Important Tips for Treating Shingles on the Face
It may not be one of the most well known disorders, but anyone can suffer from shingles. On the face, this skin disorder can present dangerous complications if not treated swiftly.
Shingles appears as a skin rash, most frequently in individuals aged 60 and over. It is not uncommon, however, for people younger than 60 to develop the disorder. It occurs as a result of the virus called varicella-roster; the same virus that causes chickenpox, one of the most familiar childhood diseases. After being infected with the virus and enduring 5 to 7 days of the itchy rash that chickenpox is famous for producing, the symptoms subside and go away. The varicella-roster virus may not go away, though; it can remain dormant in the system for years, hibernating in nerve cells close to the spinal cord. For reasons that are widely unknown, the virus reactivates in about 20% of the population who have had chickenpox. It reappears in a different guise that is called shingles. This condition causes painful sensations as well as red bumps that form into fluid filled blisters that are generally equally painful.
In most cases, shingles develop on the trunk portion of the body. It is also possible for it to occur on arms or legs, and some people have developed shingles on the face or neck as well. What appears to be a rash are actually small clusters of bumps, with additional clusters forming over the next few days. There is usually a definitive line patterns to the rash, as it traverses the nerve where the virus lives in the general direction toward the spine. It is almost always confined to only side of the body. When shingles blisters do erupt on the face, they are most commonly found around the nose and the eyes. This presents quite a concern, because shingles can detrimentally affect the cornea of the eye and potentially cause blindness. For this reason, anyone who remotely suspects that they may be suffering from shingles on the face should seek medical attention immediately.
Symptoms of the condition that can send up red flags to the individual are:
- Fever and flu like symptoms such as headache, upset stomach and chills
- Tingling or pins and needles sensations in the skin around the tip of the nose.
- Stinging, itching or burning sensation of the skin around the nose
- The development of redness and small bumps on the nose and skin between the nose and eye.
Individuals who experience the first symptoms may think they are showing the first signs of the flu or a cold. If shingles does spread to the eye, it will become inflamed, reddened, tear easily and highly sensitive. When the unpleasant skin sensations begin, and certainly when the bumps first appear, it is very important to see a physician.
Treatment of the condition may begin with a topical agent to soothe and decrease the sensitivity of the skin. There are also antiviral medications used to attack the varicella-roster virus itself, the most common of which is an oral agent called acyclovir. It not only reduces the inflammation and therefore the pain of shingles, but also the possibility of long term residual nerve pain that can afflict older patients. Two other medications, famciclovir and valacyclovir, have both been proven to drastically decrease pain quickly. Taking these medications will not only alleviate the symptoms present, but also lessen the risk of future vision complications.
When shingles on the face occurs, consult a physician immediately. Obtaining necessary treatment at the first onset of the condition can not only ease the painful symptoms quickly but also protect you from potential loss of vision.