What is shingles?
Shingles is a viral disease that usually affects older adults and is caused by the varicella zoster virus.
What are the symptoms of shingles?
Shingles causes clusters of blisters to erupt in a strip or band on one side of the body. The eruption is preceded, accompanied or followed by pain and/or burning, the intensity of which can vary.
Shingles can appear anywhere on the head and body, but often occurs in the area from the vertebrae to the abdomen. However, the rash will only appear on one side of the body, the left or right.
Shingles lesions are very similar to those of cold sores (herpes simplex).
The blisters appear in a linear strip, accompanied by varying degrees of pain and burning.
The blistered rash lasts for about three weeks, but the associated pain can last for months depending on the age and general health of the individual.
Only for children who have not yet had Chickenpox.
How to treat shingles
The shingles infection clears up on its own within 15-20 days in healthy individuals who have no other debilitating illnesses. Individuals with underlying health conditions may need antiviral drugs such as acyclovir to help cure shingles.
The blistered rash can be treated with Astringent Gel which helps to dry out blisters, reduce inflammation and prevent irritation caused by burning sensations. Astringent Gel also reduces itchiness and the subsequent impulse to scratch the lesions, which helps cut the risk of infection
Treatment
- Apply Astringent Gel, three times a day, to the affected areas in a small amount with a lot of massage.
- As shingles is not bacterial, avoid using antibiotic creams which will not help fight the virus that causes the condition.
- Do not use moisturizing creams, which can macerate blisters, increasing the risk of infection.
- Avoid bathing and showering to reduce excess moisture which could lead to infection.
- To keep the skin as dry as possible, cleanse the affected area “in pieces”. Alternatively, dry wash the affected area with benzalkonium chloride aqueous solution.
Showering and bathing can be resumed after the last scabs have fallen off.
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