Herpes is something that immediately brings to mind embarrassment. If you're diagnosed with a disease that has “herpes” tagged on it, you can count on the fact that people will look at you strangely, then slowly walk away from you as if you have something that is contagious and life-threatening. While the latter is arguably not true, the former is. Unlike other contagious viral infections, though, herpes gets the extra stigma flak because it is automatically associated with sex.

It is perhaps this reason why people who suffer from herpes zoster use its other term "shingles" to describe their disease, either to a doctor or to another person. Shingles doesn't have that stigma associated with the general term “herpes.”

In reality, though, herpes zoster is not contracted via sexual intercourse. Unlike herpes simplex – which can be obtained via sexual activities – herpes zoster is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that is responsible for the chickenpox disease. In fact, the only people who get herpes zoster are those who have had an attack of chickenpox sometime in their lives.

You can think of herpes zoster as an aftershock of chickenpox, after having been dormant for a period of years or decades. Once a person is cured of chickenpox, the virus is not eliminated from the body, but rather becomes latent in the nerve cell bodies. No one is exactly sure what makes the virus latent and what triggers its resurgence after so many years, but it is generally acknowledged that a weak immune system will give you more chances of having herpes zoster. More than half of those who have outbreaks of herpes zoster are people in their 50s or 60s. Doctors usually attribute this to the fact that as you grow older, your immune system also becomes less effective.

Herpes Zoster Symptoms

Herpes zoster is usually marked by the appearance of rash that wraps around your body, usually on an area of skin that is supported by one spinal nerve, usually called a dermatome. The condition results in a belt-like pattern that is only limited on one side of the body, usually from the middle of your back going around to one side of your chest, ending on your breastbone.

It doesn't mean, however, that this is the only place where the rash appears. The rash can appear on other parts of your body like your neck, face, or even your scalp. Since the earliest symptoms of the disease (fever, headache, and malaise) are very nonspecific, the rash is usually one of the first hard symptoms that indicates that you are suffering from the disease.

Later, the rash starts forming little blisters not unlike the ones you got when you were suffering from chickenpox. As the fever and malaise continue, the blisters fill with a serous oxidate. Over time, as the vesicles fill with blood, they become darkened or cloudy. In a little over a week or so, they start to crust and eventually fall off as the skin heals. There are times that, like chickenpox, severe blistering results in scarring and skin discoloration.

The pain you experience as the blister worsens can be very excruciating. For some people, even the slightest touch of fabric can be very intense. What's worse is that there can be complications to this. One out of every five people suffering from herpes zoster will get a condition called postherpetic neuralgia, which can be rather difficult to manage. In this condition, your nerve fibers become damaged, causing them to become confused and send mixed and exaggerated pain messages to your brain. The affected skin area then becomes very sensitive to pain, causing even the slightest touch to be painfully nerve-wracking.

In fact, some people can be so sensitive that a breeze of wind can be very painful. The pain and skin sensitivity happens long after the blisters have cleared. People who suffer from this condition can expect it to go away after several years, although there are cases in which it never goes away and those affected will have to live with it for the rest of their lives, regularly using medicine to control the pain.

How to Treat Herpes Zoster

Have yourself checked by a physician right away. You can do some home treatments to ease the discomfort and expedite the recovery process of herpes zoster, but it is still a very good idea to go to your doctor for more specialized treatment. Your doctor may use a three-pronged approach for treating the condition: high doses of anti-viral medications like acyclovir and valacyclovir to reduce the severity of your symptoms; an anti-inflammatory medication such as corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation as well as lower the risk that you'll contract postherpetic neuralgia; and pain relievers to relive your pain.

Apply anti-itch creams to relieve itchiness. Like chickenpox, you should resist the urge to scratch the blisters or you may end up with unsightly scars or, worse, make your condition worse with an infection. If you feel that the itching is really severe and it's driving you out of your mind, try a non-prescription oral antihistamine like Benadryl or those containing diphenhydramine to ease the itch. For less severe itching, you can try hydrocortisone creams and apply them liberally over the affected area.

Wash the blisters and rash twice a day. Clean the area around your rash with comfortably warm or lukewarm water and regular soap. You can also use antibacterial soap to lessen the chances of bacteria infecting the rash. However, when cleaning, be careful not to rub so much that the blisters break; you might cause the infection to spread. Instead, wash carefully and instead of rubbing with the towel, gently pat the area. When drying, use a towel that is not rough. That way, you will minimize irritating and worsening the affected area. Also, don't bandage your blisters. Air them out until they flake off.

Apply cool compresses to relieve the pain and itch. Another method to somewhat ease the pain and itchy discomfort caused by the blisters and rash is to apply a cold compress on the affected area. Soaking yourself in a lukewarm bath is also a good choice.

There are also natural remedies you can take to ease your herpes zoster discomfort. Soaking yourself in a comfortable oatmeal bath can relieve your pain. Baking soda can also work, too. Also, it is good to note that this particular treatment also works if you have chickenpox. Adding vinegar to a cool water compress is also a common form of treatment. For this, you only need a small amount of vinegar (about 1 part to 32 parts water).

While there is no sure-fire way to prevent herpes zoster from coming out of its hibernation, there are ways to minimize the chances of it breaking out. If you haven't had chickenpox, you can have yourself vaccinated with a chickenpox vaccine (Varivax). The varicella-zoster vaccine (Zostavax) can also help prevent herpes zoster from manifesting in adults that are 60 years old and older who already had chickenpox. Like the vaccine for chickenpox, this doesn't guarantee that you'll never get the disease, but it will help lessen the severity in the event that you do.

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