Shingles: Self-Care

     As stated in my previous blog post, shingles can be treated through the administration of antiviral medications when early symptoms appear. In addition to taking the proper antiviral medication, there are other ways to help alleviate the pain and prevent further complications of shingles. 

     This blog post will highlight several different self-care procedures that you can use at home. Before we dive into this information, watch the following video to hear about one woman’s experience with shingles: Click Here

     I hope this video helps those who currently have shingles, or have experienced shingles, realize that they are not alone. The woman in the video also began speaking about some of the self-care procedures she used, which we will now discuss, in addition to other methods to help alleviate shingles pain!

 Shingles Self-Care Tips

 

 

Avoid scratching

Try to not scratch!

Do not scratch near rash sites. This will help prevent bacterial infection from occurring, as well as scarring. You can use antihistamines, such as Benadryl, and topical anti-itch creams to help lessen the itching sensation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use a compress

Use a cool compress

You can help dry blisters, and lessen the pain, by applying a cool compress to weeping blisters for 20 minutes throughout the day. Once the blisters are dry, you can stop using this method.

 

 

 

 

Keep clean and comfortable

Wear loose clothing to avoid rash irritation

Using mild soap and water, as well as petroleum jelly afterwards, can help keep the area clean and speed up the healing process. Wear comfortable loose clothing to prevent cloth from rubbing against and further irritating the rash.

 

 

 

Soothe your sores

Ease the pain

Calamine lotion can be applied after using a compress to help the discomfort of shingles rashes. Another interesting method is adding colloidal oatmeal, which is found in pharmacies and department stores, to help relieve the rashes. Cornstarch and baking soda can also help when applied to sores by helping them dry out and heal more quickly.

 

 

Take medication

Talk to your doctor about medication

Aside from the antiviral medications and prescription pain medications, consider talking with your doctor about being able to take nonprescription pain medications to help reduce pain from shingles. Some medicines include acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. You can also talk to your doctor about pain medication creams. You want to discuss adding any medications to your treatment plan with your doctor in order to avoid possible drug interactions and possible overdose of medication!

 

Relax

Do not stress!

Reducing stress levels is an important part of recovering from illness. WebMD notes that stress can impact your quality of life, and offers great tips to relieve stress by reading the following link: Click Here

     Remember,when experiencing shingles sores that are still weeping, it is important to avoid contact with anyone who has never had chickenpox. It is especially imperative to avoid contact with pregnant women who have never had chickenpox. Contact with open sores could pass the chickenpox virus along to those who have not previously had chickenpox. 

 

     For individuals who have already experience shingles but are now going through severe pain from postherpetic neuralgia, you should consult with your doctor about alternative treatment plans and the possibility of seeing a pain management specialist. Postherpetic neuralgia, as opposed to shingles itself, requires a different set of treatment methods.

     This link has an informative graphic that shows the progression of shingles: Click Here. According to Medline Plus, shingles blisters and pimples take about two to four weeks to heal. The pain caused by shingles can also last for about two to four weeks. By following the advice listed above, you can help aide your own recovery process. 

References

Shingles. (n.d.). NIHSeniorHealth:. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from

     

     http://nihseniorhealth.gov/shingles/treatment/01.ht

Shingles. (n.d.). Definition. Retrieved October 3, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org

     /diseases-conditions/shingles/basics/definition/con-20019574 

Shingles - aftercare: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). U.S National Library of 

     Medicine. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/

     patientinstructions/000560.htm

Shingles causes, symptoms, treatment - shingles symptoms and signs - 

     eMedicineHealth. (n.d.). eMedicineHealth. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from 

     http://www.emedicinehealth.com/shingles

Shingles center: symptoms, shingles rash pictures, vaccine, medication, causes, and tests. 

     (n.d.).  WebMD. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/skin-

     problems-and-treatments/shingles/default.htm

 Treatment for shingles blisters. (2013, October 24). LIVESTRONG.COM. 

     Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/15923-treatment-

     shingles-blisters/