SHINGLES
Shingles or herpes zoster, is a painful and sometimes itchy skin rash. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which also causes Chickenpox. Shingles appear when the varicella zoster virus starts
up again in your body. After you get better from chickenpox, the virus becomes
dormant in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others,
the virus "wakes up" when the immune system is weakened. It is
not clear why this happens. After the virus becomes active again, it can
only cause shingles, not chickenpox.
Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons, but anyone who has had chicken pox can get shingles. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again. But it is possible to get shingles more than once.
Symptoms:
Shingles develop in several stages.
- Headache and/or sensitivity to light. Feeling of flu, without fever. Could feel dizzy or weak.
- Itching, tingling, or pain in a certain area.
- Small bumps (rash) appear on the skin 2-4 days later, in this same area.
- Bumps become blisters.
- Lesions occur in which pus-filled blisters break open.
- Lesions crust over.
- Skin heals, but symptoms of itching and nerve pain may continue for 2-4 weeks.
Essential Oil Help:
Shingles can be tricky. Keeping your immune system in check is important, even if you think you may have gotten rid of it. If a rash is still present, the virus is still trying to exit the body. Consider taking herbs and essential oils that will stimulate your immune system, like our Immunity Blend. Treat the virus internally, and treat externally, for rash, etc.
Labels: Shingles