Is There A Topical Cream For Shingles

How Can I Learn About Or Participate In Clinical Research

• Clinical trials are research studies on humans that are designed to answer specific questions about vaccines or new therapies, to test new ways of using known treatments, or to find out more about a disorder. Clinical studies and trials involving the zoster virus and postherpetic neuralgia may lead to better understanding of shingles and identify potential treatments. Both healthy individuals and people with disorders are needed to advance the understanding of diseases and how to treat them. For more information about clinical trials and how you may participate in a study, see
• ClinicalTrials.gov provides information about ongoing and completed federally and privately supported clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including shingles.
• NIH Clinical Research Trials and You provides information about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate, including links to search for a trial or enroll in a research matching registry.

How To Use Essential Oils

There are a few ways to enjoy the benefits of essential oils, including:

• Inhalation:Breathe in the oils for their aroma.
• Diffusing:You can use a diffuser meant for essential oils or add a few drops of oil to the water in your humidifier.
• Applied topically:If you plan to use essential oils on the skin, always dilute the pure essential oils with a carrier oil before applying it. Generally, 2 to 3 drops of essential oil can be added to 1 to 2 tablespoons of the carrier oil.
• Spray bottle:If your shingles rash is too painful to touch, try adding essential oil diluted with witch hazel or aloe vera to water in a spray/spritzer bottle and spraying over the rash to avoid direct contact.

Some personal care products may contain essential oils, such as creams, lotions, and ointments. Follow the recommendations and instructions on the labels of any packaging of these products before use.

Avoid prolonged use of a single essential oil in any form. The chemical constituents can be absorbed and build up in the body. This has a potential for adverse effects. Never apply essential oils to broken skin. Discontinue use if a rash develops.

Essential oils should never be taken orally without consulting a provider knowledgeable in their therapeutic applications.

Topical Pain Relief Products

e.g. lidocaine preparations , capsaicin cream

• topical pain relievers can be used in addition to oral pain relief medicines
• lidocaine is a local anaesthetic and numbs the skin
• do not apply lidocaine to broken or irritated skin avoid contact with eyes
• capsaicin cream should NOT be used on active shingles and may only be used to help with post-herpetic neuralgia . It should be discontinued if symptoms persist for longer than 2 weeks
• do not apply capsaicin cream to broken or irritated skin avoid contact with eyes

Also Check: What To Do When You Get Shingles Rash

When And How To Use Drugstore Anti

Itching can drive you a little crazymessing with your sleep, stealing your concentration, and leaving you wishing you could step out of your skin.

A bit of gentle scratching to tame the uncomfortable sensation is fine. But if you find yourself scratching to the point of distraction or so much that youre damaging your skinwhich can allow bacteria inyou may be on the lookout for strategies to stop the itch.

Many people turn to one of the over-the-counter topical anti-itch products on drugstore shelves.

These creams, gels, and lotions can be very effective, says Gil Yosipovitch, MD, professor of dermatology and Stiefel chair of medical dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicineprovided you choose the right product for your particular itching problem and follow label directions.

Who Should Get The Shingles Vaccine

Getting the shingles vaccine is the only way to reduce the risk of developing shingles and to lessen the risk of postherpetic neuralgia.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved recombinant zoster vaccine, known as Shingrix, for adults ages 50 years old and older in 2017. In July 2021, the FDA also approved Shingrix for adults ages 18 years old and older who are or will be at increased risk of herpes zoster due to immunodeficiency or immunosuppression caused by disease or therapy, according to a press release issued by Shingrix manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline . In October 2021, the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices also voted to recommend Shingrix in adults 19 and older who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed due to disease or therapy, according to a press release issued by GSK.

Shingrix is given as two shots that are two to six months apart.

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Liquid Dimethyl Sulfoxide And Idoxuridine

Idoxuridine is an antiviral medication approved in Europe for treating shingles.

One 2015 publication suggested frequent application of 5 to 40 percent idoxuridine dissolved in DMSO may speed up the healing time of shingles. However, in the United States, idoxuridine is only FDA-approved to treat keratitis, a herpes simplex virus infection of the cornea of your eye.

Questions To Ask Your Doctor

• Ive had chickenpox. Am I at risk of developing shingles?
• What is the best treatment for my shingles?
• The pain from shingles isnt going away. What can I do to make myself more comfortable?
• Im on treatment for shingles. When should I call my doctor if things dont get better?
• I have shingles and my children havent had the chickenpox vaccine. Should I get them vaccinated?
• Is the shingles vaccine right for me?
• Are there any risks associated with the shingles vaccine?
• Will my post-herpetic neuralgia ever go away?
• If Ive never had the chickenpox, should I still get the shingles vaccination?

