Home Treatment for Shingles

Some people who had chicken pox as children may develop shingles later in life. Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of the chicken pox virus in the body. The virus usually affects one of the large nerves that spread outward from the spine, causing pain and a rash in a band around one side of the chest, abdomen, or face.

The symptoms of shingles develop in a pattern. First, there will be a tingling, burning, throbbing, or stabbing pain in the affected nerve. If the virus is affecting nerve in the chest wall, the pain may mimic that of a heart attack.

A rash, which develops into blisters, will appear two to three days after the pain begins. The blisters will dry up in a few days and will drop off in two to three weeks.

About half of people over 60 who get shingles experience lingering pain (post-herpetic neuralgia) in the affected nerve for months or years.

No one is sure what causes the chicken pox virus to become active again. Shingles may be more likely to develop when medications or illness have weakened a person’s immune system.

How to prevent Shingles

• If you have never had chicken pox, avoid exposure to people with shingles or chicken pox.
• A vaccine to prevent shingles has passed preliminary tests and may become available in the future.

Home Treatment for Shingles

1. Keep the blisters clean and dry to prevent infection.
2. Reduce the pain from your clothing rubbing against the blisters by taping cotton gauze over the blistered area.
3. You may apply a calamine lotion for soothing and cooling effect on inflamed tissue.
4. If the blisters become infected, clean them with hydrogen peroxide
5. Use aspirin or acetaminophen to control minor pain.
6. Avoid contact with children, pregnant women, and adults who have never had chicken pox until the blisters have completely dried.

Important Note:

• If your shingles pain is more than you can stand, see your doctor immediately

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