Shingles and food: Foods to Avoid During a Shingles Attack & What Foods May Help

10.07.202324.06.2023 by alexxlab

Foods to Avoid During a Shingles Attack & What Foods May Help

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Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, R.D., CDE, Nutrition — By Daniel Yetman — Updated on March 31, 2023

Eating nutrient-dense foods when you have shingles may support your body’s immune function. You may want to avoid processed foods and other foods that cause inflammation.

Shingles, sometimes called herpes zoster, is the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 99 percent of American adults born before 1980 have had chickenpox, but only about 1 in 3 adults develop shingles in their lifetime. The chance for developing shingles increases as you get older.

Shingles typically causes a painful rash on one side of your body or face. The CDC says the rash contains blisters that scab over after 7 to 10 days.

Avoiding foods that impair your body’s immune system may help you shorten the duration of your shingles outbreak.

Some believe that increasing your intake of the amino acid lysine and decreasing your intake of arginine may also help your body clear the virus faster, though more research is needed.

Keep reading to find out which foods you should avoid eating if you’re having a shingles outbreak.

If you’re experiencing shingles, it’s a good idea to avoid foods that can impair your immune function.

High glycemic carbohydrates

High glycemic carbohydrates quickly break down in your body and create a rapid spike in your blood sugar. Spikes in your blood sugar trigger the release of inflammatory molecules and free radicals, which can stress out your body.

Including too many high glycemic carbohydrates in your diet can potentially compromise your immune system and increase inflammation. Even a single high glycemic meal can promote increased inflammation.

Some examples of high glycemic foods include:

candies and sweets
cakes and baked goods
sugary drinks
sugary cereals
sugary sauces
ice cream
white bread
white rice

Highly processed foods

Highly processed foods are often high in salt, added sugars, and omega 6 fatty acids that may trigger inflammation and weaken your immune system.

Omega-6 fatty acids are essential, but most people get an excessive number in their diet. Omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation, while omega-3 fatty acids inhibit it.

There’s some research that excessively high salt intake may impair your immune system. In a 2015 study, a group of six men ate:

12 grams of salt for 50 days
9 grams of salt for 50 days
6 grams of salt per day for 50 days
12 grams of salt for the final 30 days

The researchers found that, when the participants ate 12 grams of salt per day, they had higher levels of a type of white blood cell called monocytes in their blood. They also had high levels of IL-23, IL-6 and lower IL-10. Altogether, these markers indicate excessive inflammation and immune response.

Examples of highly processed foods include:

sweetened cereals
high-fat chips and snack foods
sugary energy drinks and sodas
cookies, cakes, pies, and pastries
high-fat, low-fiber breads and crackers
deep-fried foods

Alcohol

Alcohol has the potential to impair almost every aspect of your health, including your immune system.

Most medications used to treat shingles don’t contain specific alcohol warnings. But it’s still a good idea to avoid mixing alcohol and medications as much as possible.

Nutrient-dense foods, especially foods high in zinc and vitamins A, B12, C, and E, can help support your immune system. Consuming lysine may also help inhibit the virus.

Lysine

Lysine is an amino acid that’s thought to inhibit the growth of some viruses, including herpes zoster.

Some people think eating a diet high in lysine may help treat shingles and other herpes viruses. At this time, there’s not enough evidence showing that increasing your intake of this amino acid can improve shingles symptoms.

More research is needed to understand the effects of lysine on shingles.

Foods high in zinc and vitamins A, B12, C, and E

Eating a well-balanced diet can help you prevent nutrient deficiencies that might weaken your immune system.

The following are particularly important for maintaining a healthy immune system:

zinc
vitamin A
vitamin B12
vitamin C
vitamin E

Here are some good sources for each nutrient.

Zinc	Vitamin A	Vitamin B12	Vitamin C	Vitamin E
red meat	egg yolks	clams	guava	sunflower seeds
shellfish	beef liver	sardines	parsley	almonds
chickpeas	salmon	beef	kale	salmon
eggs	sweet potato	fortified cereals	kiwi	rainbow trout
oysters	carrots	milk or fortified non-dairy milk	lemons	avocado

Complex carbohydrates

Switching simple carbohydrates for complex carbohydrates can potentially help you lower inflammation and improve your overall health.

Complex carbohydrates contain more fiber. And whole grains provide more nutritional value.

