7 Mistakes People With Shingles Make

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS

Written By Lorna Collier on September 17, 2020

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  Things That Make Shingles Rash and Symptoms Worse

  So you've just been told you have shingles—a painful rash caused by the same virus that gave you chickenpox way-back-when. Are there smart ways to treat this illness—and mistakes that can make it more difficult to recover from? Yes. Here is some timeless shingles information that can help you avoid errors in your shingles care.
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  1. Delaying treatment until the medication doesn't work.

  A common first-line treatment for shingles is antiviral medication, such as valacyclovir (Valtrex) and acyclovir (Zovirax). These medications can dry up the shingles blisters more quickly, reduce burning and itching, and keep complications like long-lasting nerve pain at bay. But you need to start these within 24 to 72 hours of the rash appearing for these to be fully effective. So don't put off that doctor visit if you suspect a shingles rash.
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  2. Scratching those insanely itchy spots.

  Your shingles rash can itch. And itch. And itch some more. Your body's reaction to that is to scratch—repeatedly. But this can lead to infection—what doctors call a secondary bacterial infection, in addition to shingles. For the sake of your skin and to prevent additional infection, ask your doctor for topical sprays or creams or other medication that can help control the itching and pain. Or try cool compresses, ice packs, or even oatmeal baths instead.
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  3. Keeping up your normal stressful lifestyle.

  One reason researchers suspect shingles flares up is stress, which can burn out your immune system, allowing the shingles virus (which is really the chickenpox virus, lying dormant) to resurface. So think of shingles as your body telling you to slow down and chill out. Try to relax, sleep well, eat well, exercise gently (if your doctor says it's OK) and in general, take care of yourself as you heal. Take time off work or adjust your schedule if necessary.
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  4. Ignoring lesions on your face or head.

  A common myth about shingles is that you only get it on your trunk, such as along one side of your waist, chest or other areas of your torso. But shingles spots can appear anywhere, including in or near your eyes, ears and mouth. These can lead to more serious complications, including vision loss or hearing and balance problems. Contact your doctor if you see lesions in these areas. You may need additional medication.
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  5. Suffering in silence rather than seeking additional treatment.

  Sometimes you need to call your doctor back or even seek out a second opinion if you are not getting relief from your shingles symptoms. Besides antiviral medication, other types of shingles treatments are available, including special patches, sprays, or other kinds of drugs that can help quell the pain. This is especially true if your pain lasts after your rash has gone away. One relatively common shingles complication is postherpetic neuralgia—a type of long-lasting nerve pain. There are treatments for this, such as anticonvulsant drugs, but you need to reach out to your doctor to get them.
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  6. Assuming you aren’t contagious.

  While it's true that you can't pass on shingles, you CAN pass on chickenpox. The shingles virus is the chickenpox virus reborn. If you have contact with someone who has never had chickenpox and hasn't been vaccinated against it, that person can get chickenpox. The contact must be with the open part of your blisters, so cover up these areas if possible. Chickenpox can be especially dangerous for adults, infants in utero, and babies.
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  7. Figuring you can only get shingles once.

  A new shingles vaccine is available that's more than 90% effective at preventing the illness. You might be thinking that since you already have shingles, you won't need this vaccine. But that’s a common misconception. Unfortunately, people can and do get shingles more than once, so after you have recovered from shingles, check with your doctor about getting immunized against a future recurrence of this nasty illness.

Shingles Information | 7 Mistakes People With Shingles Make

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