treatyourscars Shingles is a term used to describe a particular rash caused by the chicken pox virus. Like chicken pox, it is widespread, and shingles is an infection of the nerves that connect skin areas. Since our skin is connected to the nerves, any part of the body surface can be affected by shingles.
Shingles is a painful skin condition that is caused by the same virus as chickenpox. Everyone who has had chickenpox carries the chickenpox virus and one in four suffers from shingles at some point in their lives. It is a viral infection caused by the Herpeszoster virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes chicken pox (British Skin Foundation 2021).
Shingles is a nasty disease with painful blisters. It is characterized by a red rash that causes pain and burning. Shingles can also appear as flu symptoms (headache, fever, nerve pain) and pustules that form over a few days and crust over a period of 5-7 days.
The first signs of shingles (herpes zoster) are burning, tingling and numbness of the skin. The symptoms usually begin a day or two before a rash with shingles develops. At this stage of the disease, tingling and pain are followed by burning sensations, a red rash, blisters and blisters with crust.
Shingles can be caused by inflamed nerves, but for most people the symptoms are less severe. Shingles is usually preceded by a day or two of pain and discomfort in the skin linked with the affected nerve. It can also trigger a painful rash or small blisters on the skin.
When a shingles rash develops, it is characterized by clusters or groups of blisters. Blisters or rashes can occur all over the body or on one side of the body (left or right). If shingles occurs on the body, it can occur on one or both sides of the face or all over the body.
Shingles scars tend to be dark red or purple. Usually they lie flat on the skin, but some people who suffer from shingles can end up with raised scars or pits. Most people have no scars from a shingles infection, but if you have a scar, it will usually be red to purple and fade over several weeks or months (NHS 2021).
In some cases, shingles can cause severe sensitivity, which can make it painful to wear clothing on the skin, and in other cases, the skin can feel numb. Scarring is not uncommon, but shingles outbreaks can occur. The risk of pain and vision loss due to shingles can arise from a secondary bacterial infection of the skin.
To treat shingles pain, you can use anaesthetic creams or lidocaine or put a cool, wet washcloth over your skin. Avoid scratches or fresh blisters in order not to increase the risk of shingles infection.
Although there is an increased risk of pain, most people over 50 with shingles are offered antiviral drugs. It is important to receive treatment as soon as possible, as some people with shingles can develop long-term pain and itching after the rash and the virus can cause major damage, Kim says. Shingles rashes can spread to the eyes, and if they affect your vision, you can reduce the risk by seeing an ophthalmologist.
Shingles can be painful and cause unsightly scars on the skin, so there are options for those who want to treat it. There are many home remedies claimed to fade shingles scars, but remember that the best topical treatments for fading scars are the only ones that do not cause any further damage, namely silicone and certain natural products such as vitamin C and liquorice root extract. Surgery can be used in extreme cases to make scars appear more natural and less noticeable, for example by combining skin grafts or areas of healthy skin to cover damaged tissue.
Shingles rashes usually last two to four weeks, and most people make a full recovery. In most people, the lesion heals and the pain subsides within 3 to 5 weeks, although blisters can leave scars. Long-term pain is a serious problem with shingles, but it is rare in people over 50.
Shingles is a common condition that can cause extreme pain if left untreated. It is a rash, but proper self-care can help alleviate your discomfort. There are four different stages of shingles, including the stage of skin blistering when the rash spreads to other people.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a skin disease characterized by painful itching and rashes that occur over several body regions. It is an outbreak of rashes and blisters on the skin caused by the same virus which causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus).
When the varicella zoster is reactivated, it moves along long nerve fibers that extend from the body’s sensory cells to the skin, causing the characteristic blistering of shingles. A client with significant life stress and the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) may present the VZV as shingles. Someone who has had chickenpox or been vaccinated against chickenpox can develop shingles or herpes zoster.
Within a month, shingles left scars on one side. Two months later there were scar marks all over the left side of my face, as if it had herpes zoster instead of shingles, and there was pain on the inside of my left jaw.
