Sunday, March 24, 2024

Can You Get Shingles On Your Breast

What Are The Symptoms

Shingles: Pathophysiology, Symptoms, 3 stages of Infection, Complications, Management, Animation.

The first sign of shingles is often burning, sharp pain, tingling, or numbness in your skin on one side of your body or face. The most common site is the back or upper abdomen. You may have severe itching or aching. You also may feel tired and ill with fever, chills, headache, and upset stomach or belly pain.

One to 14 days after you start feeling pain, you will notice a rash of small blisters on reddened skin. Within a few days after they appear, the blisters will turn yellow, then dry and crust over. Over the next 2 weeks the crusts drop off, and the skin continues to heal over the next several days to weeks.

Because shingles usually follows nerve paths, the blisters are usually found in a line, often extending from the back or side around to the belly. The blisters are almost always on just one side of the body. Shingles usually doesn’t cross the midline of the body. The rash also may appear on one side of your face or scalp. The painful rash may be in the area of your ear or eye. When shingles occurs on the head or scalp, symptoms can include headaches and weakness of one side of the face, which causes that side of the face to look droopy. The symptoms usually go away eventually, but it may take many months.

In some cases the pain can last for weeks, months, or years, long after the rash heals. This is called postherpetic neuralgia.

Shingles: Symptoms And Effects Of Virus

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Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a condition that triggers a painful skin rash. It is caused by the same virus as chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus. After you recover from chickenpox , the virus continues to live in some of your nerve cells. Rashes are synonymous with the condition but what are the three sensations felt on the skin warning of your risk?

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Natural Treatments To Try

Natural treatments can also be used to sooth shingles and reduce itching under the breast, including:

  • Lukewarm colloidal oatmeal bath. Avoid using hot or cold water in your bath. Cold water can increase skin sensitivity, while hot water can increase pain and slow healing of the blisters.
  • Cool wet compresses. Apply cool compresses several times daily to cool skin.
  • Topically applied witch hazel. Apply using a spray bottle or use in a cool compress.
  • Baking soda paste. Mix baking soda with water until a paste-like consistency forms. Leave on the skin for up to 20 minutes. Rinse off with cool or warm water.

If youre over 50, the best way to prevent shingles is to get the shingles vaccine. At one time, the Zostavax vaccine was your only option, but it is no longer available.

The CDC currently recommends Shingrix . Its a two-dose vaccine that is more than 90 percent effective against shingles.

Reducing stress may also help. If you have a high-stress life or have experienced a stressful life event, strategies such as meditation, yoga, and exercise may help.

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How Does It Occur

If you have had chickenpox, you are at risk for later developing shingles. After you recover from chickenpox, the chickenpox virus stays in your body. It moves to the roots of your nerve cells and becomes inactive . Later, if the virus becomes active again, shingles is the name given to the symptoms it causes.

What exactly causes the virus to become active is not known. A weakened immune system seems to allow reactivation of the virus. This may occur with normal aging, immune-suppressing medicines, or another illness, or after major surgery. It can also happen as a complication of cancer or AIDS or treatment of these illnesses. Chronic use of steroid drugs may trigger shingles. The virus may also become active again after the skin is injured or sunburned. Emotional stress seems to be a common trigger as well.

What Is Postherpetic Neuralgia

Not Sure if it related to shingles, need your opinion : shingles

Sometimes, particularly in older people, shingles pain persists long after the rash has healed. This is postherpetic neuralgia, defined as pain lasting three months after onset of the rash. Pain can be mild or severethe most severe cases can lead to insomnia, weight loss, depression, and disability. There may be other sensations, such as tingling, coldness, or loss of feeling. About 20 percent of people age 70 or greater who develop shingles may have long-lasting pain. Postherpetic neuralgia is not directly life-threatening and may get better over time.

About a dozen medications in four categories have been shown in clinical trials to provide some pain relief for postherpetic neuralgia. These include:

Tricyclic antidepressants : TCAs are often the first type of drug given to people suffering from postherpetic neuralgia. The TCA amitryptiline was commonly prescribed in the past, but although effective, it has a high rate of side effects. Desipramine and nortriptyline have fewer side effects and are therefore better choices for older adults, the most likely group to have postherpetic neuralgia.

Common side effects of TCAs include dry eyes and mouth, constipation, and impaired memory. People with heart arrhythmias , previous heart attacks, or narrow angle glaucoma should usually use a different class of drugs.

Postherpetic itch

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How Long Does Shingles On The Scalp Last

Not every case of scalp shingles lasts for the same amount of time. It will depend on your immune health. Even in people with healthy immune systems, shingles can last for weeks.

