshirts, or tops. Even while bandaged, wearing looser shirts can reduce irritation on the skin.

If you need to wear a mask and you have a shingles rash on your face or neck, consider bandaging the area under the mask until the blisters are fully healed.

If the shingles rash is affecting the skin around your eyes or the tip of your nose, you should immediately make an appointment to see an ophthalmologist. If you cannot see one, see a dermatologist or go to the emergency department for immediate treatment.

Caring for your skin is a critical step when dealing with shingles. Once you’ve talked with your doctor or another healthcare professional, establish a daily routine to clean, soothe, and bandage any blisters or rashes.

If you keep a rash uncovered, be sure to wear loose clothing and avoid close contact with anyone who hasn’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.

And most importantly, be kind to yourself during the healing process. Shingles rashes are painful and take a few weeks to go away. If you have any questions about treatments or your symptoms seem to be worsening, talk with a healthcare professional.

Shingles and Skin Care: 8 Tips for Managing

A prescription antiviral along with home care may help relieve pain associated with the shingles rash. This can include topical products and proper bandaging.

Remember that childhood bout of chickenpox that caused itching, burning, and a painful rash all over your body? If you’re experiencing similar symptoms as an adult, you may be dealing with shingles.

Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox as a child or teen, the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells.

For many people, it never makes a repeat appearance. But for about 1 in 3 adults in the United States, the virus reactivates and causes shingles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

While most cases are in people over 50, shingles can occur before age 40, but the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) says this is rare.

Shingles rashes typically last between 2 and 4 weeks. And while it’s not life threatening, the virus can trigger a painful rash that causes a lot of discomfort. The good news, though, is that you can do things to take care of your skin and reduce pain while the rash heals.

Make an appointment to see your primary care physician and a dermatologist at the first sign of shingles, ideally within 2 to 3 days of getting the rash. They can assess the severity and prescribe an antiviral, if necessary.

You’ll likely notice these signs a few days before a rash appears:

• pain
• burning
• tingling

According to the AAD, starting an antiviral within 72 hours of the first symptoms can:

• reduce symptoms
• decrease the amount of time you have shingles
• lower the risk of complications

One of the best things you can do after making an appointment to see your doctor is to start caring for the rash at home until it clears.

In general, the blister-like rash will scab about 7 to 10 days after it appears. It typically takes between 2 and 4 weeks to go away entirely, according to the AAD.

During this healing period, follow these steps each day:

1. Gently wash the affected area with a fragrance-free cleanser.
2. Let it dry.
3. Apply petroleum jelly (optional).
4. Apply a sterile bandage or nonstick gauze.
5. Wash your hands thoroughly.

To help ease pain and itching, do the following as needed:

• Apply a cool compress for a few minutes.
• Soak in a soothing bath.
• Use calamine lotion, but only after the blisters have scabbed over.

It might be tempting to scratch or pick at the blisters, especially if they’re causing you discomfort. Know that they’ll eventually crust over and fall off if you leave them alone.

Scratching at blisters or scabs can lead to infection and scarring. Cleaning and covering them regularly with a new sterile bandage can help reduce the likelihood that you’ll pick at the rash.

Keeping the rash clean is one part of the process. The other is to make sure you bandage it properly, especially if the rash is still weeping (oozing).

When dealing with a painful shingles rash, your best bet is to use bandages that are:

• loose
• nonstick
• sterile

When you’re switching the dressing, allow the skin to dry before covering it with a new bandage.

In addition to keeping the rash protected, bandaging also prevents you from passing the varicella-zoster virus to another person. Be sure to keep bandages on any areas of the rash that haven’t scabbed over yet.

While shingles isn’t contagious, the virus that causes it can be passed to anyone who hasn’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. If they come into skin-to-skin contact with the fluid that oozes from a shingles blister, they could end up with chickenpox, according to National Institute on Aging.

Shingles can be very painful. If you need help managing pain, your doctor might prescribe a topical pain-relieving cream or patch. These contain lidocaine (Lidoderm, Xylocaine) or other nerve block medication for the skin.

A medicated anti-itch cream that includes an antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), might also help you find some relief.

After the rash has scabbed over, you can try using creams or lotions to soothe any remaining symptoms. Look for products that contain:

• aloe vera
• calamine
• capsaicin
• colloidal oatmeal

Your doctor may also recommend an oral over-the-counter pain reliever such as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Always follow the dosage instructions on the label or take according to your doctor’s instructions.

