Skin Disorders and Treatment

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Shingles

Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus - the same virus that causes chickenpox . After you've had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerves. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles. It causes pain and a band of rash that spreads on one side of your body. Shingles occurs most often between the ages of 50 and 70, but it can occur at any age. It occurs only in people who have been previously infected with the virus that causes chickenpox. More than one third of older people with shingles have persistent pain (postherpetic neuralgia). Generally, the older a person is, the greater the chance of developing postherpetic neuralgia. After the initial chickenpox infection, the varicella-zoster virus can remain latent for years, then travel down nerve cell fibers to cause a renewed infection. But with shingles, the nervous system is more deeply involved than it was during the bout with chickenpox, and the symptoms are often more severe. The face, eye, or torso may be affected. This is due to the fact that the eyes are connected to nerves that may be infected with the virus. Early diagnosis and treatment is important to minimize the symptoms and reduce the risk of complications that may compromise vision.

Shingles causes a painful rash of small blisters that typically appear on the body, often in a band on the chest and back. The virus that causes shingles is called varicella zoster. It causes a painful rash. Under certain circumstances, such as emotional stress , immune deficiency (from AIDS or chemotherapy ) or with cancer , the virus re-activates causing shingles. In most cases, however, a cause for the reactivation of the virus is never found. The herpes virus that causes shingles and chicken pox is not the same as the herpes virus that causes genital herpes (which can be sexually transmitted) and herpes mouth sores. Shingles is medically termed Herpes zoster.

Causes of Shingles

Common Causes of Shingles :

• Herpes zoster (shingles) is caused by the chicken-pox virus.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Stress or anxiety.
• Sunburn .
• Excessive use of alcohol.
• Use of steroids for a prolonged period of time.

Symptoms of Shingles

Some common Symptoms of Causes of Shingles :

• Chills.
• Headache.
• NBumbness beneath the skin
• Upset stomach.
• Fever .
• Itching of the skin.
• Severe and excruciating nerve and muscle pain.

Treatment of Shingles

• Acyclovir helps to control the skin eruption. It is not a cure, but helps to heal the rash, provided treatment is started early. Acyclovir is taken by mouth.
• Even taking acyclovir may not eliminate discomfort, burning sensations, or pain. If the discomfort is mild, take Tylenol or a similar mild painkiller.
• Treat your rash gently. Don't open your blisters. As long as there is blistering or crusting, compresses with dilute vinegar will make you more comfortable. Compress the blisters or crusts for 10 minutes twice daily with a mixture of one-quarter cup of white vinegar and two quarts of lukewarm water. Stop the compresses when the blisters have dried up.
• The main thing is to take regular pain relief (an analgesic), possibly even better an anti-inflammatory pain killer ( non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ), as long as these do not upset you or interact with any medications you may be taking. In addition calamine lotion can help to soothe the area.
• If the eye is affected ( ophthalmic herpes ) or looks like it may become affected, your doctor is likely to ask an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) to see you as a matter of urgency. The treatment is likely to involve specific anti-viral eye drops, and possibly treatment by mouth as well.

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