What Heals Shingles?

A painful outbreak of shingles, also called herpes zoster, can happen to anyone who's had chicken pox. The accompanying lesions can resolve on their own in a few weeks, says the Mayo Clinic, but because shingles can be quite painful and result in long-term conditions such as postherpetic neuralgia and other neurological conditions, it sometimes requires medical treatment.

About Shingles

• Shingles typically presents as a band or strip of watery clusters of blisters on one side of the body, sometimes extending from one side of the breastbone to the other side of the body, near the spine. But shingles lesions can erupt anywhere, including the arms, legs and even around the eyes.

Prompt Treatment

• Prescription oral antivirals can rapidly heal shingles and are most effective when taken during the first three days of an outbreak, states the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. These medications go by the trade names Famvir, Zovirax and Valtrex.

Pain Management

• Shingles can cause extreme discomfort, requiring medical treatment to manage pain. Narcotics, certain tricyclic antidepressants and anticonvulsants can make patients more comfortable during a shingles outbreak, says the Mayo Clinic. Numbing topical creams, gels and sprays, such as licodaine, are also helpful.

DIY Treatment

• During a shingles outbreak, the Mayo Clinic recommends that the sufferer choose relaxing activities to reduce stress. Cool baths and compresses can reduce pain. Drugstore products such as pain relievers, anti-itching creams and oral antihistamines can also alleviate discomfort.

See Your Doctor

• Uncommon symptoms of shingles include hearing problems, vision loss and even blindness when they present on the face. Medical attention should be sought immediately if these arise.