can you tell me anything about the skin disease shingles?

Question

i know it comes from having the chicken pox when youre a kid but is there an over the counter medicine?

Answer 1

They are a form of adult chicken pox that ususally runs its course in time. As with chicken pox once you have them you can not cure it.

They show up 30-40 years after the initial attack... and you may even get them a third time in another 30-40 years... but do not despair it means you're having the blessing of a long life!!!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Shingles does come from having chicken pox and the virus will lay dormant and may or may not ever develope into shingles. The best thing to do is go the Doctor and get a prescription to clear it up quickly. If you can't afford that, ask your pharmacist for an OTC item that they would recommend. Make sure you know for a fact that it is shingles. Believe it or not poison ivy, if there is a reaction to it and what parts of the body it is located at, can be mistaken for shingles.

Answer 5

Symptoms
Shingles starts with a tingling sensation in the area affected, followed by pain. You may have a fever and feel unwell, though some people have no other symptoms.

After about five days a rash appears. The rash occurs on one side of the body, often over the ribs, but may appear elsewhere. As in chickenpox, it takes the form of blisters containing virus particles. About three days after appearing, they turn yellowish and within a few days flatten, dry out and crust over. An episode of shingles usually lasts for 2-4 weeks.

Some people experience pain following an attack, due to damage to the nerves, known as postherpetic neuralgia. This can last months and occasionally years.

A person with shingles can pass on the virus (which would cause chickenpox in another person who has not previously had chickenpox). The person is contagious until the last blister has scabbed over. The virus spreads through direct contact with open blisters. A person with chickenpox or shingles cannot give someone shingles as shingles is a re- activation of the virus.

As soon as the rash appears, an antiviral drug (such as aciclovar) should be taken, this will reduce the severity and length of the active stage and minimize nerve damage. This is only effective if started soon after the rash appears.

Simple painkillers such as aspirin and paracetamol may help.

Complications
The complications of shingles are:

Persistent pain in the area of the rash, long after the infection has healed (postherpetic neuralgia)
Bacterial infection of the rash ;
Scarring, though this is unusual;
White patches in the area of the rash (loss of pigment);
Involvement of the external ear, with occasional damage to the middle and inner ears, giving deafness and vertigo;
The Ramsay–Hunt syndrome, which involves ear problems and paralysis of the facial nerve (Bell's palsy) on the same side;
Ulceration and permanent scarring of the surface of the eye (cornea);
Inflammation of some inner parts of the eye(uveitis: iris and ciliary body).

Answer 6

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RE:
can you tell me anything about the skin disease shingles?
i know it comes from having the chicken pox when youre a kid but is there an over the counter medicine?

Answer 7

I had shingles this past July - I was given an anti-viral medication and pain medication as it was extremely painful, after about 4 weeks, all symptoms were gone except for a few scars. I never had a break-out of chicken pox as a kid, so I was VERY surprised to be diagnosed with shingles. If you have them - see your doctor and hang in there - they do go away! Good Luck

Answer 8

It's painful, so over the counter NSAIDS such as acetamenophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) help. Teenagers should not take aspirin, because of the risk of Reye's Syndrome.
Furthermore, you can put Benedryl Lotion, Caladryl Lotion, or Aveeno Lotion on them for topical relief.
Aluminum acetate, also applied topically, can help. Examples are, Bluboro, Burow's solution, or Domeburo. Aluminum acetate is an astringent.

Answer 9

It is horrible and painful. It is like dormant chicken pox that come out when you are older in a painful lesion type rash. You should talk to your M.D. regarding medication.

Answer 10

It's medical name is Herpes zoster. It usually disappears on its own, and may not require treatment except for symptom relief, such as pain medication.