Shingles, scientifically known as herpes zoster, is a viral disease exhibited by a painful skin rash and blisters in a specific area of one specific part of the body. This rash often resembles a stripe. There are numerous forms of treatment for shingles, including prescription medication. However, there are also home-based ways to treat the rash. It's usually best to consult a doctor to determine the best course of action as well as to ascertain if your rash is in fact caused by shingles or some other skin disorder.
Cool Tap Water
Applying cool tap-water compresses using soft cloth towels to shingles-related blisters for 20 minutes several times daily will help dry the blisters out. This also helps remove scabs and lowers the risk of bacterial infection. Once the blisters have dried out, cease with tap-water compresses, as you'll not want to dry out the skin surrounding the rash. Shingles blisters are contagious, so dispose of all materials that touch the skin after applying the compresses, or wash them thoroughly.
Keep Area Clean
Keeping affected areas clean with soap and water will also alleviate the pain and spreading of blisters. Also, applying petroleum jelly to affected areas has been known to heal these blisters as well. Apply all items as needed.
Cornstarch Bath
Lying in a bathtub filled with water and cornstarch will help ease the pain that results from shingles. Do so for approximately 20 minutes, preferably just before bed, to achieve optimal results.
Aloe Vera Mixture
Another way to alleviate the pain resulting from shingles is to mix aloe vera juice with 1 tablespoon of honey and some drops of leek juice. Leek juice can be purchased at many health food stores.
Tags: affected areas, alleviate pain, from shingles, tap-water compresses, will help