Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the virus, varicella-zoster. Varicella-zoster is the same virus that causes chickenpox. As with most viruses, there is no cure. Once you contract a virus, you may experience a round of symptoms, and, even when the symptoms subside, the virus lays dormant in your nerve cells until stimulated. If you have had chickenpox, varicella-zoster is laying dormant in your body, and it can be reactivated as shingles. There is no cure for shingles, but there are steps you can take to treat symptoms you may be experiencing.
Step 1
Use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream such as Neosporin, Calamine lotion or oral antihistamine such as Benadryl to relieve itching associated with shingles.
Step 2
Wash blisters from shingles twice a day with soap and warm water to remove any dirt that may infect or cause any further skin irritation.
Step 3
Mix 1 ounce of vinegar with 32 ounces of cold water and use clean towels to make cool compresses. Apply compresses to skin three times per day.
Step 4
Take a cool bath. Mix in baking soda, uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal such as Aveeno.
Step 5
Eat pineapple of papaya. These fruits contain proteolytic enzymes, which reduce inflammation and, because they are all natural, do not have the same side effects as drugs used to treat shingles.
Step 6
Use a cream with capsaicin. Capsaicin reduces the presence of substance P, a neurochemical that transmits pain.
Member Comments