Some forms of complex carbohydrates include:

whole grain bread
brown rice
barley
quinoa
sweet potato
whole oats
whole grain pasta
whole grain couscous

There’s no cure for shingles. Usually, it’s treated with antiviral medications.

The following home remedies may help you manage symptoms:

Cold compress. Soak a cloth or towel in cool water and put it against your rash to help relieve itching and inflammation.
Oatmeal bath. An oatmeal bath may help soothe itchy patches and moisturize dry skin. Try mixing 1 cup of oat powder with lukewarm water, and soak in it for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Essential oils. You can try mixing about 15 drops of an essential oil with soothing properties — like chamomile, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil — with 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil — like coconut oil. Then apply it to your skin. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of essential oils to a warm bath.
Witch hazel. Witch hazel may help you reduce itchiness and inflammation. Witch hazel comes in different forms, like creams, gels, and sprays.
Calamine lotion. The CDC recommends applying calamine lotion to your rash to help manage shingles pain and itchiness.

Shingles is a reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox. It causes an itchy rash that’s typically on one side of your body or face.

Eating a balanced diet that’s low in high glycemic carbohydrates and processed foods can help your immune system fight off the virus.

There’s some research that decreasing arginine intake and increasing your lysine intake may help inhibit growth of the virus, but more research is needed.

Last medically reviewed on June 14, 2021

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

About shingles (herpes zoster). (2019).
cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html
Chi C, et al. (2015). Interventions for prevention of herpes simplex labialis (cold sores on the lips).
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6461191/
Iddir M, et al. (2020). Strengthening the immune system and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress through diet and nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 crisis.
doi.org/10.3390/nu12061562
Mailoo VJ, et al. (2017). Lysine for herpes simplex prophylaxis: A review of the evidence.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419779/
Yi B, et al. (2015). Effects of dietary salt levels on monocytic cells and immune responses in healthy human subjects: A longitudinal study.
doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2014.11.007

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Mar 31, 2023

Written By

Daniel Yetman

Edited By

Roman Gokhman

Jun 14, 2021

Written By

Daniel Yetman

Edited By

Roman Gokhman

Medically Reviewed By

Kathy Warwick, RD, LD

Copy Edited By

Jen Anderson

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Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, R.D., CDE, Nutrition — By Daniel Yetman — Updated on March 31, 2023

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Shingles

How is herpes zoster related to herpes zoster? Why can you get chickenpox from it? What to do to not get sick? We tell in detail in our article.

Shingles or herpes zoster is an acute viral disease. Its characteristic feature is unilateral skin rashes with severe pain.

Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, a member of the herpesvirus family. The one that causes chicken pox.

Varicella zoster virus causes two diseases: chicken pox (varicella) and shingles (zoster).

The herpes simplex virus also belongs to the same family of herpes viruses – the cause of the “cold” on the lips.

These viruses are different. And the diseases they cause are different.

All herpesviruses are able to go into a latent state, and then (sometimes years later) reactivate.

Clinically, in the case of herpes simplex, it looks like relapses of rashes that appear periodically in the same places. For example, an annoying “cold” on the lips, which worries us every winter (and some more often), but then suddenly behaves decently for years.

With shingles, everything is different.

Shingles is a secondary disease that occurs when the varicella zoster virus reactivates after chickenpox.

Varicella zoster virus infection causes chickenpox. Children usually get sick with it, but in rare cases, if a person first met him when he was already grown up, an adult can also get sick. After recovery, the virus remains in the body in a latent state and waits in the wings. By the way, can’t wait!

But in the case of severe stress, immune suppression, severe illness and other similar provocations, the Varicella Zoster virus reactivates, causing the formation of characteristic vesicles on the skin, similar to chicken pox rashes.

Shingles develops in 10-20% of patients who have previously had chickenpox.

Since the virus begins to multiply and migrate to the peripheral nerves during the reactivation process, skin lesions occur on the corresponding parts of the body. It is the participation of nerves in the development of the disease that is the cause of the pronounced pain syndrome.

The characteristic signs of herpes zoster are a unilateral lesion and severe pain.

Cases of adult infection from patients with herpes zoster are rare. Children who have not previously had chickenpox, after contact with patients with herpes zoster, can get chickenpox.

