Tips For Patients Suffering From Shingles

Shingles can be an extremely painful condition that many people will experience as they reach and surpass their middle-aged years. This is particularly true for those that had chicken pox as children. Unfortunately, shingles can be extremely painful, and patients will often be unsure as to the most effective steps for symptom management and reduction.

Use Cold Compresses To Ease Painful Blisters

The blisters that shingles can cause may be extremely painful. For many patients, it can seem as though it will be impossible for them to get relief from these painful blisters. However, something as simple as a cold and wet cloth can provide immense and immediate relief from these blisters. When you apply this compress, it is important to avoid rubbing the shingles with it. Rather, you should simply apply gentle and even pressure so that the cold cloth will come into full contact with the skin. By repeating this whenever your shingles rash starts to become irritated or otherwise unbearably uncomfortable, you can help to alleviate this noticeable and disruptive symptom.

Take Advantage Of Shingle Care Ointments

Unfortunately, patients that are suffering from a case of shingles will often assume that there is nothing that can be done to help expedite their healing. Due to the fact that shingles are caused by a virus, doctors are somewhat limited in the steps that they can take to effectively combat this problem. However, there are many shingle care ointments that can help to promote your skin's natural healing properties so that you can recover more quickly. While these ointments are highly effective, patients with shingles outbreaks will still need at least a week or two before they fully recover from this disease.

Minimizing Touching, Scratching, Or Otherwise Messing With The Shingle Blisters

Throughout the course of your experience with shingles, it is important to minimize the amount of touching that you do to the infected area. Excessive touching of this area can help to promote the spread of the shingles, and it can also slow the healing process by disturbing the scabs and helping to irritate the skin. Furthermore, this can also introduce dirt and bacteria that can lead to further issues for the infected area. While it is necessary to clean the area with the shingles, you will want to be as gentle as possible so that you avoid inadvertently slowing your recovery. Additionally, you should make a mental effort to avoid touching this area.