Treatment for Shingles
Shingles is one of the most common and painful viruses, affecting 1 out of every 3 Americans at some point in their lifetimes. If you have ever had chickenpox, you can develop shingles later in life, characterized by a painful rash of itchy blisters on one side of the face or body. Due to the intense pain associated with this condition, a definitive diagnosis and swift treatment plan should be your top priority—and we are here to provide relief.
Shingles Causes & Treatments
Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Once a person has chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in the body but can reactivate later in life, for reasons that are not entirely understood. Shingles progresses in four stages: a tingling or burning sensation on the skin, the appearance of a red rash, blistering on the rash, and finally, the drying and crusting of the blisters.
Although shingles cannot be cured, antiviral medications can expedite the healing process, especially if the condition is caught within 3 days of the rash developing. Your provider will perform a viral culture to check for the presence of VZV and begin treatment. In some cases, topical and oral medications can also be prescribed to alleviate pain and itching.
Benefits of Shingles Treatment
Shingles FAQs
Most people experience nerve pain that they describe as burning or tingling before the rash appears. This pain may be accompanied by numbness or itching, typically affecting only one side of the body. If you have unexplained sensitivity to touch on your skin or burning, tingling pain, make an appointment with Ganger Dermatology to receive an accurate diagnosis. The earlier we catch and begin treating shingles, the better your outcome is likely to be!
You can’t get shingles from someone else, or give shingles to someone else. The only way you can develop it is if you have previously had a chickenpox infection. However, if you come into contact with someone who has never had chickenpox (or was never vaccinated against it), you can spread the varicella-zoster virus to them. They will develop a chickenpox infection, not shingles.
Yes; however, without treatment, shingles usually lasts anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks—and in the worst cases, the pain from shingles could persist for months, years, or even the rest of your life. When the pain outlives the rash, we call it postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Early intervention and treatment can help prevent PHN from happening to you, which is why we recommend calling your dermatologist as soon as you notice the first symptoms!
Get the Upper Hand on Shingles
Shingles can be an incredibly disrupting and painful disease, but it doesn’t have to be. With early intervention and treatment from the board-certified dermatologists at Ganger Derm, you can shorten the disease’s duration, prevent the rash from becoming severe, and give yourself the best chance of avoiding long-term complications.
Proudly serving Ann Arbor, Plymouth, and Wixom, MI, we’re your dedicated skincare pros! Our compassionate team is dedicated to providing fast and effective relief to our patients struggling with the shingles virus. If you are experiencing unexplained burning or tingling on your skin, or if you have recently developed a rash, don’t hesitate to call our team today for a diagnosis!
