How To Manage Your Shingles Rash
Even if you do not develop water blisters, a shingles rash can be very annoying and painful. In order to effectively manage your shingles rash, you will need to know things like how to keep the area clean, as well as what things you should avoid. Among other things, it is important to realize that the rash is caused by a virus, and that your immune system is working very hard to neutralize it. One of the worst things about a shingles rash is the constant itching. While you may want to scratch or rub the area, this should be avoided as much as possible. Because there is an active virus outbreak attacking cells in that region, the skin may be much more prone to amassing nicks and scratches. These can make it very easy for bacteria and other pathogens to colonize and create secondary infections. Depending on where the shingles rash is, you may be able to wash or run cool water over it. Before using soap on the rash, you should check with your doctor to make sure that it is safe to do so. Irregardless of how the shingles rash gets wet, do not rub it with a towel or anything else to dry it. Instead, pat the rash dry so that it does not become further abraded. For many people, a shingles rash is also accompanied by a great deal of pain. Your doctor may recommend ointments with prednisone in them. He/she may also recommend cortisone treatments. You may also want to try some over the counter pain relievers. In cases where pain persists even after a shingles rash is gone, doctors may prescribe stronger pain killers, including opiates. As may be expected, hygeine is very important when you have a shingles rash. Among other things, you may want to change your sheets and pillow cases often for the sake of comfort. If you are using creams or ointments, and cannot tolerate keeping the area covered up, this is especially important. You may also want to wear soft, loose clothing that will not abrade the rash. Even though a shingles rash is not contageous to someone that has had the chicken pox, it can still infect babies and children. Therefore, if you have to go out from home while your shingles rash is present, try to keep it covered. For the most part, even if you do keep the rash covered, it is best to stay well away from toddlers and newborns, as their immune systems are not fully developed. As more and more people are reaching advanced ages, the prevalence of shingles rash is also bound to escalate. By keeping some simple tips in mind, you can eliminate some of the complications associated with shingles. It is also very important to check with your doctor and ask what else can be done. In some cases, he/she may be able to prescribe pain or other types of medication to make you feel better.
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