As always talk to your doctor before you try over the counter creams and lotions. Even though some of the natural herb remedies can be helpful for your Shingles pain, knowing when and how to you use them is important.

Whether this is your first bout with Shingles or it is a recurrence, make sure you are keeping up with the latest treatments. Since the discovery of the Shingles vaccine, technology is helping to find new ways to help those with the Shingles virus, and those that may be suffering with Postherpetic neuralgia . The condition is actually pain that has lingered on after the rash and blisters have healed. So lets take a look at some of the creams and lotions available to help with Shingles.

Shingles Treatment Cream and Lotions

• Calamine lotion contains both iron oxide and zinc oxide which aids in its ability to soothe shingles outbreak. Its available over the counter, so no prescription is needed. To apply, generously spread the lotion on the rash with a cotton ball. Also available over the counter is capsaicin, which is a cream used to relieve pain after the rash has healed. Capsaicin decreases the substance P, which sends pain signals to the brain.
• Burow’s Solution is an aluminum-acetate astringent that is best for shingles that develop blisters. It comes in packets which are then mixed with water to create cream or paste. For more severe cases, you can mix up to three packets to create a stronger remedy and has shown to be a very effective Shingles treatment cream.
• Licorice root is an herbal gel that can be used for pain and to prevent the spreading of the virus. St. John’s Wart oil is another herbal treatment for shingles because of its anti-inflammatory properties. However, St. John’s Wart oil should not be applied if the skin is broken due to its ability to irritate blisters. Both of these remedies can be found in an herbal store.
• Licodaine, only available by prescription, is a gel that numbs the infected area providing relief from pain and itching. This cream is not intended for facial use. Its also available in a spray for easier application.
• Iren 100% Natural Shingles Cream is a topical solution safe for all skin types. All the ingredients are natural, thus eliminating any adverse side effects. It relieves itching, pain, discomfort and inflammation. Results from the cream are typically seen in a week. This is because of its ability to heal faster. It penetrates deep in the pores and prevents future shingle disorders if used as a preventive care method. It is applied with the fingertips up to five times a day.

The healing process takes time, so know in advance that for most people it takes a couple of weeks or months for the scaring and pain to go away. You can always get a nurse or aid to help, but hopefully you have someone to help you apply the Shingles treatment cream and ointments.

Capsaicin cream has been used for years to treat any number of ailments including shingles. Capsaicin is the active ingredient found in chili peppers that is sometimes used for postherpetic neuralgia. This substance has an analgesic effect when applied to the skin because it depletes a substance P, a neurochemical that transmits pain. However, side effects can include burning or stinging at the infected area. Furthermore, you should try to wear disposable gloves and not use around the eye or broken skin when applying.

Proteolytic enzymes, enzymes produced naturally in the pancreas, are also used to treat shingles. These enzymes help digest protein. There are supplements derived from animal pancreas, papaya and pineapple and available from many sources. However, these enzymes, particularly the bromelain and papain derived from pineapple and papaya respectively, should not be used in conjunction with aspirin, blood thinners and wafarin. Side effects may include allergies and digestive upset, particularly from those who have allergies from papaya and pineapple.

You may also try other methods such as tai chi to help build the immune function or the elderly population most susceptible to shingles. The affliction is more common in older adults between 60 and 80 with weakened immune systems. Symptoms may include chills, fever and headache as well as burning, itching, numbness, pain and tingling followed by a red rash accompanied by fluid-filled blisters on one side of the chest, face or neck.

Trying to find natural remedies for Shingles may seem like common sense, but most doctors know that the virus needs to run its course. What most people will get will be some time type of relief from the Shingles symptoms that will need to be prescribed by your Doctor and the picked up as a prescription.

The use of hynosis to help with the mental stress may relieve some of the overall tension that accompanies Shingles. Acupuncture and Herbal treatments have also been known to be part of a holistic approach to natural remedies for Shingles, as well as eating a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables to get plenty of natural vitamins.

Simply applying ice can go a long way in reducing the discomfort that sufferers feel. Though the relief will not be permanent, it can provide a welcome break from the suffering. It should be noted that experts would recommend that ice packs should not be allowed to rest on the skin for long stretches of time, so follow a schedule in which you apply ice for twenty minutes at a time, and then allow your skin to recover for the twenty minutes that follow. While ice can help reduce the unpleasantness, heat will generally make the condition more uncomfortable, so avoid applying heat to an affected area whenever possible.

