Understanding and Managing Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

Herpes zoster, commonly called shingles, is a condition that affects skin and nerves. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a member of the herpes virus family. It is highly treatable but can cause severe pain.

Cause

• After a person has chickenpox, VZV stays dormant (inactive) in nerve cells in the body. Later in life, it can become active again, causing shingles; shingles is not caused by a new infection.

Treatment

• Many different medications are used in the treatment of shingles. These include, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), antivirals, corticosteroids, pain relievers (over-the-counter or prescription) and topical agents (lidocaine and capsaicin).

Home Care

• The Mayo Clinic recommends a number of steps people with shingles can take at home to relieve their symptoms. These include resting, trying relaxation techniques and activities that distract from the pain, cool baths and compresses and taking oral antihistamines.

Complications

• Sometimes, the pain of shingles does not go away at the same time as the rash. This is called postherpetic neuralgia and can be very painful as well as long lasting. Doctors generally prescribe additional treatments like tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants to relieve this pain, according to the AAFP.

Prevention

• Even a person who has already had an outbreak of shingles can be vaccinated against the condition to lower their chances of another outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).