Tuesday, March 26, 2024

What Type Of Doctor Treats Shingles

How Can I Treat Shingles Naturally

Shingles: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment with Dr. Mark Shalauta | San Diego Health

The shingles virus affects the nerves, which is why a skin rash only appears in a specific area of the body rather than all over. However, nerve pain is still possible even after the shingles rash has disappeared. If the nerve fibers are damaged, they are unable to send messages from your skin to your brain. This complication of shingles is called postherpetic neuralgia and it can cause severe pain, lasting months or even years.

Postherpetic neuralgia is more common in the following patients:

  • Adults over the age of 50
  • Patients with another medical condition, like diabetes
  • Those who experienced a severe shingles rash
  • Those who experienced a shingles rash on the face or torso
  • Patients who didnt begin shingles treatment within 72 hours of symptoms appearing

Besides chronic pain, symptoms of postherpetic neuralgia include depression, insomnia, suppressed appetite, and attention deficits. Fortunately, there are home remedies, over-the-counter products, and prescription medications that offer pain relief to these symptoms. Heres a long list of treatments:

How Long Does A Shingles Outbreak Last

It can take three to five weeks from the time you begin to feel symptoms until the rash totally disappears.

  • First, a few days before the rash appears, you may feel pain in an area on your skin. The pain is described as itching, burning, stabbing or shooting. This usually happens before the rash comes.
  • Next, the raised rash appears as a band or a patch, usually on one side of your body. The rash usually appears around your waistline or on one side of your face, neck, or on the trunk , but not always. It can occur in other areas including your arms and legs.
  • Within three to four days, the rash develops into red, fluid-filled, painful, open blisters.
  • Usually, these blisters begin to dry out and crust over within about 10 days.
  • The scabs clear up about two to three weeks later.
  • Who Should Get Shingrix

    Adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. Adults 19 years and older who have or will have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix. If needed, people with weakened immune systems can get the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first.

    You should get Shingrix even if in the past you:

    • Received varicella vaccine

    There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.

    If you had shingles in the past, Shingrix can help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.

    Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus . After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles.

    Shingrix is available in doctors offices and pharmacies.

    If you have questions about Shingrix, talk with your healthcare provider.

    * A shingles vaccine called zoster vaccine live is no longer available for use in the United States, as of November 18, 2020. If you had Zostavax in the past, you should still get Shingrix. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best time to get Shingrix.

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    What Are The Common Symptoms

    Shingles symptoms might be difficult to detect in the early stages but there are some telltale signs, including:

    • Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
    • A red rash or stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of your torso, or occurs around one eye, or on one side of the neck or face
    • Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over within two to three weeks

    Shingles symptoms vary in severity and some people can experience shingles pain without ever developing a rash, explains Dr. Danoff.

    Can Other People Catch Shingles

    10 natural treatments and home remedies for shingles

    This one is confusing! You can catch chickenpox from other people, but you can’t catch shingles from other people. You only get shingles from a reactivation of your own chickenpox infection in the past.

    So if you have shingles, and you come into contact with somebody else, they cannot ‘catch’ your shingles. But if they have never had chickenpox, it is possible that they could catch chickenpox from you.

    To put it another way, no, you don’t ‘catch’ shingles. It comes from a virus hiding out in your own body, not from someone else. But if you have shingles, you may be infectious, as it is possible for people to catch chickenpox from you.

    Only people who have never had chickenpox are likely to be at risk of catching chickenpox from your shingles. People who have had chickenpox should be immune from catching it again. If the rash is in a covered area of skin, the risk of anyone with whom you are not in close contact catching chickenpox is very low.

    Recommended Reading: How To Care For Shingles At Home

    The Diagnosis And Shingles Treatment

    How do dermatologists diagnose shingles?

    To diagnose shingles, a dermatologist will look at the skin and ask some questions.

    If there is any doubt, the dermatologist may scrape a blister to get a sample. This sample will be examined under a microscope. Also, the dermatologist may send the fluid from a blister to a laboratory for testing.

    How do dermatologists treat shingles?

    Without treatment, the rash clears in a few weeks. Dermatologists, however, strongly recommend shingles treatment. Without it, many people get pain, numbness, itching, and tingling that can last for months or years.It is best to get treatment immediately. Shingles treatment can include:

    • Pain relievers to help ease the pain: The pain can be very bad, and prescription painkillers may be necessary.
    • Anti-viral medicine: This medicine may be prescribed when a doctor diagnoses shingles within 72 hours of the rash first appearing. The earlier anti-viral treatment is started, the better it works. Anti-viral medicines include famciclovir, valacyclovir, and acyclovir. These can lessen the pain and the amount of time the pain lasts.
    • Nerve blocks: Given for intense pain, these injections contain a numbing anesthetic and sometimes a corticosteroid.
    • Corticosteroids: To lower swelling and pain, some patients may get corticosteroid pills with their anti-viral medicine. This treatment is not common because it can make the rash spread.