Lets examine the different stages of shingles, and how long each lasts:

  • The first sign of scalp shingles is not visible. When shingles is about to begin, youll feel tingling, pain, and discomfort in a certain area of your scalp or face. Youll also feel unwell and may have a fever. This stage tends to last between two days and one week.
  • The second stage is the rash. Youll notice small red pimples appear on your head. Theyre usually surrounded by a pink, sore-looking area of skin. The rash will stay in this stage for around three to five days, as blisters start to develop.
  • After this point, the blisters will burst and turn into sores. You might find that the blisters fill with translucent fluid, pus, or even blood. This can be quite painful, and of course unpleasant to deal with. This stage may last for up to a week.
  • Eventually, the blisters will start to scab over. Once all the blisters have scabbed, theyll start to heal. This healing process will last between one and four weeks, on average. Once all the scabs have fallen off, your bout of shingles has ended.
  • So, from start to finish, shingles usually lasts anywhere from two to six weeks.

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    Symptoms Of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

    Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare and often aggressive form of invasive breast cancer. Unlike other common breast cancers, it often does not cause a breast lump. The symptoms of IBC appear when cancer cells block lymph vessels in the breast.

    Symptoms of IBC may include:

    • Swelling of the skin of the breast
    • A breast that looks red, inflamed or develops a rash
    • A breast that becomes swollen or enlarged compared to the other breast
    • Dimpling, pitting or thickening of the skin on the breast, so that it looks and feels like an orange peel
    • An inverted nipple

    Many of these symptoms are similar to a breast infection or inflammation . Because these conditions occur more frequently than IBC, your doctor may initially prescribe antibiotics if they suspect that you have an infection. However, if your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may consider other more serious causes, such as IBC, and more tests may be recommended to evaluate your symptoms.

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    Urgent Advice: Get Advice From 111 As Soon As You Suspect Shingles

    You might need medicine to help speed up your recovery and avoid longer-lasting problems.

    This works best if taken within 3 days of your symptoms starting.

    111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

    Go to 111.nhs.uk or .

    Get an urgent GP appointment

    A GP may be able to treat you.

    Ask your GP surgery for an urgent appointment.

    Other Conditions That May Cause A Rash Under The Breast

    How to treat shingles

    Other conditions may cause a rash under the breast. These may have symptoms that distinguish it from shingles. For example:

    Condition

    You cant get shingles unless youve already had chickenpox.

    Anyone who has had chickenpox, either as a child or adult, can get shingles.

    The varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox doesnt leave the body, even after the illness resolves. Instead, it lodges in the nerve endings located near the spine and brain. Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus becomes reactivated. The triggers for reactivation are not completely understood.

    Most people whove had chickenpox will not get shingles. Some people have additional risk factors which put them at increased risk. Others may get shingles, even though they do not have additional risk factors.

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    Risk Factors For Shingles

    Risk factors for getting shingles under the breast include:

    • Age. Shingles can occur at any age, but its most common in people over 50.
    • Weakened immune system. Conditions such as HIV/AIDS and cancer can weaken the immune system, making a person more prone to shingles.
    • Radiation and chemotherapy. Treatment for cancer can leave you immunosuppressed, making shingles more likely to occur.
    • Immunosuppression medication. If you have a transplanted organ such as a heart or kidney, the medications you take to avoid organ rejection may make you vulnerable to shingles. Steroids can also have this effect
    • Stress. Living with stress for an extended period of time may negatively affect the immune system, increasing risk.

    Its important not to scratch the rash. This can cause bacterial infections to form. To reduce itching, try oral or topical antihistamines.

    E Topical Ointments For Scabies And Eczema Treatment

    Topical medications are the most common prescriptions for getting rid of scabies and atopic dermatitis. Eczema occurs on an extremely dry skin. It can be relieved with a moisturizer. Your doctor may also prescribe a corticosteroid cream or ointment to reduce inflammation, redness and sore rashes under the breast.

    Topical creams that kill scabies mites may also be prescribed. The most commonly used are Permethrin cream, 5 percent, Crotamiton, and Ivermectin. Consult with your doctor as some of these are not safe for children and women who are nursing or are pregnant.

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    Vaccinations Can Help You Avoid Shingles

    The CDC recommends that individuals who are 50 years or older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix. Exceptions to this recommendation include pregnant women, people with a moderate or severe illness, those who currently have shingles and anyone allergic to the ingredients in the vaccine itself.

    Shingrix provides a safe, effective defense against shingles. After you are vaccinated, you may experience some side effects including swelling or pain at the injection site, upset stomach, fever, shivering, headaches, muscle pain and fatigue.

    Do you need to schedule the shingles vaccine or are you experience symptoms of shingles? Contact Nashville Healthcare Center for more information.

