Treatment for Shingles: Natural and Prescribed

Treatment for Shingles – Important Facts to Know

The shingles and chicken pox are caused by the very same virus. It is considered a herpes form of virus. Shingles can cause an awful looking rash to appear on different parts of your body. This rash may be red and appear to be swollen. This type of disease can be painful and it makes your skin tender to the touch. It is believed that if you have ever been diagnosed with chicken pox and are over sixty that you will be susceptible to shingles. In some cases, though, it can not be determined what is the culprit for this ugly virus. Treatment for shingles is a combination of things.

No Cure but Treatment

Treatment for shinglesShingles is a virus that could last for a very long time. Each case of shingles is different. Usually a person who has shingles will have to wait out the virus until it decides to go away. Although, there is no quick cure for shingles, a person can still treat their symptoms of the virus to make themselves more comfortable until their shingles have disappeared. Medication that can be purchased over the counter and prescribed by a doctor is one treatment for shingles.

Treatment for shingles – Types of Medications

Medications that are antiviral should be used when the rash first starts to help the healing process move faster. Anti-inflammatory drugs are also used to prevent swelling of the rash and help with any pain that is associated with this virus. Painkiller medication can help in the treatment of shingles. You may want to use aspirin and acetaminophen that you can purchase without a prescription to sooth pain. If you have gotten an infection in your rash, that is caused by having the shingles, your physician will want to prescribe an antibiotic for you as a treatment for shingles.

Treatment for shingles – Natural Benzoin,

Benzoin is a natural ingredient that is used for many ailments. It comes from the benzoin tree. It can be used in the treatment for shingles by applying it topically to the red rash. This natural ingredient acts as an antiseptic. It should not be put on a shingle rash where the skin is broken. As with any other treatment that is considered natural, a person who has shingles and wants to use Benzoin needs to talk with their physician first.

Treatment for shingles – Herpes Ointment

Since shingles are considered to be in the herpes family of viruses, herpes creams can be applied topically to a shingles rash. As with other ointments, you will not want to apply the ointment if the rash on your skin is cracked open or it has blisters. You should apply at least two coats of this ointment on your shingles rash at one time. It is best to keep the treated area as warm as possible to speed the relief of the herpes ointment. This treatment for shingles should make you feel better in about fifteen minutes.

Shingles can be managed by trying out different treatments and being informed about what treatments will work.