You can't get a shingle outbreak going any quicker, but you can do a lot of things on your own to make yourself more comfortable. In this article we give some tips on how to care for shingles at home and when it's time to call our home doctor for shingles in Costa del Sol.
Is it shingles?
Shingles is an infection caused by the same virus that gives you chickenpox that typically lasts from 2 to 4 weeks. The signs can be hard to ride out and it affect only a small section of one side of your body. These signs and symptoms may include:
- Pain, burning, numbness or tingling
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching
Some people also experience:
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Fatigue
The first sign of shingles typically is pain, which can be intense for some. It can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems that affect the heart , lungs or kidneys, depending on the location of the pain. Some may experience pain from shingles without the rash ever developing.
The shingles rash most commonly develops as a stripe of blisters that wrap around either the left or right side of your torso. Shingles rash sometimes occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face.
Caring for shingles at home
- Oatmeal baths: Our home doctor for shingles in Costa del Sol advises to take a bath in a cool tub of water and add colloidal oatmeal, which is made of oats ground to a very fine paste, to calm your itching.
- Cold compresses: Run a washcloth under cold water and put it about 20 minutes at a time on your blisters. This will not only ease itching, it also keeps your blisters clean to help you avoid a skin infection.
- Loose clothing: You'll definitely notice that more comfort is given by comfortable fits produced from natural fabrics, such as cotton or linens. If the blisters need to be covered, avoid bandages that might stick to your rash.
- Balm lotion: Treat your skin with a smooth, cool, and soothing balm and avoid antibiotics that you rub on your skin, as they can make the blisters take longer to heal.
When to call our home doctor for shingles in Costa del Sol
Contact our home doctor for shingles in Costa del Sol promptly if you suspect shingles, but especially in the following situations:
- The pain and rash occurs close to an eye which, if left untreated, can lead to permanent eye damage.
- You are 60 or older, as the likelihood of complications is significantly elevated by age.
- You or anyone in your family has a compromised immune system (caused by cancer, medications or chronic disease).
- The rash is widespread and painful.