    Ask your dermatologist about possible side effects .

    Outcome

    Is There A Shingles Vaccination

    In the UK there is a shingles vaccine immunisation programme for people aged 70 years to protect against herpes zoster. There is also a catch-up programme which offers the vaccine to anyone aged between 70 and 79 years who has previously missed out on immunisation. The vaccine is licensed for people aged over 50 years, and if you are not eligible for the vaccine on the NHS, your pharmacist may be able to provide the vaccine as a private service.

    The chickenpox vaccine is not routinely given to children in the UK but is offered to people who are in close contact with someone who is particularly vulnerable to chickenpox or its complications – eg, people with a weakened immune system.

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    Can I Give Shingles To Others

    No one can catch shingles from you. But the virus can be spread to a person who has never had chickenpox. The virus lives in the blisters that shingles causes. It can be spread until the blisters are completely healed. If you have blisters that have not crusted over yet, you should stay away from:

    • Anyone who has never had chickenpox
    • Babies under 12 months old
    • Very sick people

    Tell your doctor if you live with children who have not had chickenpox. They may need to be vaccinated.

    Steroid Medication For Shingles

    Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention of Shingles (Herpes Zoster) | Doctors on TV

    Steroids help to reduce swelling . A short course of steroid tablets may be considered in addition to antiviral medication. This may help to reduce pain and speed healing of the rash. However, the use of steroids in shingles is controversial. Your doctor will advise you. Steroids do not prevent PHN.

    Also Check: What To Put On Shingles Rash

    Herpes Zoster Differs From Other Types Of Herpes

    Hearing the word herpes can be confusing. Herpes zoster is not a sexually transmitted infection . It cannot cause genital herpes. Herpes zoster also doesnt cause cold sores. Both genital herpes and cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus.

    The virus that causes shingles and chickenpox is called the varicella-zoster virus. Its common.

    Articles On Shingles Treatment

    The virus that causes chickenpox is also what causes shingles. Itâs called varicella zoster. It can lie quietly in your nerves for decades after causing chickenpox but suddenly wake up and become active.

    The main symptom of shingles is a painful rash that comes up on one side of your body or face. See your doctor as soon as you can if you think you might have this condition.

    Your doctor may want to put you on medications to control your infection and speed up healing, cut inflammation, and ease your pain. They include:

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    Shingles Vaccine Can Prevent Shingles And Related Health Problems

    A vaccine can reduce your risk of developing shingles and possible health problems that can follow.

    Because shingles usually develops in people who are 50 or older, the CDC recommends that every healthy adult who is 50 years of age or older get the recombinant zoster vaccine .

    In the clinical trials required to approve this vaccine, researchers found that it to be extremely effective. The Shingrix® vaccine reduced the risk of developing shingles by:

    • 96.6% in people 50-59 years old

    • 97.4% in people 60-69 years old

    • 91.3% in people 70 or older 2

    Should I See A Doctor For Shingles

    Do You Have Eye Disease From Shingles?

    It is usually worth seeing a doctor to be certain about the diagnosis and to see if you need treatment or not. Ideally you should see a doctor as soon as possible after the rash appears.

    The rash of shingles can be very painful. So even if the doctor doesn’t think you need an anti-shingles medicine, they may be able to give you stronger painkillers than those you can buy over the counter from the chemist.

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    How Do You Get Shingles

    Shingles are primarily seen in older adults and those with weakened immune systems caused by injury, certain medications, stress, or other issues. Most of those afflicted with shingles eventually get better and do not get it again. However, it is possible to get shingles more than once in your lifetime. When the virus is reactivated, it does not cause a recurrence of chickenpox only the shingles rashes appear.

    Those who may be at risk from shingles include:

    • People with diseases such as cancer or HIV
    • Those who have had an organ transplant
    • Those who are unable to fight off infection easily due to immune deficiencies or stress

    How Dermatologists Diagnose Shingles

    Your dermatologist will make a clinical diagnosis of shingles by examining the skin rash where you are experiencing pain and blistering. Sometimes it may be necessary to take a small skin sample for further testing to rule out other conditions. Your dermatologist may also ask about your medical history, including whether youve had chickenpox, undergone radiation or chemotherapy treatment, take any immunosuppressive medications, and whether you have any diseases that weaken your immune system.

    People older than 60 years old are at higher risk for developing shingles as well as experiencing complications from the virus, including lasting nerve pain and vision problems if the infection involves the nerves around the eye.

    Read Also: What Do You Do For Shingles

    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.

    How Do Dermatologists Treat Shingles

    Shingles: What Are the Causes and Best Treatments?