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How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Shingles

A dermatologist can often diagnose shingles by looking at the rash on your skin.

If there is any question about whether you have shingles, your dermatologist will scrape a bit of fluid from a blister. This will be sent to a lab where a doctor will look at the fluid under a high-powered microscope.

When you have shingles, the fluid contains the virus that causes shingles. Seeing the virus confirms that you have shingles.

Your dermatologist will also ask about your symptoms. Shingles tends to be painful.

When the shingles rash spreads to an eye, it can affect your eyesight

You can reduce this risk by seeing an ophthalmologist immediately.

What Are Other Complications Of Shingles

Complications of zoster are more frequent in people with lesions in or around the eyes, forehead, and nose , or around the ear and on the face . People with shingles in or near the eye should see an ophthalmologist immediately, as they can suffer painful eye infections and, in some cases, temporary or permanent vision loss. Symptoms can include redness and swelling involving just the white of the eye , the clear front of the eye , or internal parts of the eye. If the cornea is involved, treatment to avert permanent scarring is important to preventing lasting vision loss. The disease can cause damage to or death of the nerve cells that react to light .

Shingles infections within or near the ear can cause hearing or balance problems as well as weakness of the muscles on the affected side of the face. These problems can be long-lasting or permanent.

In rare cases, shingles can spread into the brain or spinal cord and cause serious complications such as stroke or meningitis .

The varicella zoster virus also may involve blood vessels or provoke an immune reaction irritating the surface of blood vessels . People with shingles have slightly increased risk of stroke, greatest in the first few weeks after vesicle eruption, but lasting for several months. The risk of stroke is highest in people with eye zoster, perhaps as much as five percent.

Also Check: How Long Does Shingles Typically Last

Treatment Of Herpes Zoster

The treatment of herpes zoster has three major objectives: treatment of the acute viral infection, treatment of the acute pain associated with herpes zoster and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia. Antiviral agents, oral corticosteroids and adjunctive individualized pain-management modalities are used to achieve these objectives.

Safety And Side Effects

While CBD is not a replacement for standard treatment options, its probably OK to try CBD for shingles, despite the lack of scientific evidence. Just make sure to talk with your doctor first, especially if youre taking any medications or supplements. CBD may interact with some medications.

Topicals are less likely than ingested products to make their way into your bloodstream, but its still best to be cautious and follow your doctors recommendation.

Additionally, be sure that youre aware of potential side effects. While suggest that CBD is generally safe to use topically or orally, some people may experience mild side effects such as:

• weight or appetite changes

Its possible to receive a positive test result for THC when taking CBD products, especially full-spectrum CBD products.

We chose these products based on criteria we think are good indicators of safety, quality, and transparency. Each product in this article:

• is made by a company that provides proof of third-party testing by an ISO 17025-compliant lab
• is made with U.S.-grown hemp
• contains no more than 0.3 percent THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, according to the certificate of analysis
• passes tests for pesticides, heavy metals, and molds, according to the COA

We also considered:

• CBD potency: 250 mg per 15-mL stick
• COA: available on product page

Joy Organics also claims to produce cruelty-free products and is part of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.

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Can Shingles Be Prevented

A vaccination called Zostavax reduces the likelihood of developing shingles. If you are over 50, you can talk to your doctor about whether you need it. It is recommended for everyone over 60. It is given free of charge in Australia to people aged 70 to 79. Vaccination will not guarantee that you will not get shingles, but it will reduce your chance of developing the condition. Zostavax is not the same as the vaccine used to protect against chickenpox. Read more about the chickenpox vaccine here.

Can I Prevent Shingles

There are two shingles vaccines. Shingrix is recommended over the older vaccine, Zostavax, because it is more than 90% effective in preventing a shingles outbreak

Who should get it: The CDC recommends that you get this vaccine if youâre a healthy adult age 50 or older, whether or not you remember having had chickenpox, because most people have been exposed to the virus. If you have had the Zostavax vaccine, you can also have Shingrix.

How many shots do you need? You would need two shots for Shingrix: One at first, with a follow-up in 2 to 6 months.

What it does:Shingrix reduces your chance of getting shingles by more than 90%. Even if you still get shingles, the vaccine may help it be less painful.

I never had chickenpox. Do I still need the shingles vaccine? Yes, you do. Shingrix is recommended for everyone age 50 or older, whether or not you remember having had chickenpox.

