Your doctor will be able to help you with a suitable antiviral that will attack the virus, provide you with pain relief and lower your chances of developing complications. It is also the only way to ensure that you recover quickly and can return to life as normal. Antivirals are usually administered in tablet form, although some patients may require an IV drip.
Corticosteroids can help to relieve inflammation and swelling in some people but they do not necessarily work on everyone. If your rash is particularly itchy, your doctor may prescribe anti-histamines, which can be applied to the skin or taken orally. If your pain is severe, you may also need separate pain medication.
Sometimes the pain is so persistent that you may also benefit from some basic home remedies to make yourself more comfortable. Cold compresses, calamine lotion applied to the rash, oatmeal baths and warm showers are all popular ways to relieve the symptoms in conjunction with your medication and can make living with it more manageable as your body heals. Your doctor may be able to make other suggestions to make life more comfortable, depending on the location of your rash.
Because of the links between stress, weak immunity and fatigue, with shingles your doctor is also likely to recommend bed rest, but this condition can be so uncomfortable you are not likely to want to go into the office.
It is important to practice good hygiene while you have shingles. Make sure you keep your skin clean to prevent a bacterial infection. Also try to use disposable items where possible and sterilize those items that are not disposable before reuse.
Shingles vaccines have proven to be effective in people who are at high risk for the virus. They have been recommended for people over the age of 60 and those who have weak immune systems and may help to protect you against recurrent outbreaks. If you would like more info about the shingles vaccine, they are readily available at low cost health care Las Vegas.