Shingles Pain Relief From Over The Counter Drugs

You do not need a prescription when you buy over the counter medications for shingles pain relief that can also help to dull the itch and burning sensations. These medications will rarely be enough to completely eliminate that pain that most sufferers deal will, but they can take the edge off and make it possible to sleep or carry on with your regular duties. If you are taking prescription medications for any reason, you should consult with your doctor before starting a regimen of over the counter drugs on your own.

The pain that is associated with shingles is one of the least pleasant aspects of the disease. For many the blisters and rash that accompany the virus can be very disturbing and uncomfortable. When the bumps are visible on the arms, face, hands or feet it may become a little embarrassing for the sufferer. When you have Chickenpox as a child it seems to be part of childhood and is expected, but when you have it most people have not seen the symptoms of shingles and are a little confused and scared about it until they are educated about the virus.

Acupuncture for shingles pain relief has been able to help some people who do not want to deal with some of the more popular painkillers that contain opiates and may find them uncomfortable to digest.

Another alternative way to treat the pain from Shingles is with hynosis. Although not as widely accepted, hypnosis has shown to help with relaxing the body and mind and this can lead to shingles pain relief.

The truth is, varicella-zoster never fully leaves the body, even if you had chickenpox years ago. The main thing that would cause it to act up is a weakened immune system (often the product of aids or cancer) or high levels of anxiety, among others. It often results in extremely painful blisters, as well as fevers, headaches, and in very rare instances, organ failure and death. However, by far the most common side effects are painful rashes and blisters, and if you are infected with it, it is imperative that you get it looked at immediately.

Is Shingles Contagious – Yes

However, it is not contagious-at least, not directly. In other words, if someone comes in contact with an open blister of someone who has herpes zoster, they can contract varicella-zoster, and thus get chickenpox. However, Shingles is only produced by the varicella zoster already in you, and therefore you cannot get it from someone else. Therefore, if you have already had chickenpox, you really cannot get anything.

However, if you do get this virus, keep in mind that down the road, this can lead to shingles. Therefore, you cannot directly contract shingles from someone, but it can happen down the road as a result of the virus. Just make sure you avoid close contact with anyone with the disease, and you will be safe, since you have to actually touch them to get the virus. In other words, if you are wondering is Shingles contagious, the answer is yes, eventually.

Shingles is less contagious than chickenpox and the risk of a person with shingles spreading the virus is low if the rash is covered.

If you have Shingles then you need to…..

• Make sure to keep the rash covered and protected from being touched.
• Try not touch or scratch the rash no matter how much it itches.
• You need to wash your hands often to help stop the spread of the varicella zoster virus and prevent getting others infected.
•Until your rash has developed crusts, you need to avoid contact with
any pregnant women who have not had the chickenpox and varicella vaccine.

You try to stay away from……

• Premature or low birth weight infants; and
• Immunocompromised persons (such as persons receiving immunosuppressive medications or undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, and people with HIV infection).

You may be able to infect people with the chickenpox virus which will lower their immune system and can make their current situation worse. The answer to the question Is Shingles Contagious
is more that yes, Chickenpox is contagious, which is the virus that leads to Shingles in some people, so indirectly you can give someone the virus that may enventually lead to Shingles, but they will not get Shingles Symptoms until they have at least had the Chicken Pox onetime.

People who are at risk are those who have had chickenpox. It is the chickenpox virus becoming reactivated that caused the trouble and it does not matter how long ago a person had chickenpox. This is another good reason to have children vaccinated against the illness. Shingles happen most often in people older than fifty do, but it is not unheard of in younger people. High stress cans reactivate the virus, as can changes in the body that are related to ageing. Illness or drugs that suppress the immune system also allow the virus to resurrect and attack. If you lose a lot of weight quickly by reducing your daily calorie intake this has also shown to trigger the virus by lowering your immune system.

Treat The Symptoms Of Shingles Recurrence Early

Shingles and shingles recurrence has no cure, but treatments can ease the suffering and lessen the risk of complications. Antiviral medicines help reduce the length of infection and ease the pain. Other pain medicines like creams and even antidepressants can help. It is important to get treatment as quickly and as aggressively as possible. If people wait to long, the problems are more resistant to treatment and there can be more problems. About half who get postherpetic neuralgia do not respond very well or at all to treatment. At least today there is a vaccine called Zostavax, however it currently only works about half the time.

