Treatments for Shingles

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Treatments for Shingles

There are no treatments to cure shingles. Rather, the goals of treatment include:

Shortening the length of the illness
Preventing shingles by using the ]]>shingles vaccine]]>
Preventing complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia
Relieving/reducing pain and discomfort
Preventing the rash from becoming infected

Treatment involves the following:

]]>Lifestyle changes]]>
]]>Medications]]>
]]>Alternative and complementary therapies]]>
]]>Other treatments]]>

At this time, there are no surgical procedures for the treatment of shingles.

References:

The American Academy of Dermatology website. Available at: http://www.aad.org/default.htm . Accessed February 21, 2006.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/ . Accessed February 21, 2006.

Stankus SJ, Dlugopolski M, Packer D. Management of herpes zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia. Am Fam Physician . 2000;61(8). Available at: http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000415/2437.html.

Tyring SK. Management of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia. J Am Acad Dermatol . 2007 Dec;57(6 Suppl):S136-42. Review.

Last reviewed November 2008 by ]]>Ross Zeltser, MD, FAAD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.