Herpes Zoster, also known as shingles, is a viral infection. This infection only occurs after an individual has contracted the chicken pox, and has many uncomfortable symptoms. While it is important to seek medical advice and treatment for conditions such as this, there are over-the-counter treatments that can moderate the symptoms in a mild case.
Symptoms
Shingles outbreaks often begin in the days before a rash ever emerges. The first sign of an outbreak can be anything from dizziness to headaches, weakness and other flu symptoms. Shingles, however, does not cause a fever. The skin in the region where the rash will emerge may tingle, itch or become painful. Once the rash has broken out, it will form fluid-filled blisters. Initially, the fluid is clear, but it turns yellow and cloudy over a few days. At this point, the blisters will begin to dry up and crust over, which is the first step of the healing process.
Flu-Like Symptoms
The flu-like symptoms that emerge before an outbreak can be just as debilitating as the flu itself. Plenty of fluids and rest can help with dizziness and weakness. Headaches can be treated with typical over-the-counter pain medication, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin.
Itching
The emerging rash may be extremely itchy and uncomfortable. This discomfort can be alleviated by the application of over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams. If the itching is intense, antihistamines like diphenhydramine can be helpful, as can topical anti-itch ointments like Caladryl.
Pain
The blisters of a shingles outbreak can be particularly painful. To reduce pain, you can take acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin. Cool compresses applied several times per day can also reduce pain. Bathing in cool water treated with baking soda or finely ground oatmeal is another alternative that helps the pain of shingles blisters. The blisters must be allowed to heal, however, so once they reach the stage where they are beginning to crust over, it is important to keep the area dry as much as possible.
Considerations
Over-the-counter treatments for shingles can be effective in mild cases. There are, however, situations in which professional medical treatment should be sought. A severe outbreak, an outbreak that affects eyes or other parts of the face, an outbreak that occurs with fever, or any signs of infection at the rash site area are all signs that a doctor should be consulted.
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