Prevention and medication for shingles
Shingles can be diagnosed by observation or physical examination of rashes and blisters. They appear as a band of red, angry rashes and are accompanied by crippling pain. In some cases, the doctor may require some information about your medical history to treat your disease. In rare instances, your doctor may need to test a sample of your skin or the fluid from your blisters to diagnose the problem accurately. These samples are then sent to a laboratory to confirm the presence of the virus.

Vaccines are not the only way to prevent or cure the shingle pain, it can be prevented by taking care of the immune system and by following basic rules or medications.

How can you prevent shingles?

• Build a healthy immune system.
• Vaccines can save from the severe pain symptoms or complications associated with shingles.
• Children should be administered 2 doses of the chickenpox vaccine.
• Adults should also take the shingle vaccine even if they never had chickenpox.

Who should be more careful about shingles pain?

• Pregnant women who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine
• Premature or low birth weight infants
• People who have weakened immune systems, are on strong, long term antibiotics, or are recovering from a long drawn out illness.
• One who is undergoing the chemotherapy or the organ transplant
• People who are infected by HIV.

What steps must you take to not further aggravate shingles pain?

• Cover the rash with a clean cotton cloth
• Avoid contact with the above-stated people until your rash has developed crusts
• Avoid touching or scratching the rash.
• Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of shingle virus.

What are the natural or home remedies for shingles?

• Daily cleansing of the blisters reduces the risk of spreading the infection of shingle; you can take a cool bath or shower to soothe skin.
• Apply a cool, moist compress, in addition to taking a bath to relieve pain and itchiness of the rash.
• To naturally relieve itching caused by a shingles rash, make a paste using cornstarch or baking soda and water and apply it on the rash area.
• Lotions and creams don’t completely clear or speed up the healing process, but they can increase your comfort level.

What are the dietary remedies to heal Shingle pain?

• Shingle pain is mainly caused due to the weaker immune system, dietary remedies strengthen your immune system and prevent shingles from spreading and reduce the pain of shingle. Foods that heal pain include:
• Orange and yellow fruits
• Leafy green vegetables
• Red meat
• Eggs
• Chicken
• Wild-caught fish
• Dairy
• Whole grains
• Legumes
• Beans
• Tomatoes
• Spinach

You should avoid certain foods to avoid the pain of shingle. Foods to avoid include:

• Food and juices with high amounts of sugar
• Arginine-rich foods (including chocolate, gelatin, and nuts)
• Refined carbohydrates
• Foods high in saturated fat

What are the medications for Shingles pain?

• Antiviral Medications: Antiviral medication may slow down the progress of the shingles rash and reduce the pain; this is more effective if you take them within three days of noticing the symptoms.

• Acyclovir (Zovirax)

• Valacyclovir (Valtrex)

• Famciclovir (Famvir)

• Painkillers: Your doctor may suggest you some painkiller to heal the pain of shingles. The medication for painkiller includes:

• Acetaminophen

• Naproxen

• Ibuprofen

• Other Prescriptions

If you have severe pain of the rash and blisters or infection of shingle, then you can take a prescription from your doctor which can include:

• Cream or lotion to reduce itching and burning of rash
• Lidocaine is a medication which relieves the pain of shingle, this medicine can come in the variety of forms such as lotions, cream, patches, powders, sprays and any other form.
• Antibiotics medicines
• Tricyclic antidepressants including medications such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor).

Homeopathic remedies: You might consider homeopathic remedies along with conventional therapy to help with your shingles symptoms. These include:

• Melatonin

• Oregano oil

• Echinacea

• Lemon balm

• Green tea

• Essential fatty acids

Who should not get the Shingles Vaccine?

• Anyone who has an allergy to any medication ingredients

• If you have a weak immune system due to certain medicines.

• In the case of pregnancy or nursing.

• If you have tested negative for immunity to the chickenpox virus.

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