Silver, especially colloidal silver, is often promoted as a cure-all for a variety of diseases including herpes, HIV and shingles. According to Dr. Brent A. Bauer at the Mayo Clinic, however, silver is not an effective treatment for any of these conditions. Shingles is caused by the same varicella-zoster virus that gave you chickenpox as a child. In up to 20 percent of people over age 55 the virus reactivates itself, causing an outbreak of painful lesions. If your symptoms include burning pain followed by a rash, see your health provider as soon as possible to begin a treatment plan.
Step 1
Discuss the shingles vaccine with your health provider. Even if you've already had shingles, the vaccine helps prevent future outbreaks and reduces the severity of the disease. The vaccine is currently available to adults age 50 and over.
Step 2
See your doctor as soon as possible if an outbreak occurs. Your doctor will prescribe antiviral medications to help your body overcome the virus. Patients who receive treatment within the first three days of an outbreak have a lower chance of ongoing nerve pain after the rash has disappeared.
Step 3
Take over-the-counter pain medications such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen according to your doctor's instructions. If the pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe a narcotic pain medication. These medications will not reduce the severity of the outbreak, but will help make you more comfortable until it subsides.
Step 4
Apply topical antibiotic medications to the rash or lesions. Your doctor may prescribe calamine lotion while open sores are present, then change the prescription to capsaicin cream as the lesions crust over and begin to heal.
Tips and Warnings
- Build up your immune system with a good diet, exercise and rest. Shingles strikes the immune-suppressed and elderly. Discuss all alternative treatment plans with your health provider to ensure that they do not interfere or react with the prescription antiviral and antibiotic medications.
- Avoid contact with pregnant women, immune-compromised individuals and family members who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. You are contagious and can transmit the virus. If your symptoms do not improve, contact your health provider immediately. You may need a different combination of medications. Capsaicin cream may cause a burning sensation in sensitive people; use with caution. Up to 15 percent of shingles patients develop postherpetic neuralgia, indicated by ongoing pain after the rash has disappeared. Quick treatment with antivirals helps mitigate this condition. If you develop a watering rash with blisters over a large area of your body, call your health provider. Shingles can affect your internal organs and joints if not treated promptly. An ophthalmologist may be required if shingles affects your face and eyes. Blindness may result.
Things You'll Need
- Shingles vaccination
- Antiviral medications
- Pain medications
- Topical antibiotic medications
References
- Mayo Clinic; Colloidal Silver: Is It Safe or Effective?; Brent A. Bauer, M.D.; September 2009
- The Ohio State University Medical Center: Shingles
- HealthWise; Shingles; Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, et al.; March 2009
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: FDA approves Zostavax Vaccine to Prevent Shingles in Individuals 50 to 59 Years of Age; March 2011
