Treatment For Shingles Rash Uk

Several antiviral medicines acyclovir valacyclovir and famciclovir are available to treat shingles and shorten the length and severity of the illness.

Treatment for shingles rash uk.

These medicines are most effective if you start taking them as soon as possible after the rash appears. Covering the rash with clothing or a non adherent non stick dressing to reduce the risk of other people becoming infected with chickenpox as it s very difficult to pass the virus on to someone else if the rash is covered. The rash can appear anywhere on your body or in several places. It is important to see a doctor as soon as a person notices the symptoms of shingles.

Antiviral medications these medicines may slow down the progress of the shingles rash especially if you take them within the first 72 hours of having symptoms. So it may limit the severity of symptoms of the shingles episode. Take paracetamol to ease pain keep the rash clean and dry to reduce the risk of infection wear loose fitting clothing use a cool compress a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel or a wet cloth a few times a day. Capsaicin topical patch qutenza anticonvulsants such as gabapentin neurontin tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline numbing agents such as lidocaine delivered via a cream gel spray or skin patch medications that.

Taking antiviral drugs as early as possible when shingles starts may reduce the risk of getting postherpetic neuralgia and can shorten its duration if it does occur. Shingles causes a red rash that forms a band on one side of your body or face. Over the counter or prescription medication may be recommended to treat shingles. The second most common rash site is the face.

They can also lower your chance of. Treatment for shingles can include. To treat the pain of postherpetic neuralgia using an anaesthetic ointment lidocaine 5 before applying a topical analgesic cream capsaicin cream may help. John s wort oregano oil echinacea lemon balm green tea essential fatty acids.

Painkilling medication such as paracetamol ibuprofen or codeine. Shingles can cause severe pain so your doctor also may prescribe.