The latest results show that about five percent of previous sufferers may have the virus comeback. If you start to feel the symptoms of Shingles starting then you need to contact your doctor right away so they can begin to deal with the Shingles recurrence before it gets to far into the attack.

Home remedies for shingles include taking a pain reliever, like naproxen, ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to ease pain and reduce inflammation. Anti-itch cream and calamine lotion can relieve itching. An over-the-counter, oral antihistamine like Benadryl can also relieve itching.

Wrapping a cold or cool icepack around your infection can cool your skin and ease burning. To relieve skin discomfort, combine a half-cup of apple cider vinegar and two cups of water and dab on the infected area. To keep skin from becoming too dry, combine aloe vera gel, raw honey and leek juice and apply to the rash. Never rub an ointment on a shingles rash, rather, dab at the affected area with a clean cotton towel, rest as much as possible. Sleeping not only takes your mind off the discomfort, but helps rebuilt your immune system.

Shingles, caused a virus known as varicella-zoster, which is a viral infection characterized by a painful rash that can occur anywhere on your body. An active infection, also called herpes zoster virus, looks like a band of blisters and often appears on the trunk running from the center of the back to the chest or breastbone.

Because the same virus that causes chickenpox, if you have had chickenpox causes the condition, you can develop herpes zoster. It is believed that as you age, your immunity to the virus lowers, which raises your risk for developing the condition. Herpes zoster is more common in people with weak immune systems and adults. Like chickenpox, shingles is contagious, putting anyone who has not been infected with the chickenpox virus at risk. However, after exposure to the viral infection, the person will develop chickenpox, not shingles. People with a weak immune system, pregnant women and newborns should stay away from a person with an active breakout.

Anytime you have Shingles Symptoms it is important to contact your local doctor or hospital first. Even though you may want to use some home remedies for Shingles, keep in mind that you can do more damage than help if you do it wrong.

Shingles can be the result of contracting it from an infected person or from the awakening of the dormant virus in an individual whom had chicken pox but failed to develop immunity to it. The infection spreads to the ending of nerves, which then triggers a release of signals to the brain that are interpreted as severe pain, skin sensitivity, burning or itching. The Center For Disease Control now reports that 1 out of 3 people will develop the Shingles virus.

Why Does Shingles Hurt – The Onset

Typically, before the onset, there is a three or four-day period of chills, fever and general body aches including moderate to severe lower back pain. Then, pain in the affected areas begins as small blisters filled with fluid appear. These areas become extremely sensitive and painful and helps to answer the question why does Shingles hurt. Other symptoms include swollen lymph nodes that are tender, fatigue, muscular and joint aches, fever and headache. This unpleasant and painful phase lasts approximately seven to fourteen days.

Severe cases may last much longer and require aggressive treatment. In these extreme cases, it is not uncommon for the pain to continue weeks, months and even years after the blisters have faded away. The severity and duration of a shingles attack can be greatly reduced by the immediate start of anti-viral medications such as acyclovir, famcyclovir or valcyclovir. Anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, antidepressants and creams are often described for the aftercare treatment as well. Medications such as acetaminophen and NSAID, nonsteroidal-inflammatory drugs, can help with mild to moderate painful sensations. Narcotics may be needed for more severe cases and inflammation or shingles back pain.

You can try some Shingles pain relief treatments at home, but it highly recommended that you talk to your doctor before trying any home remedies. You could say that the question is not why does Shingles hurt as much as it would be how do I stop the pain from Shingles.

Because pregnancy alters your immune system’s strength and responsiveness, expectant mothers should be particularly cautious of this virus. VZV puts pregnant women at a high risk of developing Varicella pneumonia, a serious complication that can ultimately be fatal in some cases. An immunization shot (VZIG) should be administered to all women of childbearing age, and to non-immunized expectant mothers as early as possible in the pregnancy term as the unborn child is much more at risk early on in the term to help shingles and pregnancy. It is not necessary to stay away from infected persons and/or crowds if you have received VZIG treatment.

Shingles And Pregnancy – There Are Treatment Options

There are a number of treatment options for shingles that can be implemented by expectant mothers if the need arises. Famvir, Valtrex, and Zovirax are some examples of effective antiviral treatments that require a prescription from a doctor. When taken exactly as directed, they should not be harmful to the baby. There are also some over-the-counter (OTC) treatment options and home remedies that can help relieve symptoms associated with shingles. Antihistamines like Benadryl, calamine lotion, and pain killers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve itching and pain. Cool oatmeal baths and cold compresses can also soothe blisters and ease itchiness. Check with your doctor before taking any medications to assure utmost safety when dealing with shingles and pregnancy.

