Shingles And Treatment Options

Shingles or herpes zoster is a skin condition that may occur years after initial infection

. Caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, shingles can be just as uncomfortable and bothersome in adulthood as the condition that typically occurs in childhood. The good news is that there are many solutions for shingles, and treatment remedies of various kinds can be found almost anywhere.

Right from the start, it would be helpful to gauge your expectations with regard to the treatment methods you plan to apply. The first thing that you should realize is that there is currently no known cure for shingles, and once the virus has taken hold, it is likely to remain with you for the rest of your life. Such is the nature of shingles and treatment solutions, but it isn't all bad news.

Although they fall short of actually providing a cure, some of the treatment solutions your doctor will prescribe can give you some pretty impressive results. At the very least, they will help reduce the severity of the symptoms and make it easier for you to live a relatively normal life.

What is treatment for shingles?

The medications most commonly used in the treatment of shingles are corticosteroids. Traditionally used for treating various conditions associated with the autoimmune system, corticosteroids have been widely prescribed for shingles treatment as well. Many cases of shingles respond favorably to only a few weeks of treatment with corticosteroids, and it is still used by many doctors to this day.

Over the past few years, the trend in shingles and treatment approaches has shifted slightly from corticosteroids based solutions to antiviral drugs. Studies have shown that antiviral drugs can be remarkably effective at controlling the symptoms of shingles, and they make it possible for people to carry out their day-to-day activities without being significantly affected by the disease.

Some doctors will even prescribe a treatment program that combines antiviral drugs with corticosteroids. The idea behind such a program is that the effects of both types of medications will help shorten the duration of the shingles episode, while at the same time reducing its severity. While it is an interesting theory on shingles and treatment options, it was subsequently discovered that antiviral drugs pretty much provided most of the benefits anyway, which rendered the use of corticosteroids superfluous.

Over-the-counter remedies can be useful for shingles treatment as well, and they can be invaluable in easing some of the pain and itchiness associated with shingles. Always have your over-the-counter painkiller of choice available, and make sure to take them as soon as the symptoms flare up.

In fact, it is generally better to take your end medication early on during the virus' active phase. By making sure that you take your antiviral medication within 72 hours after the initial infection, you can greatly reduce the effects that the disease will ultimately have on you. Furthermore, this will also help shorten the duration of the shingles episode so you can make a full recovery much sooner.

by: Gen Wright

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