8 Easy Ways to Soothe Shingles Rash

If you’ve ever experienced chickenpox, shingles can seem like a flashback or a sequel to this dreaded illness. Shingles is caused by the same virus associated with chickenpox and is related to herpes. One of the main symptoms of shingles is a rash that causes pain and itching and can take two weeks to a month to disappear. Often shingles can affect one side of the body and not the other.

Stress, a weakened immune system, and age can make people vulnerable to contracting shingles, and it is not unusual for someone to struggle with shingles. It is estimated that one out of every three people suffers at some point in their lives with this ailment. What makes shingles so difficult to bear is the pain and itching of the rash and the fact that it can take a long time to go away.

Fortunately, there are a number of home remedies that can take some of the edge off of these annoying rashes and can make putting up with shingles easier. Try a combination of these tips which will improve your ability to cope with and treat shingles.

1. Oatmeal baths

Taking soothing baths is an essential way to reduce the discomfort caused by shingles rashes. Oatmeal most often is associated with breakfast food, but it is also an impressive skin treatment. Oatmeal in various forms can effectively treat dry and itchy skin and has antihistamine properties that reduce painful swelling.

You can find colloidal oatmeal, which is the grain ground up in a very fine form, in health food stores. Also, try grounding up oatmeal very fine in a food processor and adding it to your bath. You may also find creams made of oatmeal that can soothe your rash.