Abstract
IntroductionThe pain of acute herpes zoster (shingles) is severe and difficult to control. The medications used to control pain have a variety of important and potentially serious side effects. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first case report of using a plain topical occlusive dressing to reduce the pain of herpes zoster, avoiding the use of medication.Case presentationA 40-year-old Caucasian man and a qualified physician (the author), developed a dermatomal vesicular rash consistent with herpes zoster. Applying plain topical occlusive dressings reduced the severity of his pain to an ignorable level.ConclusionPlain topical occlusive dressings provide effective pain relief for acute herpes zoster, thereby avoiding the risks accompanying medication use.
Highlights
The pain of acute herpes zoster is severe and difficult to control
I describe the case of a patient with acute herpes zoster, treated using a plain topical occlusive dressing to reduce the pain, thereby avoiding the use of medication
Some studies have evaluated the use of topical analgesia for the acute pain of herpes zoster
Summary
I describe the case of a patient (the author) with acute herpes zoster (shingles), treated using a plain topical occlusive dressing to reduce the pain, thereby avoiding the use of medication. This decision was based upon a spontaneous hypothesis that an additional layer of skin (albeit artificial) might reduce the severity of his constant pain and skin hypersensitivity. Full resolution of his symptoms occurred over approximately two and a half weeks, with no post-herpetic neuralgia
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