You don’t need expensive skin care products to relieve itchiness and pain. When a rash is active, reach for a few household products instead. For example, a paste made with baking soda and cornstarch applied directly on the rash can provide some much-needed relief.

Plus, this DIY treatment helps dry the sores out, so they may heal faster.

Use equal parts of cornstarch and baking soda mixed with water. Add just enough water to make a thick paste when mixing the ingredients. You don’t want it to be runny. Let the paste sit on the rash for several minutes until it’s dry, then rinse it off gently with water.

Using the right water temperature while bathing or showering can make a big difference in how your skin feels and heals. Ideally, you should bathe with cool or lukewarm water and avoid very hot water.

You can also apply a cool, wet compress to the rash and blisters. The AAD recommends you soak a clean washcloth in cold water and place the cloth on top of the affected area several times a day. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes.

You should avoid rubbing washcloths, sponges, or exfoliants on the area.

You can also add colloidal oatmeal or cornstarch to your baths to provide some much-needed itch relief. Just be sure to dry your skin gently after getting out of the bath. Then, follow up with a layer of calamine lotion to soothe your skin, or keep it dry and cover with a bandage if it’s still weeping.

Wearing loose-fitting, natural fiber clothing like cotton is critical while a shingles rash is healing. Clothing that’s too tight can rub up against the rash and irritate it if it’s not bandaged.

Since shingles rashes generally appear on your torso, you may only need to choose loose-fitting shirts, sweatshirts, or tops. Even while bandaged, wearing looser shirts can reduce irritation on the skin.

If you need to wear a mask and you have a shingles rash on your face or neck, consider bandaging the area under the mask until the blisters are fully healed.

If the shingles rash is affecting the skin around your eyes or the tip of your nose, you should immediately make an appointment to see an ophthalmologist. If you cannot see one, see a dermatologist or go to the emergency department for immediate treatment.

Caring for your skin is a critical step when dealing with shingles. Once you’ve talked with your doctor or another healthcare professional, establish a daily routine to clean, soothe, and bandage any blisters or rashes.

If you keep a rash uncovered, be sure to wear loose clothing and avoid close contact with anyone who hasn’t had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.

And most importantly, be kind to yourself during the healing process. Shingles rashes are painful and take a few weeks to go away. If you have any questions about treatments or your symptoms seem to be worsening, talk with a healthcare professional.

Shingles.!

content

1. Is there a cure for shingles?
2. Medicines for the treatment of
3. Herpes zoster home remedies
4. How can the disease be prevented?

1. Is there a cure for shingles?

You can take certain actions to treat herpes zoster, but the virus may disappear on its own over time.

Postherpetic neuralgia is difficult to treat and can remain for months or even years. Therefore, the best solution is the immediate treatment of shingles. In addition, early medical intervention will reduce or even prevent the scarring that shingles can cause.

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2. Medicines to treat

Herpes zoster is treated with the following medicines that can reduce pain and inflammation:

• Pain medicines (aspirin or acetaminophen) will help reduce pain;
• Anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen or naproxen) will also help with pain;
• Antivirals will help stop the rash from spreading;
• Antibiotics prevent the spread of infection;
• Antidepressants may be used to relieve pain left after shingles.

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3.Home remedies for herpes zoster

You can take the following steps to take care of herpes zoster yourself: provide air access. If the pain prevents you from sleeping, it is recommended to apply an elastic bandage to the affected area;

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4. How can the disease be prevented?

In 2006, the first vaccine against herpes zoster appeared. Vaccination is recommended for all people over 50. The vaccine reduces the risk of the disease by up to 50%. If you still get shingles, it will significantly reduce the period of the disease.

Diseases

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Complaints and symptoms

• rashes on the face
• rashes on the body
• rashes on the genitals
• redness and peeling
• itching and burning
• appearance of neoplasms on the skin

If you experience these symptoms, it may be a signal of illness, so we recommend that you consult with our specialist.

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Diagnostics

• Dermoscopy
• Luminescence
• Diascopy
• Scraping (scratching)
• probe probe needle puncture
• Biopsy

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Our prices

• Consultation with a dermatologist – 3000 rubles.
• Removal of neoplasms up to 5 mm in diameter – from 300 rubles.
• Examination of the skin under magnification (dermatoscopy) – 500 rubles

We try to promptly update price data, but in order to avoid misunderstandings, please check prices at the clinic.

