How long does the itching last?
In most cases, itching is one of the first signs of shingles before the typical symptoms such as belt-shaped blisters or nerve pain occur. The itching is limited to a circumscribed area of skin that is sensitively supplied by the affected nerve. The itching usually gets worse with the formation of the typical blisters, but it also disappears with their healing. For this reason, the application of zinc ointment, to dry the blisters, also has a very good influence on the very unpleasant itching. This process takes about three weeks in most patients after the first symptoms appear.
How long does shingles on the face last?
In the development and the actual symptoms of the disease, there are actually no differences between shingles on the face and other regions of the body. Therefore, the normal duration of the disease is also here between three and four weeks. It is important to know, however, that shingles on the face can be accompanied by various, sometimes very serious, complications. In addition to the increased risk of developing neuralgia, a nerve pain, these include blindness or hearing loss, even though these complications occur very rarely. Such severe consequences can persist even after the actual shingles has healed.
Duration of the treatment
Shingles does not necessarily have to be treated in patients under 50 years of age, as the immune system can deal with the pathogens on its own.In patients over 50 years of age, in cases of severe courses of disease, infestation of the head or neck, weakened immune system and infestation of the cranial nerves, antiviral treatment with virustatics to support the immune system should be started. If the treating physician decides on a drug therapy, it should be started as soon as possible. The first dose should be administered within the first 48 to a maximum of 72 hours after the first skin abnormalities are noticed, in order to achieve the best possible therapeutic success.
As a rule, antiviral treatment is carried out for 7 days, although the dosage may vary from drug to drug. Good doctor-patient communication is important here. If glucocorticoids (e.g. prednisolone) are added to the virustatics, their administration may take longer as the dose is slowly reduced over 10 to 14 days. Painkillers may also be needed for a longer period of time, as the pain after shingles often lasts longer than the actual disease. The dosage and duration of the administration must be individually adjusted to the patient’s pain perception.
