Shingles Relief

Updated on January 13, 2010
A.G. asks from Columbia, MO
10 answers

I have an outbreak of shingles which are quite itchy. I am on acyclovir and take either benadryl or clairitin for the itching - any topicals or bath additives that have helped others? I caught it early enough that i have not yet experienced any oozing or weeping of the red spots. It is more common in older people - i am 38 - but I have been under alot of stress lately and have a family history of eczema/psoriasis. thanks!

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H.J.

answers from Kansas City on

Ivyrest helped me. It is topical and not too pretty, but it helps. Cold wash clothes also helped. Mine was on my neck and chest which stunk because everyone could see it. You can still see where it was because my skin is red and discolored there now. I am 33 so I understand. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

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M.V.

answers from Kansas City on

ask Dr. for Lidoderm patch it helped me

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Topeka on

I have outbreaks of shingles that seem to be tied to any stress or upheaval in my life. I have found that desitin, just like you use for baby diaper rash is very soothing to me. Of course it would depend upon WHERE your Shingles are, as to whether this would work for you or not. My Mother used to have a problem with Shingles too and she would get some relief by putting campho phenique on hers. I have never tried it because I just KNOW it would burn horribly when you put it on but the pharmacist I work for said that the idea is that the " shock" of the burning to the nerves in that area is supposed to somehow reduce the effect of the itching of the shingles.

R. Ann

1 mom found this helpful
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D.Z.

answers from St. Louis on

I would do the aveeno oatmeal bath that should help some on the itching, an if your using soap you should use the dove soap for sensitive skin. I know for fact that this stuff helps with the itchy skin as had major problems with my skin not very long ago.

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D.L.

answers from Kansas City on

I had them a year or so ago (34 years old) I found that the Aveeno anti-itch cream was the best for me. Good luck--they are wicked!!

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A.B.

answers from Wichita on

Oatmeal bath!! It does wonders. My 7 month old had eczema really bad and my 5 yr old had poison ivy once. I gave them a 20 min bath in that and they were sleeping soundly not even an hour later. You could also try some cortizone cream.

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M.M.

answers from Topeka on

I just got over them. Try an antifungal cream that is used for athletes foot. Best of luck!

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L.D.

answers from St. Louis on

When I had shingles, I also caught it early. The pills were not much help. I went to my chiropracter who also did acupuncture. She put the needles around the area and hooked it up and ran a current through them, I didn't feel anything. She called it 'ringing the dragon'. The shingles were gone in two weeks with no more pain or itching or need for pills.
L.
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M.D.

answers from St. Louis on

Been there-done that---I feel your pain! Oww....

Try using the pain relief cream Capzasin, or any genenric brand that contains capsaicin....That was recommended to me by a pharmacist the last time I had shingles. I have had them twice, at age 29(before acyclovir) and again at 49(used acyclovir). Other than that, I just tried to keep the area slightly moisturized with any kind of lotion. But just dab it on, try not to rub the skin too much.

Try to reduce your stress as much as possible, as stress does seem to play a part in this painful condition. Depending upon where you have it, I would try to keep the body part elevated if possible, and uncovered whenever feasible. I couldn't stand to have anything touch that area.

You might ask your doctor for an additional prescription, just incase they return....you will probably be able to sense that, once you have had that pain, you can feel it coming on the next time, or at least I did. I still get residual pain every once in awhile--the "lightning" shooting through the nerve path!

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I have a skin disorder called lichen planus. First I get the itch, then I get the bumps. It started on my hands and spread up my arms to my chest, face, head, neck, back and stomache. Then I got it on the tops and bottoms of my feet and it started spreading up my legs. I could scratch until I bled and it still itched! It is truly terrible to have almost your entire body itching at the same time, all the time, and no way to relieve it. Before my dermatologist diagnosed me, I seriously thought that I might lose my mind. I felt like I needed a few more arms and hands to keep up with the itching. My dermatologist gave me betamethasome cream (a topical steroid) which to me was a wonder drug because, thank God, it worked! The bad news is that you must have a prescription to get it. I tried everything (within reason) before I got the betamethasome and very few things worked. Bathing, even oatmeal baths, seemed to make it worse. Benadryl and cortisone were completely worthless. My mother had a tube of Aloe Vista lotion which she'd brought home from a long stint in the hospital. They carry it at our local Red Cross Pharmacy and it's for moisturiation and the prevention of denuded skin. I used it on the bottom of my feet and it brought some relief, however, it brought no real relief to any other part of my body. The other thing that worked was Vagasil cream. It worked on the tops of my feet and nowhere else. Maybe one of these items will help you. I hope so. Good luck and God speed in your healing.

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