Shingles Overview

No matter how you look at it, a case of shinglesthey will eventually fall off and leave behind a
is not a pleasant experience. Every case ofvery tender area of skin. The scabbed blisters
shingles begins and ends unpleasantly. Shingles firstmay or may not result in permanent scarring of
surfaces as an intense pain or other unpleasantthe skin.
sensation. This sensation usually occurs in a largeIn order to minimize the effects of this extremely
band along one side of the body, but can alsouncomfortable condition, it is important that you
present itself on the face or extremities of theconsult with a doctor as soon as you can. If you
body. This pain is so unpleasant that it is oftenare experiencing the initial pain stage of shingles, it
described as a "lightning bolt pain." In addition tois vital to try to schedule and appointment with
experiencing sensations of pain, you may beyour doctor. During the first three to four days of
subjected to itching, irritation, throbbing or othershingles, a physician can evaluate you and possibly
unpleasantness.give you an antibiotic.
After several days of these uncomfortableThe antibiotic that you are given can be very
sensations, the second stage of shingles will begin.effective in not only reducing the discomfort that
The second stage is not only the most noticeablecomes along with shingles but also the amount of
but also the reason why shingles, which is actuallytime that your case of shingles lasts. In addition to
called herpes zoster, earned its unofficial nickname.the help of your doctor, taking proper care of
The second stage of shingles consists of a largeyourself will make a case of shingles much more
rash. Unlike other minor rashes caused bytolerable. It is hard to imagine, but by avoiding
irritation, the shingles rash is one that is quitesmall things such as scratching your rash, you can
intense. The rash consists of small red bumps andsignificantly reduce many of the unpleasant
blisters.elements that accompany a case of shingles.
After gradually growing for a few days, theShingles can be a very debilitating disease and
blisters within the rash will begin to emit the pusneeds to be caught early to avoid further
that has been building up within them. Thisdamage to ones skin and body. If you are
weeping of pus will continue for several days, andshowing any of the symptoms of the disease
will eventually result in the blisters becomingyou should consult a doctor immediately as you
scabbed over. After the blisters have scabbed,may require urgent medical care and treatment.