Suggest Remedy For Painful Rashes When Diagnosed With Herpes Zoster

Posted on Mon, 4 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 4 Jan 2016 Answered on

Tue, 2 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Is herpes zoster always painful and does the rash change over time? Will it go away on its own, does it always have a vertical distribution or can it be circular, can it be a vertical circular patch.

Answered by Dr. VINAY KUMAR (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Herpes Zoster follows nerve distribution

Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear Sir

Welcome to this site and thanks for sending a query!
I am Dr V XXXXXXX a Sr Dermatologist.

Herpes Zoster is generally painful. The pain may be minimal to excruciating. The experience and research confirm that the pain is more intense in patients with advancing age. Pain might be dulled in the immunocompromised.

HZ can go of its own but that runs the risk of prolonged course, more complications, greater number of lesions, and more intense symptoms

The pattern followed by HZ can be varied. In general, it is unilateral, that is, if located on trunk, the rash will likely cover the back , side and front of that side only with possibly slight overlap on to the other side.

A vertical circular patch would be less likely to be HZ, though a cytological examination might help in atypical cases like those with circular and vertical patch.

I hope you make the best use of this information. I will be glad to elaborate further, should you need to ask anything.

Best wishes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T