What is good to eat for herpes zoster?

Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Shingles is a common dermatological disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. After contracting shingles, it is very important to pay attention to one's diet. It is recommended to maintain a light diet and avoid spicy and stimulating foods. Be cautious with dry, hot, and nourishing foods. It is beneficial to consume more porridge-like foods that are warming to the stomach, such as mung bean soup, wheat soup, noodles, etc. Foods that tend to trigger outbreaks, such as seafood and beef or mutton, should be avoided. Instead, it is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits, like carrots, apples, and pears.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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How long does it generally take for herpes zoster to heal?

Most patients, if they do not develop complications from shingles, generally recover within two to four weeks. However, many patients who do develop related complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia, motor paralysis, or gastrointestinal or urinary tract diseases from shingles, have an uncertain recovery time. It could be several weeks, months, or even years. Therefore, once shingles occur, it is essential to seek timely medical treatment at a formal hospital and pay attention to enhancing one's immunity.

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Written by Yu Gang
Dermatology Department
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Can you drink alcohol with herpes zoster?

Herpes zoster is caused by a viral infection of the nerves, usually following a cold. It is important to rest, avoid alcohol, and not eat spicy or rich foods. Additionally, take some antiviral medication such as acyclovir orally, and vitamins B1 and B12 to nourish the nerves. Make sure to rest well, avoid staying up late, and refrain from overexertion. For external use, it is best to apply some acyclovir to prevent infection.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can you have sexual intercourse with herpes zoster?

Firstly, it is advised not to have sexual intercourse during an episode of shingles to avoid cross-infection and aid recovery. Humans are the only hosts for the varicella-zoster virus, which can enter the body through respiratory and oral tracts, genital mucosa, saliva, and skin, and lies dormant in human mucosa, blood, saliva, spinal cord, posterior nerve roots, and sensory ganglia cells. People with acute shingles need to seek prompt medical diagnosis to avoid missing the optimal treatment window and delaying the condition. The treatment principles mainly include antiviral therapy, infection control, pain relief, and aiding scab formation. Typically, proper recovery from shingles is expected within seven to ten days in a standard hospital, and this helps in reducing the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Does shingles leave scars?

After shingles heal, in most cases, there are no scars left. Shingles typically cause symptoms such as blisters or rashes on the skin, which are mostly located in the epidermal layer of the skin and do not infect below the dermis. Therefore, once these blisters heal, they only scab over on the epidermal layer. After the scab falls off, the original skin regrows without any scarring. However, if the patient is prone to scarring, they are generally left with scars.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can people with herpes zoster take a bath?

Whether or not someone who has herpes zoster (shingles) can take a bath depends on the individual’s condition. Most patients can bathe, but they must not scrub, especially at the areas affected by the rash. A minority of patients should avoid bathing if their blisters have ruptured, leading to open sores that could facilitate a secondary bacterial infection. In such cases, bathing is not recommended as it may worsen the infection.