Home remedies for shingles can provide relief from symptoms although they won’t cure you of the condition.
Natural at-home treatments include therapeutic baths, cool compresses, soothing paste, and dietary and herbal remedies.
You should always see a healthcare provider about shingles.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
This article discusses different home remedy options for shingles, including which ones are backed by research.
Bathing daily also helps keep your skin clean, lowering the chance of skin infections from shingles.
Do not use harsh soap on shingles and avoid scrubbing the blistered areas too hard.
Gently wash your skin with a fragrance-free cleanser and pat the rash dry with a clean cotton towel.
Do not rub the skin too harshly with the towel.
Launder your towel and/or washcloth right away to avoid spreading the shingles virus to others.
Oatmeal Baths
Oatmeal helps relieve itching.
When oatmeal is combined with lavender essential oil, it may help relieve the burning and itching of shingles.
Water Temperature
The water in your bath should not be hot.
Using hot water increases blood flow, which can worsen shingles blisters.
However, vinegar is very acidic and could burn your skin if not diluted properly.
A safe dilution ratio is one tablespoon of vinegar to one cup of water.
Diluting vinegar does not guarantee its safety.
Be sure to ask your dermatologist before using vinegar for cold compresses.
However, another study found that chamomile was less effective than witch hazel in reducing inflammation of the skin.
The mixture should be the consistency of a paste.
It can then be applied to the rash for 10 to 15 minutes.
This soothing paste can be reapplied several times each day as needed.
Diet
Shingles is associated with a weakened immune system.
As you are getting better from shingles, check that you are eating a nutritious diet.
Some essential oils have antimicrobial properties that fight disease-causing pathogens, including 16 that fight viruses.
Ask your healthcare provider before using any of these oils.
Instead, try using calamine lotion or Benadryl (both topical and oral).
It is unlikely thatapple cider vinegarcan offer pain relief for shingles.
It is generally advised to speak to a healthcare provider before attempting to self-medicate.
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American Academy of Family Physicians.Shingles.
Bandyopadhyay D.Topical antibacterials in dermatology.Indian J Dermatol.2021 Mar-Apr;66(2):117-125. doi: 10.4103/ijd.IJD_99_18.
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Shenefelt, P.D.Herbal medicine: biomolecular and clinical aspects.
In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors.Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects.
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