This price list is not an offer. Medical services are provided on the basis of a contract.

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Shingles: answers to frequently asked questions about the disease

It’s better to have chickenpox… never. Shingles, a dangerous pathology characterized by a long course and one of the most intractable pain syndromes, postherpetic neuralgia, can become a distant consequence of a “childhood” disease.

Shingles affects 10-20% of people with a history of chickenpox. Of particular concern to scientists is the manifestation of the disease (the appearance of severe symptoms) in people who have recently had coronavirus. So, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in July 2020, 18 of 88 patients with COVID-19painful skin rashes similar to chickenpox were recorded on the eighth day of the disease.

What is herpes zoster

Herpes zoster (TS) is a viral disease of the skin and structures of the nervous tissue that occurs due to the reactivation of Varicella Zoster, the varicella-zoster virus, in the body. After chickenpox, the virus in a latent, “sleeping” state remains in the nerve nodes of a person for life and is reactivated with a reduced immune status, more often in old age.

How shingles is transmitted

Herpes zoster (syn. shingles) is a secondary infection that occurs only in people who have previously had chickenpox. Virus activation usually occurs against the background of a weakening of the cellular link of immunity and exposure to adverse factors, such as:

• Hypovitaminosis
• Taking hormonal drugs
• Radiation or chemotherapy
• Blood diseases, diabetes, oncology

More prone to shingles recurrence are women, as well as carriers of the interleukin gene mutation and the elderly – for example, among adults aged 85 years, 50% of people have experienced at least one episode of the disease. And in patients with immunodeficiencies, in particular with HIV, the risk of reactivation of type 3 herpes increases 20 times compared with people with a normal immune status.

What does herpes zoster look like?

Herpes zoster is characterized by vesicular, clustered rashes on one side of the body. Rashes on the skin are of varying intensity – from a mild form in the form of separate vesicles, to severe disseminated, in which a vesicular rash spreads throughout the body on both sides.

Often the disease begins with fever, general intoxication, itching and burning of the skin, pain around the eyes and nose.

How to anesthetize herpes zoster

The main symptom of herpes zoster, which distinguishes it from other infectious diseases with skin manifestations, is pain, which can occur both before the appearance of rashes and after they have healed. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed by the doctor for pain relief.

A common complication of herpes zoster is postherpetic neuralgia, a severe pain syndrome that lasts at least 120 days. Pain can disturb a person for several months and even years after recovery. Postherpetic neuralgia develops predominantly in the elderly – for example, about 50% of cases are recorded in patients over 60 years of age.

Treatments for herpes zoster

The treatment regimen for Varicella Zoster infection includes antiviral and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In postherpetic neuralgia, a neurologist additionally prescribes antidepressants and anticonvulsants.

The best prevention for the development of herpes zoster in adulthood is vaccination against chickenpox – both children and adults who have not previously been in contact with this infection.

Which doctor treats herpes zoster

The treatment of herpes zoster is the responsibility of a dermatovenereologist. In the case of shingles, it is important to consult a doctor no later than 3 days after the onset of pain and rash: the sooner antiviral therapy is prescribed, the easier the disease goes. Consultation with a dermatologist can be obtained at the VIRTUS Institute – rare and chronic skin diseases are our specialty.

Can you wash shingles?

A rash with herpes zoster cannot be wetted – if the vesicles are damaged, an infection can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, which will require additional antibiotic therapy. It is recommended to perform minimal hygiene procedures, change underwear daily, and wash bedding after the patient at high temperatures and be sure to iron it.

How long does shingles last?

Varicella Zoster is characterized by a protracted course – up to 3-4 weeks. With a mild form of the disease, which is treated on an outpatient basis (at home), the vesicles on the skin dry up 6-8 days after the first rash appears. In their place, scabs form, which soon fall off.

How long is shingles contagious?

The release of the virus into the environment occurs before the complete healing of the elements of the rashes on the patient’s body. The way of transmission of herpes type 3 is contact, the virus is released from vesicles with liquid on the skin. Interestingly, people without antibodies to Varicella Zoster (who previously did not have chickenpox), after contact with a carrier of herpes, become ill with an acute form of infection – chickenpox.

Where does shingles occur?

Herpes zoster predominantly appears on one side of the body, along the nerves involved in the inflammatory process. Also, a viral infection can spread to one of the branches of the trigeminal nerve – the eye, and cause ophthalmic herpes zoster.