If Iâve had shingles, can I still get the vaccine? Yes. It may help prevent you having another bout of shingles later on. If you have shingles right now, you should wait until the rash is gone before you get vaccinated.

Donât get the Shingrix vaccine if you:

• Are allergic to any of the ingredients
• Are pregnant or nursing
• Have tested negative for immunity to the chickenpox virus. Ask your doctor about the chickenpox vaccine instead.
• Have shingles now

Also Check: Can You Get The Shingles Vaccine Before Age 50

Where Can I Find More Information About Research On Shingles

In addition to the NINDS, several other NIH organizations support research relevant to understanding, treating, or preventing shingles and its complications, including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institute on Aging .

• NIH RePORTER is a searchable database of current and previously funded research supported by NIH and some other federal agencies. RePORTER also includes links to research results such as patents and publications citing support from these projects.
• PubMed allows users to search millions of journal article abstracts in biomedical research fields. The full text of many articles describing research funded by NIH and other sources is also freely available through PubMedCentral

New Topical Treatment For Continued Pain After Shingles

• Known sensitivity or allergy to an amide-type local anesthetic agent
• Existing conditions that make participation unsafe
• Immunocompromised
• Herpes zoster in any dermatome affecting the face or scalp
• Affected skin area is greater than 420 square cm
• Affected area includes skin breakdown or nonintact skin
• Affected area consists of more than one contiguous area

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier : NCT00566904

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When Should I See My Doctor

See your doctor as soon as possible if you are experiencing any symptoms of shingles. Starting treatment with antiviral medicines within 3 days of the rash appearing should reduce the severity of symptoms and the risk of further complications, including post-herpetic neuralgia.

See your doctor straight away if you have symptoms of shingles and are experiencing the following:

• symptoms that affect your eye area
• a temperature of 38°C or higher

You should also see your doctor if you are pregnant, or have a weakened immune system due to medicine that suppresses the immune system, or a condition that weakens your immune system.

What Is The Best Medication For Shingles

Your healthcare provider will determine the best medication for your case of shingles based on your symptoms, medical history, and response to shingles treatment. Heres an overview of the popular shingles medications that your doctor may prescribe.

Dosage is determined by your healthcare provider based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight.

Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.

Also Check: How Long Do You Have Shingles

Know The Bathing Dos And Donts

Using the right water temperature while bathing or showering can make a big difference in how your skin feels and heals. Ideally, you should bathe with cool or lukewarm water and avoid very hot water.

You can also apply a cool, wet compress to the rash and blisters. The AAD recommends you soak a clean washcloth in cold water and place the cloth on top of the affected area several times a day. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes.

You should avoid rubbing washcloths, sponges, or exfoliants on the area.

You can also add colloidal oatmeal or cornstarch to your baths to provide some much-needed itch relief. Just be sure to dry your skin gently after getting out of the bath. Then, follow up with a layer of calamine lotion to soothe your skin, or keep it dry and cover with a bandage if its still weeping.

Where Does Shingles Come From

When you have chickenpox as a child, your body fights off the varicella-zoster virus and the physical signs of chickenpox fade away, but the virus always remains in your body. In adulthood, sometimes the virus becomes active again. This time, the varicella-zoster virus makes its second appearance in the form of shingles.

Read Also: Do’s And Don Ts When You Have Shingles

I Feel Healthy Am I Really At Risk For Shingles

If youre one of the 99% of adults 50 years and older who have had chickenpox, the virus that causes shingles is inside your body and can reactivate at any time. 1 in every 3 people in the US will get shingles in their lifetime. No matter how healthy you feel, your immune system declines as you age, and that puts you at an increased risk for shingles.

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How Common Is Shingles

Shingles affects 1 out of every 3 people in the United States. More than 1 million cases of shingles are diagnosed every year. The risk of shingles increases as you get older, with about half the cases occurring in people over the age of 50. Shingles develops in about 10% of people who have had chickenpox at an earlier time in their life.

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Whats The Difference Between Cream Lotion And Ointment

Ointments, lotions, and creams are three types of substances you can apply to your skin to help manage shingles.

These topicals are similar, but there are slight differences in their makeup. The primary difference is the amount of water and oil they contain.

According to this 2016 primer, creams are made up of about equal parts oil and water and often have moisturizing properties. Theyre thicker than lotions but thinner than ointments.

Lotions are similar to creams, but they are made up mostly of water. They have less oil and have a thinner consistency. Because theyre thinner, your skin absorbs them more quickly. Some lotions are oil-free.

Ointments are the thickest of the three. They are made to stay on top of your skin instead of being absorbed immediately. Ointments are made up of at least 80 percent oil.