We have presented you with some information to help with any potential dangers, but you really should see your doctor or a local hospital to help with any Shingles Symptoms. Shingles and pregnancy is serious matter, so be responsible enough to take care of yourself and your baby.

Some of the more common medications that are excepted to be prescribed are Antiviral drugs. This is the way hospitals like to treat Shingles symptoms and the virus. To get the best results, you should start with these medications within 48-72 hours when the first sign of the shingles rash shows on your body. Some of the Oral antiviral medications that are common are, Acyclovir (Zovirax), Valacyclovir (Valtrex) and Famciclovir (Famvir).
Drugs for the pain from Shingles are usually needed once the virus has attacked the nerve endings. Narcotics, such as oxycodone may be prescribed as well as as some type of Tricyclic antidepressants, Anticonvulsants, Numbing agents such as lidocaine that can be used as a gel or cream.

On the more common ways to help relieve some of the pain of shingles is to take a cloth or towel and soap in ice water for a while and then go ahead and apply it right on top of the blisters or rash of squeezing it too much onto the skin. This ice water method can help to relieve some of the itching also in some of the pain that is created by the shingles virus attacking your nerves. If you have not already taken aspirin or over-the-counter pain relief medicine and you might want to try this, but before you do call your physician or Doctor and let them know that you’re going to be taking a pill to help you. They will let you know if this is recommended and more about how to treat Shingles facts.

How To Treat Shingles – Consult Your Doctor

Another option that may be available to you is to use some other anesthetic sprays and creams that are available at your local pharmacy or drug store. Always consult your doctor before you do, but if you’ve ever been affected with shingles, any type of pain relief is a welcomed. Be sure that when you apply the cream, or iced towels on the skin that you are careful to not pop open the blisters. For one thing this may leave some scarring in the effects of the virus are finally over, but more important you should know that the liquid that is released from the blisters contains some of the virus and it may be able to infect children or even adults who have not had the chickenpox.

One more way to try and relieve some of the pain from shingles would be to take some lemon balm tea and then let it soak in hot water for a while. Then when it is manageable if you get a compress and then where it is possible to apply the leaves to the parts of the body that have signs of the shingles blisters and where the patient has pain. It is reported that lemon balm tea can help to slow down the growth of the virus and help to prevent some of the scarring that can accompany any blisters that form because of the virus. These are some of the simpler ways that you can treat shingles at home, but you should always consult with your physician whenever you even think you might be under the attack of the virus. The research always continues on Shingles and your doctor will know the latest information and techniques on how to treat Shingles.

Those over 60 are highly encouraged to get the shingles vaccine unless there is a prior allergic reaction to gelatin, have a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS or leukemia, or have untreated tuberculosis. If the vaccine is not received, and the virus gets activated then it will cause a painful rash with fluid filled blisters, much like chickenpox, which will eventually scab over, signaling the end of its cycle. Doctors will prescribe some serious painkillers to relieve the pain, but prevention is always the best plan.

Unfortunately, Medicare does not currently cover the vaccine, but this may change, so those who do not have other insurance could be looking at a three hundred dollar injection to prevent the occurrence. However, those with insurance may pay as little as a doctor visit copay, which are typically twenty five to fifty dollars, to receive the booster. It is best to check with the insurance company to see what is covered in the policy. Most will want to cover a vaccination, rather than a potential hospital stay for the outbreak.

Shingles Vaccine Side Effects

With the shingles vaccine, you could experience redness, soreness, or itchiness around the injection site and it is recommended you take Tylenol to counteract these symptoms. If anything more severe than those is experienced, call the doctor right away.

To get up to date shingles information on the shingles vaccine here is a link to the Center For Disease Control – Herpes Zoster Vaccine Q&A (Shingles) webpage. This has the latest news about the vaccine and actually has shingles categorized as a preventable virus – Yeah!!

It seems that most vaccines have some type of side effect, but do not let the potential of a short term ailment stop you from getting the shingles vaccine. If you knew the pain of the virus attacking your nerve endings then getting the shingles vaccine would be a simple decision.