Let’s face it: getting shingles is not fun. It’s painful, it leaves scars, and it can be downright embarrassing. So in this article we are gonna dive in on how to get rid of shingles scars.
Shingles are painful skin disease that causes blisters and rashes. The blisters are often found in clusters around the torso and face.
The good news is that there are treatments available to help you get rid of those pesky shingles scars.
In this post, we’re going to talk about how to get rid of shingles scars. We’ll cover how to treat the pain and itchiness associated with the rash, what products you can use to help reduce scarring, and how to prevent future outbreaks.
What are shingles?
Shingles are a common, painful rash that develops on one side of the body. It’s also known as herpes zoster, and it results from the same virus that causes chickenpox.
The condition is more likely to develop in people whose immune systems are weakened by chronic illness or medications.
A rash usually appears as a band of blisters that can cover much of your trunk and abdomen or just one side of your body. It may include one or more areas of pus-filled blisters or watery blisters with no fluid. The rash will last about two to four weeks before it heals completely.
You may have flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue for several days before the rash appears. The rash typically lasts for two to four weeks and slowly goes away.
Your doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs to help prevent the pain from getting worse or from spreading throughout your body. These medications can also help reduce the risk of developing complications related to such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which is severe pain lasting longer than three months after an attack of shingles.
Causes of Shingles Scars
Shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.
Shingles can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox. But it’s more common in older adults, people with weak immune systems, and those taking medications that suppress the immune system (such as steroids).
The varicella-zoster virus remains in your body after you’ve had chickenpox. Usually, it lies dormant and harmless, hidden away from the immune system in your nerve roots near your spine or brain stem.
But sometimes the virus reactivates years later, generally when your body’s immune system starts to weaken with age or illness, causing shingles. The pain associated with shingles results from inflammation of the nerves that carry sensation to part of your skin and is often accompanied by a rash that spreads over one side of your chest, abdomen, or back.
Shingles Signs and Symptoms
Shingles are a painful and often debilitating rash that can develop on one side of the face or body. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox.
A person who has had chicken pox develops lifelong immunity to shingles. But if you’ve never had chickenpox, you can get it from someone with shingles, even from a simple touch or kiss. Shingles can affect anyone who has been exposed to chicken pox, but it’s most common in people over 50 years old.
The first symptom of shingles is usually a pain, either burning or stabbing, followed by redness, itching, or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. Within two days, the rash appears as small blisters that eventually crust over and heal within about three weeks. The blisters don’t usually itch.
The pain associated with shingles typically subsides within a few days after the rash appears but may last longer in some people. The pain is usually worse when you’re sitting still or lying down and better when moving around or standing up.
The rash associated with shingles typically develops within two to four weeks after you first experience prodromal symptoms. It usually appears on one side of your torso or face, although it can also appear on your neck, chest, back, or buttocks. The rash is often described as burning or stinging when touched because of nerve sensitivity related to the virus.
Shingles Treatment
The shingles treatment for adults is an antiviral medication. Patients who have had chickenpox can receive vaccination against shingles.
The key to treating shingles is to start treatment as early as possible after the rash appears since drug effectiveness decreases as time goes on. Starting treatment within two days of rash onset can reduce pain by about 50%
Medication:
-
Antiviral therapies
Oral tetracyclines such as doxycycline (Doryx) and minocycline (Minocin) are used to treat papulopustular rosacea, but they can cause side effects and require a prescription. Azelaic acid (Azelex) is an alternative that works for some people. It can be applied topically or taken orally in pill form.
-
Pain relievers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), naproxen sodium (Aleve), and celecoxib (Celebrex), can help with pain and inflammation associated with rosacea.
-
Oral corticosteroids
For adults, oral corticosteroids are sometimes prescribed to treat. These drugs can reduce the severity and duration of pain, but they aren’t generally recommended for children.
-
Prednisolone eye drops
When prednisolone eye drops are used in addition to oral antiviral tablets or ointment, they may help relieve pain caused by corneal involvement. Prednisolone eye drops may also be used on their own if you have severe pain from corneal involvement. However, these drops don’t work well if you have no symptoms at all other than a rash.
-
Tricyclic antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants may be helpful for some people with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). They’re often used alongside other treatments such as topical analgesics and gabapentin.
At-Home Care
Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It can cause a painful, itchy rash that appears on one side of the body and then moves to the other side. typically affects people who have had chickenpox.
The first sign is often tingling, itching, or pain in the area where blisters will develop. Within 48 hours, a rash of small fluid-filled blisters appears on one side of the face or body. The blisters eventually dry up and crust over before healing completely within about four to seven weeks.
Shingle pain is often intense and lasts for several weeks after the rash appears.
You can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for milder pain if you don’t have stomach problems from these medications. Don’t use aspirin because it increases your risk for bleeding problems with shingles.
If your face or eyes are affected by shingles, put an ice pack on them for 15 minutes every hour or two to reduce swelling and relieve pain.
Will shingles scars go away by themselves or are they permanent?
Shingles are a viral infection that causes painful blisters on the skin. The blisters are typically located on one side of the body, most commonly in the torso, face and ears. Shingles can be treated with antiviral medications, but there’s no cure for the virus. It can recur later in life.
There are two kinds of shingles scars:
- Keloid
- Hypertrophic scars
Keloid scars form when your body creates extra collagen to heal the wound. This results in thickened scar tissue that can grow beyond the original wound site. Keloid scars may also be red or purple in color. They may itch or hurt and could get infected if scratched or picked at.
Hypertrophic scars are raised above the skin surface, but not as much as keloids do. Hypertrophic scars usually appear within three months after an injury such as surgery or burns; however, some people develop them years after trauma has occurred — even decades later!
FAQs
How common are shingles?
Shingles are a common problem. It affects about 1 in every 3 Americans. The risk of getting shingles increases as you get older.
You can get shingles at any age, including during childhood; however, the risk of getting shingles decreases as you get older. Shingles are rare in children younger than age 5 years and uncommon in children ages 6 to 15 years old.
Can you get rid of shingles scars?
The best way to reduce scarring is to treat it early with antiviral medications or an immune globulin shot (IGIV), which contains antibodies to VZV. If you’re getting treatment for your pain and other symptoms, ask your doctor about these options as soon as possible after diagnosis.
If you develop a severe case of and have significant scarring after healing, plastic surgery may be helpful. Scars from shingles usually fade over time but can be permanent if left untreated.
Conclusion:
The best way to get rid of shingles scars is to make sure you’re taking care of your body. If you’re not eating well, getting enough sleep, and staying active, then your body won’t be able to heal as quickly or completely.