Most people have chicken pox once in their lifetime. The virus stays dormant for a majority of the time. In some rare and unfortunate cases, this virus wakes up traveling along the nerve fiber, making way to the skin giving painful rashes. This is called shingles.
Proper treatments for shingles can shorten the longevity of the ailment. Options for shingles treatments include shingles medicine, which mainly comprises antiviral pain reducing medications.
Preliminary treatment
As soon as your physician detects the symptoms, he will start off with antiviral drugs, so that the pain reduces along with the duration of shingles.
- Creams: In some cases, when the rashes itch and pain a lot, agents who have numbing effects such are used. These medications are presented in the form of a cream, spray gel or skin patch. Also, topical creams can be utilized as efficient shingles medication to treat rashes and blisters. This can give a soothing effect to the skin.
- Antidepressant medicines: If you have pain that continues for more than a month even after the shingles rash heals, the doctor might diagnose you with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). It is a common complication that arises after shingles rashes. In such cases, antidepressants are given such as a tricyclic antidepressant. Under your doctor’s prescription, topical anesthetics may also be used as shingles medication to treat the pain.
- Natural relief: Among the natural treatments, one effective way of getting rid of shingles is applying a cold compress to get a cooling relief. Soak a wet cloth and apply, but remember not to use an ice pack as it might worsen the pain.
You can take steps to decrease the term of a shingles flare, but at the end, in its course, the virus may often simply surface out. There is no cure for shingles. Those with nose, eye or facial traits must look out for shingles medication instantly. Early medical observation may also inhibit or lessen any scarring.