Shingles, medically known as herpes or varicella zoster, is an undesirably painful skin rash. It is a rash that tends to appear as a broad band or as a strip, and affects only one side of the body or face at any given time in the majority of people.
Usually this skin rash is seen in the older population but younger individuals and children are not immune to it and can acquire it. Others that may be infected are individuals who may for whatever reason (stress, injury, medical sickness, immune compromising illnesses like HIV and cancer, as well as, certain medications taken) have an immune system that becomes weak and susceptible to infections. However, once one has experienced it, the probability of getting it again is low even though some individuals can have a second occurrence. Shingles appear in persons who had previously had chickenpox and that troublesome virus remains.
Normally after a bout of chickenpox the virus remains inactive or goes to sleep in the nerve roots that control sensation. In some persons it may never become active but roughly one in every 10 persons can rear its ugly head or become reactivated, based on the mentioned triggering problems and allow for the visible manifestation of its return usually many years or decades later.
The intensity of symptoms that people have varies depending on a person's threshold for pain, age and other medical problems. Its symptoms occur in stages most of the time. At first, a person can experience headaches, can develop light sensitivity and/or flu-like symptoms. This could then be followed by itching, tingling, skin reddening, inflammation, pain or burning of the involved area whether or not touched, all of this before a rash occurs. After which, a band of clusters of water-like vesicles or water bumps appear, localized to the affected area, and can coalesce together to form large blisters or can remain as annoying fine water bumps. As time progresses, the fluid-filled bumps can begin to dry up and crust over, this process of healing can take between two to four weeks. Treatment of this bothersome pest is relatively straight forward and the earlier it is detected and treated the better the prognosis for most people.
I understand there may be a lot of traditional or old wives' tales that are given to individuals with shingles by parents, neighbors and possibly persons who were infected before to use sage, shepherd's needle and other historical bushes in addition to urine or "pee" that may coincidently seem to dry out the rash and appear to work.
However, not knocking these Bahamian remedies and treatments, the use of antiviral medication is ideal in combination, where necessary, with pain, anti-itch, anti-fever and/or antibacterial medications. Once seen by a physician, immediate treatment occurs. Also if the shingles are found to involve the nose or eyes then the ENT (ear nose and throat) specialist and/or the ophthalmologist should be seen right away. The urgency of visiting one or both of the specialists is to prevent any permanent damage from occurring to these vital organs.
Most of the time the symptoms of this skin rash are what bother most individuals who may visit the dermatologist when the intense pain, itching, tingling, skin reddening, inflammation or burning that seems to not resolve or cool down fast enough becomes unbearable. Once the rash has hit its resolving and healing stride a few common complications may linger, for example pain also known as post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). This can occur in 10 to 15 percent of persons with shingles, can be more severe and frequent in the older person 50 years or more, and can last months and in some people can occur on and off for years. Also scarring in the area of the resolved skin rash can develop in addition to hyper-pigmentation or darkening of the previously infected area.
Finally an important factor in the treatment of this annoying culprit, apart from prescribed medication given to reduce the affects and spread of shingles, is home care. A good support system and home care in a lot of cases actually helps one to feel better and recover quicker than if it is gone through alone.

o Dr. Rokeisha Clare-Kleinbussink studied at Cosmetology Cosmetic Training for Dermal Filler in London, U.K. and attended the Academy of Beauty Training for Laser and Microdermabrasion in Nottinghamshire, U.K. She also attended the University of the West Indies School of Medicine and Cardiff University School of Medicine. She has a private practice at Roseona House of General and Cosmetic Dermatology and can be reached at www.roseonahouse.com or 422-2022.

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