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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Rashes On The Scalp

I have been on valacyclover fot shingles on the right top of my head, I have taken this medication for 9 days now. There were no tests done by my doctor to say this was another episode if shingles whiich I have had before in the sane area. There was no rash or bumps on the scalp and I still have soreness and tenderness there. Could I indeed have another case of shingles or could it have been something known as PHN?
Fri, 19 Aug 2016
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Shingles is characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters involving a localized area. It is caused by varicella zoster virus. Chickenpox is due to an initial infection with VZV. Once chickenpox has resolved, the virus may remain inactive in nerve cells. Shingles occurs when viral antibody titer and cellular immunity decline to levels that allow viral reactivation. Shingles resolves within 3–5 weeks, but secondary bacterial infection and chronic pain due to post – herpetic neuralgia may occur. Duration of recovery from post – herpetic neuralgia is uncertain and variable. You are in recovery phase. Soreness and tenderness will resolve in a few days. This is temporary problem due inflammation of nerve. Don’t worry.
Advice
1.     Complete your course of valaciclovir as suggested by your doctor
2.     You can also apply calamine lotion locally three times daily for 5 days
3.     Ibuprofen 600 mg per oral if pain occurs
4.     Do not take mental stress as it aggravates shingles
5.     You can take Zostavax vaccine if your age is more than 50 years. It is not recommended to those who are less than 50 years
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Suggest Treatment For Rashes On The Scalp

Shingles is characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters involving a localized area. It is caused by varicella zoster virus. Chickenpox is due to an initial infection with VZV. Once chickenpox has resolved, the virus may remain inactive in nerve cells. Shingles occurs when viral antibody titer and cellular immunity decline to levels that allow viral reactivation. Shingles resolves within 3–5 weeks, but secondary bacterial infection and chronic pain due to post – herpetic neuralgia may occur. Duration of recovery from post – herpetic neuralgia is uncertain and variable. You are in recovery phase. Soreness and tenderness will resolve in a few days. This is temporary problem due inflammation of nerve. Don’t worry. Advice 1. Complete your course of valaciclovir as suggested by your doctor 2. You can also apply calamine lotion locally three times daily for 5 days 3. Ibuprofen 600 mg per oral if pain occurs 4. Do not take mental stress as it aggravates shingles 5. You can take Zostavax vaccine if your age is more than 50 years. It is not recommended to those who are less than 50 years Thanks