The onset of the disease is preceded by symptoms of general malaise: tingling, itching, paresthesia, pain along the nerve, and sometimes fever. Pain is especially pronounced when the rash is localized in the area of \u200b\u200bthe branches of the trigeminal nerve (on the face).

On the 2-5th day after the onset of pain in the lesion, skin changes appear: redness and swelling of the skin, grouped nodules that transform into round or oval vesicles with transparent contents. Most of the vesicles shrink into crusts, and some open with the formation of erosions and their subsequent epithelialization.

Drying, formation and falling off of crusts with herpes zoster last an average of 2-3 weeks.

In the case of herpes zoster, you do not need to self-medicate or wait for it to “go away on its own”. You should see a doctor as soon as possible. In the treatment of this disease, special antiviral and analgesic drugs are used, which quickly alleviate the patient’s condition, allow you to fully recover in the shortest possible time.

The treatment of herpes zoster is more effective the earlier it is started.

In conclusion, it should be noted that modern epidemiologists (see “MP 3.1.0224-20. 3.1. Prevention of infectious diseases. Epidemiological surveillance of infection caused by the Varicella Zoster virus. Guidelines”) consider herpes zoster as uncontrolled, secondary to varicella smallpox endogenous infection. Approaches to its specific prevention are only being developed.

Considering the connection of this disease with a weakened immune system, for the prevention of herpes zoster, it is advisable to adhere to universal, non-specific methods of preventing infections: lead a healthy lifestyle, eat rationally, find time for rest, spend enough time outdoors, avoid contact with patients with infectious diseases.

Take care of yourself and be healthy!

Herpes zoster: causes, symptoms and recommendations for the treatment of the disease. Dr. Peter

Directory of diseases

August 8, 2022

Shingles is the reactivation of chickenpox viruses remaining in the body after an infection in childhood. Typical of shingles is a belt-shaped rash of patches of redness and blisters that can be very painful and affect almost any part of the body. The contents of the blister are contagious.

Source:: iStockphoto

Shingles occurs mainly in immunocompromised people and in old age. Early treatment is important to prevent persistent nerve pain, so-called postherpetic neuralgia, or other complications. For this purpose, drugs are available that suppress the reproduction of the virus, and painkillers. Shingles vaccination with an inactivated vaccine is recommended for people over 60 years of age, for some risk groups even from 50 years of age.

Causes

The cause of shingles (herpes zoster) is infection with the varicella zoster virus (chickenpox). This virus belongs to the herpes virus family and can cause two distinct clinical presentations.

Varicella (chickenpox), a disease that most people suffer during childhood, may develop. When the chickenpox rash disappears, like other herpes viruses, it persists for life in the human body and settles in the cranial nerves and nerve roots of the spinal cord – the spinal and cranial ganglia.

Under certain circumstances, such as age and weakening of the immune system, varicella-zoster viruses begin to multiply again, migrate outward along the nerves to the skin. Herpes zoster develops in the zone of innervation of certain nerves into which viruses have previously penetrated. All parts of the body, the face, as well as such eyes, ears or brain may be affected.

The varicella-zoster virus (herpes zoster) occurs worldwide. Humans are the only known reservoir for these viruses. Chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads quickly. Viruses are transmitted by airborne droplets. In addition, the pathogen can be transmitted through contact with the virus-containing filling of blisters and crusts (contact route).

The virus only becomes active again under certain circumstances. This is especially true of temporary or disease-related immunodeficiency, as well as old age, which is also associated with a decrease in the protective functions of the immune system. Trauma, stress, UV radiation, and medications that weaken the immune system can also contribute to shingles. Sometimes shingles occurs spontaneously in young healthy people.

Herpes zoster symptoms

Signs of the disease appear locally. While chickenpox affects the entire body, the manifestations of lichen are belt-like, but one-sided, that is, asymmetrical, only on the area of the skin innervated by the affected cranial or spinal nerve.

Source:: iStockphoto

The first signs of the disease (prodromal symptoms) are usually malaise, possibly a slight increase in body temperature and one-sided, limited, sometimes burning pain in the corresponding area of the skin. Sometimes itching may also occur. About 80 percent of all patients with herpes zoster experience unilateral pain before typical skin changes appear.

