SHINGLES

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.

Where does shingles appear on the body?

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.

How is it recognized?

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.

How long does shingles last?

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.

Is it contagious?

Only for children who have not yet had Chickenpox.

How to treat shingles

The shingles infection typically resolves on its own within 15–20 days in healthy individuals without other debilitating conditions. In such cases, specific antiviral medications prescribed by a dermatologist may be necessary.

As for the skin symptoms, these can be alleviated with Dermasana, which, thanks to its Aluminum Chloride content with astringent, soothing, and cleansing properties, helps promote the drying of vesicles and reduces skin discomfort such as burning and itching.

Treatment

Apply Dermasana in small amounts to the affected areas three times a day, massaging gently.

TO AVOID

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.