The human skin is the largest organ of the human body1. It is also the most exposed to the external environment, so it is clear that it is an organ that can be affected by various types of diseases. Some of these diseases are easier to deal with, like ringworm or acne, for example, which are more common and treated by us more naturally. But there are also those that are less known and may cause doubts, such as vitiligo, rosacea, or even shingles, also known as herpes zoster2, which requires a more specific treatment, something that can scare many people at first. Because it is a little-known and little-discussed condition, shingles can often cause embarrassment and stress in different situations, even though the disease does not bring as many harms as people imagine. The truth is, many people associate shingles only with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which leads them to feel embarrassed and even suffer certain types of prejudice. But in order to fight this – and more importantly, to understand what this disease really does and how to cure it – it is necessary to get to know it, as well as its causes, symptoms, and treatments.

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a skin disease caused by the varicella virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. This virus remains inactive in a person’s body until one day it may become active again. This means that only people who have had chickenpox can develop shingles, or herpes zoster. People who have never had chickenpox but are exposed to the shingles virus will first develop chickenpox and may later develop herpes zoster.

Main Symptoms of Shingles

There are different stages of the disease, and each group of symptoms appears in a different phase. Knowing this is important for identifying which stage the disease is in. The first symptoms a person with shingles feels are:

  • Tingling
  • Burning
  • Itching
  • Fever
  • Headaches
  • General discomfort

After this first phase, it is common for the itchy area to become red and for small blisters to appear. These blisters are usually filled with a clear or slightly yellowish fluid. They generally appear only on one side of the body and are most common in certain regions like:

  • Torso
  • Back
  • Face
  • Around the waist (this is the most common area)

After a period of 4 to 6 weeks, these blisters tend to dry up, but they can cause a lot of pain depending on the size of the blister and the area where it is located. Often, the marks they leave may remain for life.

How is Shingles Transmitted?

Shingles is transmitted by direct person-to-person contact. This means that any type of contact with the secretions produced by the blisters of herpes zoster can infect another person. Nevertheless, this is not a disease that stays in your body 100% of the time, appearing mainly in situations of high stress, when the immune system is weakened, or after strong sun exposure.

How is Shingles Treated?

The standard treatment for shingles involves antiviral medications that directly target the virus and reduce symptoms3. It is important to note that the chickenpox vaccine also serves as a vaccine against shingles. But there are also other types of home treatments that are used to relieve outbreaks and overall symptoms of the disease.

Home Remedies

Although they still need more scientific support, home remedies can relieve pain and reduce the blisters caused by herpes zoster, but they will not act on the virus to eliminate the symptoms. This type of treatment is ideal for those suffering from pain or experiencing very strong symptoms. The main home remedies for shingles are:

  • Hydrogen peroxide applied as drops directly on the blisters.
  • Raw honey or leek juice to relieve itching.
  • Oatmeal applied to the sores.
  • Dandelion leaf tea. Remember that the tea should be consumed, not applied to the sores.
  • Aloe vera gel applied to the sores.
  • Hot pepper seed cream applied to the sores.

These are just a few of the home treatments you can use to relieve symptoms of the disease such as itching, blisters, and pain, but it is necessary to use antiviral medications as well if you really want to get better.

Risk Groups

Although anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles, there are some groups at higher risk of developing the disease, whether due to a weakened immune system or other factors in their lives. These groups include:

  • Elderly – Due to weakened immunity
  • People living with HIV – Also due to low immunity
  • People who have not taken the chickenpox vaccine
  • People who have undergone organ transplants
  • Cancer patients

Shingles is a disease that can appear in a variety of people at different times in life, even though there are risk groups. Knowing what it is, what consequences the disease brings, and what is the best way to treat it is very important not only so that people who have shingles can be cured, but also to demystify the ideas we have about certain diseases in society. It is very important to be aware and take care so as not to be affected by viruses and bacteria, but we also need to know when our self-protection is an exaggeration and may embarrass other people. See also: Contact Dermatitis in Children – Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment Photo: Asvmdrn