In a limited area of the skin, redness first appears, then small bubbles appear on the reddened background, which appear in groups, and sometimes in the form of rosettes, sometimes they can be filled with blood. After a few days, the blisters burst and crust over. Sometimes they also leave scars and areas of discolored skin (pigmentation or depigmentation). It may take up to a month for the symptoms of shingles to disappear completely.

Some people develop persistent pain after prodromal symptoms, but no skin symptoms or blisters. In these cases, it is difficult to diagnose shingles, and then the doctor also thinks about other acute diseases, such as a heart attack, stomach ulcer, or herniated disc. They should be excluded with appropriate research.

Possible complications and risks

Although the varicella-zoster virus mainly affects the nerves of the thoracic and lumbar spine, and often also the nerves of the face, especially in the elderly, any other areas can be affected. In rare cases, severe forms of the disease occur. This occurs, in particular, with damage to the cranial nerves and the development of, for example, herpes zoster of the eyes (zoster ophthalmicus with eye damage) or ear (zoster oticus).

If the cornea or iris of the eye or, above all, the optic nerve is affected, permanent visual impairment and even blindness can occur. Shingles in the ear often leads to facial paralysis. This facial paralysis, along with possible other symptoms such as nerve pain, hearing loss, and dizziness, is also known as Ramsey-Hunt syndrome. Such paralysis of facial muscles sometimes occurs with herpes zoster in the neck. According to the latest data, with herpes zoster, a stroke may develop.

If the immune system is severely weakened, shingles can also spread to the entire skin and internal organs (disseminated lichen) and cause life-threatening complications. In very rare cases, inflammation of the meninges and brain develops (shingles meningitis and shingles encephalitis).

Diagnosis

Medicines that stop the varicella-zoster virus from multiplying work best when given early. Therefore, if you suspect shingles, you should not hesitate, but immediately consult a doctor who specializes in skin diseases. A doctor can usually diagnose shingles by asking the person (history) and identifying typical symptoms.

In unclear cases, laboratory tests are required to reliably detect varicella-zoster virus. With the help of such a laboratory method as PCR – polymerase chain reaction – in the vesicular or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), even tiny amounts of the genetic material of the pathogen can be detected.

If there is a suspicion that the eye or ear is affected, it is also wise to consult an appropriate specialist (ophthalmologist or otolaryngologist) in order to prevent possible complications such as hearing or visual impairment.

It is also important to clarify what led to the onset of the disease. If there are no obvious causes, it may be worth looking for diseases that do not initially cause any symptoms of their own, but nevertheless cause immunodeficiency, such as infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV infection should be excluded in patients with herpes zoster under 50 years of age.

How to treat shingles

Painkillers, drying and antiseptic solutions applied to the affected areas of the body can relieve the symptoms of shingles. Almost always, special drugs are needed to suppress the reproduction of the virus. The drugs can be administered as tablets or as an infusion through a vein.

These so-called antiviral drugs, for example with the active ingredients acyclovir, famciclovir, valaciclovir or brivudine, provide faster healing of blisters and may reduce the risk of post-herpetic neuralgia.

These drugs should be started within two to three days of the onset of symptoms in addition to pain relief and topical therapy. In patients younger than fifty who have only very mild symptoms of herpes zoster, such as in the chest area, antiviral therapy can sometimes be dispensed with. In elderly patients with zoster, especially in the head (zoster ophthalmicus with eye involvement and zoster oticus), as well as in patients with a weakened immune system, antiviral therapy through a vein is always preferable, since severe pain can be quickly controlled and complications avoided.

Early and adequate analgesic therapy is especially important to prevent the development of postherpetic neuralgia. Depending on the severity of the pain, treatment is initially given, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, or opioids. However, if persistent nerve pain occurs as a result of shingles, active ingredients such as pregabalin, gabapentin, desipramine, or amitriptyline, which are not actually painkillers, but belong to the group of antiepileptics or antidepressants, may help. This does not mean that people who take these drugs have epilepsy or depression. Postherpetic neuralgia has been found to be relatively well prevented and treated with these drugs.

Attention!

The information on this website is not a guide to self-medication. All materials are for reference only and do not replace a visit to the doctor. If any symptoms appear, you should contact a specialist.

References:

Robert Koch-Institut: Herpes-zoster-Impfung. Online: https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/Impfen/Materialien/Faktenblaetter/Zoster.