Shingles Treatments Bordering On The Cure

Is there actually a shingles cure?—not exactly. However, there are treatments that run a close second to being called cures. To understand what shingles is—it is a condition caused by the same virus as chicken pox. When you first contract chicken pox virus it causes chicken pox—the next time this same virus emerges, it is referred to as shingles. Primarily, the only way to treat a virus is an antiviral drug. These medications are to be taken about four or five times a day and are to be taken consistently before they will be effective. Now, another form of medication that is used in treating shingles is pain killer drugs. Shingles is extremely painful as well as unsightly and inflammatory.

In most cases when a person is looking for an effective shingles cure, antiviral medication can act as a symptom reliever as far as helping the blistered skin to diminish and restoration of new cells to repair damaged, scarred skin. The symptoms of shingles will not last as long if you begin your medication within the first 72 hours after you know you are afflicted with shingles. Also, if you do not start your shingles antiviral drugs promptly and stay with it, complications could arise like postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). If you should acquire this added shingles complication during your shingles illness period, you may have to take nerve pain drugs, including antidepressants, anti seizure medication, capsaicin cream, or a lidocaine patch. Now, the pain killers which range from mild over the counter drugs to more potent prescription drugs are very effective in providing relief. Shingles cure for pain relief is mild medications such as acetaminophen, over the counter inflammation medicine like ibuprofen, napoxen, and ketoprofen. For the more prominent pain, a doctor may prescribe a strong NSAID or narcotic pain reliever. The harsher medications will aid in the relief of pain, discomfort, itching, rash, and inflamed skin.

There is also a form of shingles that spreads through the fade area to the eye. You may need to see an ophthalmologist for this—your physician will tell you whether you need the ophthalmologist.

There are certain precautions to take if you should acquire shingles—don’t be around other people until your blisters are gone, as the leaky blisters are contagious. People can catch chicken pox if they come in contact with your shingles blisters. Stay away from sick people, pregnant people, children, babies, and people with a weak immune system. The Food and Drug Administration has approved a vaccine that helps to prevent shingles. It is not a shingles cure once you have it, but you can avoid shingles if you take the vaccine. The vaccine is called Zostavax. Now, this medication may not prevent shingles from recurring if you have already had it once. The medicine is most often administered to adults 60 or older. It will likely work to prevent shingles if you’ve never had chicken pox or shingles before. Covering your shingles blisters also helps to prevent the spreading of the disease to others.