BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuShingles - aftercareHerpes zoster - treatmentShingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles is also called herpes zoster.ShinglesShingles is a painful, blistering skin rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. This is the viru...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersWhat to ExpectAn outbreak of shingles usually follows the following course: Blisters and pimples appear on your skin and cause pain. A crust forms over the blisters and pimples. In 2 to 4 weeks, the blisters and pimples heal. They rarely come back. Pain from shingles lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. You may have tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling, itching, burning, and a deep pain. Your skin may be very painful when it is touched. You may have a fever. You may have short-term weakness of certain muscles. This is rarely long term. To treat shingles, your health care provider may prescribe: A medicine called an antiviral to fight the virus A medicine called a corticosteroid, such as prednisone Medicines to treat your pain You may have postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) pain. This is pain that lasts longer than a month after symptoms of shingles start. PHNPostherpetic neuralgia is pain that continues longer than a month after a bout of shingles. This pain may last from months to years. Shingles is a p...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin Care and Itch Relief for ShinglesTo relieve itching and discomfort, try: A cool, wet compresses on the affected skin Soothing baths and lotions, such as colloidal oatmeal bath, starch baths, or calamine lotion Zostrix, a cream that contains capsaicin (an extract of pepper) Antihistamines to reduce itching (taken by mouth or applied to the skin) AntihistaminesAn allergy is an immune response, or reaction, to substances (allergens) that are usually not harmful. In someone with allergies, the immune respons...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Keep your skin clean. Throw away bandages you use to cover your skin sores. Throw away or wash in hot water clothing that has contact with your skin sores. Wash your sheets and towels in hot water. While your skin sores are still open and oozing, avoid all contact with anyone who has never had chickenpox, especially pregnant women. Managing PainRest in bed until your fever goes down.For pain, you can take a type of medicine called NSAIDs. You do not need a prescription for NSAIDs.Examples of NSAIDs are ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) and naproxen (such as Aleve or Naprosyn). If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or have had stomach ulcers or bleeding, talk with your provider before using these medicines. You may also take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for pain relief. If you have liver disease, talk with your provider before using it.You may be given a narcotic pain reliever. Take it only as directed. These medicines can:Narcotic pain relieverNarcotics are also called opioid pain relievers. They are only used for pain that is severe and is not helped by other types of painkillers. When u...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Make you sleepy and confused. When you are taking a narcotic, do not drink alcohol or use heavy machinery. Make your skin feel itchy. Cause constipation (not being able to have a bowel movement easily). Try to drink more fluids, eat high-fiber foods, or use stool softeners. Make you feel sick to your stomach. Try taking the medicine with food. When to Call the DoctorCall your provider if: You get a rash that looks or feels like shingles Your shingles pain is not well-managed Your pain symptoms do not go away after 3 to 4 weeksOpen ReferencesReferencesDinulos JGH. Warts, herpes simplex, and other viral infections. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide in Diagnosis and Therapy. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 12.Whitley RJ. Chickenpox and herpes zoster (varicella-zoster virus). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 136.AllVideoImagesTogSelf Care Shingles - aftercarePostherpetic neuralgia - aftercareRelated Information Review Date: 5/12/2022 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Shingles - aftercareHerpes zoster - treatmentShingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles is also called herpes zoster.ShinglesShingles is a painful, blistering skin rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. This is the viru...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersWhat to ExpectAn outbreak of shingles usually follows the following course: Blisters and pimples appear on your skin and cause pain. A crust forms over the blisters and pimples. In 2 to 4 weeks, the blisters and pimples heal. They rarely come back. Pain from shingles lasts for 2 to 4 weeks. You may have tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling, itching, burning, and a deep pain. Your skin may be very painful when it is touched. You may have a fever. You may have short-term weakness of certain muscles. This is rarely long term. To treat shingles, your health care provider may prescribe: A medicine called an antiviral to fight the virus A medicine called a corticosteroid, such as prednisone Medicines to treat your pain You may have postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) pain. This is pain that lasts longer than a month after symptoms of shingles start. PHNPostherpetic neuralgia is pain that continues longer than a month after a bout of shingles. This pain may last from months to years. Shingles is a p...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Skin Care and Itch Relief for ShinglesTo relieve itching and discomfort, try: A cool, wet compresses on the affected skin Soothing baths and lotions, such as colloidal oatmeal bath, starch baths, or calamine lotion Zostrix, a cream that contains capsaicin (an extract of pepper) Antihistamines to reduce itching (taken by mouth or applied to the skin) AntihistaminesAn allergy is an immune response, or reaction, to substances (allergens) that are usually not harmful. In someone with allergies, the immune respons...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Keep your skin clean. Throw away bandages you use to cover your skin sores. Throw away or wash in hot water clothing that has contact with your skin sores. Wash your sheets and towels in hot water. While your skin sores are still open and oozing, avoid all contact with anyone who has never had chickenpox, especially pregnant women. Managing PainRest in bed until your fever goes down.For pain, you can take a type of medicine called NSAIDs. You do not need a prescription for NSAIDs.Examples of NSAIDs are ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) and naproxen (such as Aleve or Naprosyn). If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, or have had stomach ulcers or bleeding, talk with your provider before using these medicines. You may also take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) for pain relief. If you have liver disease, talk with your provider before using it.You may be given a narcotic pain reliever. Take it only as directed. These medicines can:Narcotic pain relieverNarcotics are also called opioid pain relievers. They are only used for pain that is severe and is not helped by other types of painkillers. When u...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Make you sleepy and confused. When you are taking a narcotic, do not drink alcohol or use heavy machinery. Make your skin feel itchy. Cause constipation (not being able to have a bowel movement easily). Try to drink more fluids, eat high-fiber foods, or use stool softeners. Make you feel sick to your stomach. Try taking the medicine with food. When to Call the DoctorCall your provider if: You get a rash that looks or feels like shingles Your shingles pain is not well-managed Your pain symptoms do not go away after 3 to 4 weeksOpen ReferencesReferencesDinulos JGH. Warts, herpes simplex, and other viral infections. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif's Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide in Diagnosis and Therapy. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 12.Whitley RJ. Chickenpox and herpes zoster (varicella-zoster virus). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 136.