    This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. You should talk with your primary care physician or other qualified medical professionals regarding diagnosis and treatment of a health condition.

    You’re Getting Your Period

    I got SHINGLES for Summer! **Warning! Ugly pictures that might turn ...

    “Hormonal breast pain can happen to any woman that is menstruating,” Dr. Swain said. “It doesn’t matter if they’re 14 or 44 as long as they’re still menstruating, they have the risk of having cyclic breast pain.”

    According to Johns Hopkins Health, cyclical breast pain, or period-related breast soreness, is the most common reason for breast pain. The pain may be barely noticeable or so severe that bras and tighter clothing become bothersome.

    For some individuals, it’s enough to know that the pain will go away, usually in a week to ten days. Other individuals may seek relief through over-the-counter or prescription pain medications. For example, there is a Food and Drug Administration approved prescription drug for breast pain called danazol, but it can have serious side effects.

    Kaiser Permanente explained tamoxifen citrate has also been shown to be effective in treating severe breast pain. However, similar to danazol, its use is limited due to the possibility of significant side effects.

    Tweaking your diet may also limit menstrual breast pain: Eating more flaxseed might help, as can sticking to a low-fat diet that’s rich in complex carbs, Dr. Swain said.

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    Month Two To Three: Lingering Itch

    The lasting itch one can experience once the shingles rash clears is called postherpetic itch and it most commonly develops on the face and on skin thats already suffered sensory loss. Translations: Your skin is likely already feeling numb there. And since individuals are more likely to scratch numb skin too long and too vigorously, its important to turn to your healthcare provider for advice. He or she will likely suggest topical local anesthetics to help quell the urge to itch.

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    How Is Shingles Diagnosed

    Doctors diagnose most cases of shingles based on physical signs and symptoms. The tipoff is the distinctive, band-like rash that most people develop. It is usually accompanied by itching, tingling, or pain in an area of the body served by nerves prone to infection during a prior bout with chickenpox.

    In some cases, shingles cannot be diagnosed by signs and symptoms alone, especially in people with weak immune systems whose rash strays from the typical girdle-like pattern, or in individuals who may be experiencing complications from other conditions. Some people show up at their doctors office having pain or other symptoms before a shingles rash appears. And, in rare instances, a person may have shingles with pain and itching but no rash. In each case, additional testing may be required to pinpoint the exact cause.

    A doctor may take a scraping of skin cells for examination under a microscope to determine whether the rash is shingles or something else.

    A blood sample may be taken to test for varicella zoster virus DNA. High levels may indicate an active infection.

    Blood testing can also detect antibodies to the virus and, depending on the levels, may indicate a first-time case of chickenpox or a previous case that has reactivated, becoming shingles.

    Apple Cider Vinegar Remedy For Rash Between Breasts

    What You Should Know About Shingles Vaccines | Johns Hopkins Medicine

    Use apple cider vinegar to clean your undergarments or as a direct remedy to heal a sore rash on the skin. Apple cider vinegar has antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial properties and can help reduce the inflammation too.

  • Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water.
  • Mix to make a diluted solution.
  • Clean the skin under your breast with cold soapy water.
  • Apply the apple cider vinegar solution to the red rash.
  • Repeat this treatment twice a day for faster healing.

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    Common Symptoms Of Shingles

    The most common symptoms of shingles are:

    • sensation of an itching, tingling, or severe burning or shooting pain that precedes a rash
    • painful rash in a band or patch-like shape over the affected area
    • fluid-filled blisters that eventually dry out, crust over, and heal

    Other symptoms may include chills, upset stomach, fever, and headache.

    Heat Rash Under Breast

    Heat rash on the skin on the underside of boobs.

    Prickly heat rash is a red or pink rash usually found on body areas covered by clothing. It can develop when the sweat ducts become blocked and swell and often leads to discomfort and itching. . Heat rash is sometimes called a sweat rash. It occurs commonly during and after exercise. Heat rash produces symptoms such as the following:

    • Red bumps on the skin.
    • An itchy feeling or prickly feeling on the skin. This is called prickly heat.
    • Tiny red blisters as a result of inflammation.

    Heat rash is common in babies, usually when they are overdressed. Hot weather can also cause heat rash. In the breast area, heat rash may be due to too tight bras that do not allow the underside of your boobs to breathe. Without air circulation in this area, red dots or tiny pimples on the breast area may form.

    During hot and humid months, heat rash under breasts is common. It is also prevalent during pregnancy when a womans breast size increases. Sometimes, during this time, hormonal changes in the body may lead to heat rashes on the chest and underneath the breast. These occur from excessive sweating or perspiration.

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