Most individuals have been affected by Chicken pox at least
once in their lifetime. Chicken
pox is caused by a virus and goes away in its due course. However
in some individuals this virus remains dormant in the system and in later life
can grow up to cause a viral infection affecting the skin called Shingles. This virus can become active when it interacts
with certain elements in the environment or when the individual contracts a
certain illness and has a weakened immune system. The virus that causes shingles is known as
Varicella zoster virus,
which can also spread through contact with the fluid that oozes out of the
rash. Shingles can be very painful and
need immediate treatment else can affect the individual’s day to day
working.
Shingles
appears on the body as rashes which can be painful. It creates a burning sensation
as it starts and may also have symptoms like fever,
headaches, body aches and skin discomfort.
In the beginning shingles are characterized by red colored rashes which
eventually develop into blisters which are filled with fluid. Shingles can
develop anywhere on the body but is mainly found around regions like the waist,
torso and the back. Since shingles is
caused by a virus attack, the general course of treatment includes anti-viral
medicines. These medicines not only help in curing the disease but also help in
pain management; symptoms associated with this disease.
Medications for treating Shingles
In most cases of shingles, the prescribed medication consists of antivirals that must be consumed within 72 hours of observing the first signs of shingles. The antivirals prescribed are drugs such as acyclovir, valtrex, Famvir etc. Most of these medications are for oral consumption. There are a number of pain killers that are prescribed such as ibuprofen that are OTC drugs, but must be suggested by the doctor. Topical medications that include certain classes of antibiotic drugs are also suggested for a faster recovery. Medications are the best way to quickly curb the infection from spreading and reduce the effects of the symptoms for the patients.
Can home remedies treat shingles?
There are no proven home remedies that can cure shingles;
however there are a number of treatments done at home which can bring about
relief to the patients. There are also a
number of home remedies that can provide relief to patients suffering from
shingles. The benefit of natural
treatment methods is that they come with no side effects unlike medications.
• Cool
showers: Taking a cool shower or soaking
your body in a tub of cool water can help in bringing relief from painful
shingles. The water should be just about the temperature that your body is
comfortable in. Too hot or too cold waters could react to your body making the
symptoms worse. After the bath, make sure the body is dried well with a towel
that is clean and well sanitized. Post
drying it is important to wash the towel that comes in contact with the
infected skin and sanitize it by soaking it in some clothes sanitizer.
• Lotions: No we are not talking about the cosmetic
lotions here. Not all lotions can work in healing shingles What you need is soothing calamine lotions
that are cooling and help in reducing the itching sensation that can be very irritating
on the infected skin. After a cool bath or a compress it is important to apply
a soothing calamine lotion to prevent the rash from drying further
.
• Up
your lysine content: Lysine is a
compound that is found in proteins, a number of vegetables and dairy products. Shingles
causing virus are normally impaired by the lysine compound and hence it s
highly recommended for patients to consume foods that are rich in amino acids
and lysine. Some of these foods include:
meats, fish, eggs, milk, pineapples, pears, green beans, asparagus, apricots,
avocados etc. Another compound called Arginine present in human body affects
the shingles virus, but positively. Excess of arginine present in the body
makes it comfortable for the virus to dwell in the body. Arginine is also derived by body through
various foods such as: Tomatoes, pecans, blackberries, sugars, chocolates,
peanuts, blueberries and cashews.
Persons suffering from shingles must avoid these foods to reduce the
level of arginine in the body thereby making the virus weaker.
• Apple
cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is an
excellent home remedy to treat multiple skin related issues. It is particularly
found beneficial in treating skin infections and rashes and helps in killing
the infection. It acts as a natural antiseptic helping the skin improve faster
and preventing the spread of the infection. For this treatment a piece of
cotton cloth must be dipped in apple cider vinegar. A pinch of cayenne pepper
must be sprinkled over the infected area and then covered with the damp cloth
dipped in vinegar. When done repeatedly,
this process can help to fasten the recovery time and heal the infection
better. The problem of itching due to
excessive dryness is also taken care of by this remedy.
• Wet
compress: Hot or cold wet compress helps
in a big way to bring relief from the pain.
A towel or cloth should be soaked in hot o cold water, squeezed out well
and kept on the infection. One must take care the water should not to too hot
to burn the skin or keeping a ice pack that is too cold is also not advisable.
Management of Shingles
While the medicinal drugs and certain home remedies can help in pain relief and reducing the impact of the symptoms, there are a few self care tips to be kept in mind by the patients for effective management of Shingles and its control it from spreading:
• Maintain
hygiene: This primarily means to take
good care of the rash to prevent it from spreading. The rash area should be kept clean and as dry
as possible. Using an antiseptic to clean the area helps in reducing the chances
of the infection spreading. Keeping the area dry is also essential to prevent
other forms of infection from thriving on the infected area.
• Avoid
scratching: The blisters
and sores upon drying can get very itchy creating a natural instinct to
scratch. However, when these are left alone they tend to fall out by themselves. Scratching can lead to further infection to
spread.
• Using
OTC drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
can help in pain management. However
these drugs must be consumed in consultation with the treating doctor.
• Application
of topical creams that can fasten the healing process of the affected area.
