Shingles which has a medical term Herpes zoster is a skin rash. This has no relation with the herpes genitalis which is a sexually transmitted disease. The herpes virus that causes the skin rash and the chicken pox are also not the same. People that had been affected with chicken pox are more likely to get the virus. You will not acquire virus from another person but once you have Herpes zoster, you have the possibility of giving the person chicken pox.
Once a person had a chicken pox, the person will not get it again but the virus known as Varicella-zoster virus, it will just stay dormant in the nervous system and may remain in the body until certain circumstances trigger the onset of Herpes zoster. Once the virus is reactivated, it will cause the skin rash. However, the causes of reactivation are still unknown however people over the age of 60 and those with low immune system usually get the virus.
When you are infected with Herpes zoster, it only means that you have skin rash but before the rash shows, certain pains are apparent. The person may feel some burning pain and the skin is very sensitive. Other times the person may feel some numbness. After the discomfort, shingles symptoms will be evident like the appearance of rashes on one side of the body. The rashes may appear from the back going to the chest. Pain is usually associated with the virus that a slight bump will give discomfort or extreme pain to the person. After a few days, the bumps will be filled with fluid that will look exactly like a chicken pox. This will be less itchy at this time, the pus will fill in, the blister will break and the crust will take over. The rash will then proceed on the healing process but may leave scar. Sometimes, the virus will cause pain without the rashes. This is difficult to diagnose though.
A person with Herpes zoster should always keep the affected area clean. The affected area should be cleaned with soap and water, cool compress and anti-itch lotions like the calamine lotion will relieve the itching. To dry the blisters and stop the oozing, aluminum acetate solution can be used however; more effective shingles treatments in the form of drugs fight the virus. Antiviral medications like Zovirax (acyclovir), Valtrex (valacyclovir) and Famvir (famciclovir) lessens the severity of the pain and itchiness as well as the length of the presence of rashes. Other medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in managing Herpes zoster. For people who are 60 years old and over, a vaccine may be given to reduce lessen the presence of the virus and to reduce the severity of Herpes zoster.