    An antiviral medication can:

    • Reduce the amount of time that you have a shingles rash

    • Lower your risk of developing long-lasting nerve pain and other health problems

    One of three antiviral medications is usually prescribedacyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir.

    To treat your symptoms, dermatologists typically recommend the following:

    Pain: Medication that you can buy without a prescription can help, such as:

    If you have severe pain, your dermatologist may prescribe a medication that reduces inflammation, such as a corticosteroid.

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    Millions Get Shingles Each Year

    Doctors diagnose more than 1 million cases of shingles in the United States every year.1 Many of these people are surprised to find out that they have shingles because they dont remember having had chickenpox. Chickenpox can be very mild. You may have had it when you were too young to remember.

    If you were born before 1980, you have a greater than 99% chance of having had chickenpox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .

    Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles.

    Shining A Light On Shingles

    Have you had chickenpox? If you have, then theres a chance you could develop shingles, a very painful, blistering skin rash that is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.

    Its estimated that 1 in 3 people will get shingles during their lifetime.

    With 1 million cases diagnosed each year in the United States and 1 in 3 people estimated to get shingles in their lifetime, the ailment is not uncommon. Rob Danoff, DO, an osteopathic family physician from Philadelphia, tells us who is most vulnerable to shingles and provides tips to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.

    Also Check: What Do Shingles Look Like When They First Appear

    What Is The Prognosis For Shingles What Are Possible Shingles Complications

    Many cases of shingles go away by themselves, with or without treatment. The rash and pain should be gone in two to three weeks. However, shingles may last longer and be more likely to recur if the person is older, especially older than 50 years of age, or if they have a serious medical problem.

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    What Is The Outcome For Someone Who Has Shingles

    3 Ways to Treat Throat Shingles

    Most people get shingles once, but its possible to get it again.

    If you have a healthy immune system, the blisters tend to clear in 7 to 10 days. The rash tends to go away completely within 2 to 4 weeks. The pain may last longer, but usually stops in 1 or 2 months.

    For some people, the pain will last longer than the rash. When it does, its called postherpetic neuralgia , which can come and go or be constant. PHN can last for months, years, or the rest of your life. Treatment can help reduce the amount of pain you feel.

    Be sure to tell your doctor if you continue to have pain. Treatment can help you feel more comfortable.

    For anyone who has a shingles rash, the right self-care can help ease your discomfort. Youll find out what dermatologists recommend at, Shingles: Self-care.

    ImageGetty Images

    ReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention . About shingles. Page last reviewed 10/17/2017. Last accessed 4/1/2019.

    Dooling KL, Guo A, et al. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccines. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018 67:103-8.

    Madkan V, Sra K, et al. Human herpes viruses. In: Bolognia JL, et al. Dermatology. . Mosby Elsevier, Spain, 2008: 1204-8.

    Straus SE, Oxman MN. Varicella and herpes zoster. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008: 1885-98.

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    A Word About The Shingles Vaccine

    If you are age 60 or over and have not had shingles, talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. Not only will it reduce your risk of developing shingles, but if you do develop shingles, youll be more likely to have a mild case. And, just as important, youll be much less likely to develop PHN if youve had the vaccine.

    What Should You Expect If You Get Shingles

    Shingles can be a very painful condition. If you think you have the symptoms of shingles, see your healthcare provider right away. Starting antiviral medications early can ease your discomfort and end symptoms earlier.

    A better approach to shingles is to take action and do what you can to lessen your risk of getting it. If you’ve never had shingles in the past, talk to your healthcare provider about getting the shingles vaccine. If youve never had chickenpox, talk with your healthcare provider about getting the chickenpox vaccine.

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    Is Shingles Prevention Possible Is There A Shingles Vaccine

    Prevention of shingles in people who have contracted chickenpox is difficult, since the factors that trigger reactivation are not yet defined. However, if a person is never infected with the virus, shingles will not develop. Furthermore, there are at least two methods that are currently used to reduce the incidence of shingles.

    First, the VZV vaccine, otherwise known as the chickenpox vaccine, may decrease the incidence of shingles by enhancing the immune system’s ability to fight off VZV or keep this virus inactive. This vaccine is usually administered to children, but the immunity may decline in about 15-20 years. The single-dose vaccine dose is given to babies 12-18 months of age. Most vaccine side effects, if they occur, are mild and range from a rash, skin redness, and swelling to small chickenpox lesions, usually at the injection site. Boosters of this vaccine for use in adults are now being investigated and may help prevent shingles in the future.

    Shingrix is the vaccine the CDC currently recommends as the preferred shingles vaccine. Two doses about 2-6 months apart are more than 90% effective in preventing shingles and PHN, and it is recommended for use in people 50 and over. Side effects of Shingrix may occur and last about 2-3 days and may include redness and swelling at the inoculation site. Some individuals may experience muscle pain, headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, and nausea.

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