• Facebook
  • Instagram
Call Today: (847) 234-1177
Northshore Dermatology
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Tina C. Venetos, MD
    • Amy C. Brownlee, MS, PA-C
    • Sarah Lupa, PA-C
  • Our Services
    • Medical Procedures
      • General Dermatology
      • Surgical Dermatology
      • Pediatric Dermatology
    • Cosmetic Procedures
      • Allumera
      • CoolSculpting®
      • Chemical Peels
      • Dermaplaning
      • Eclipse PRP
      • EMSCULPT®
      • HydraFacial MD
      • Laser Genesis
      • Laser Hair Removal
        • Icon by Cynosure
        • xeo® by Cutera
      • MiraDry
      • NeoGraft
      • Pearl Laser
      • PicoSure Laser
      • SkinPen®
      • Skin Resurfacing (Stretch Marks/Scars)
        • Icon by Cynosure
        • Sellas Laser
      • Pigmented and Vascular lesions
        • Skin Revitalization by Cynosure
        • Limelight by Cutera
      • Titan Laser
      • Ultherapy®
      • Vein Therapy
      • ThermiVa
      • ThermiSmoothface
    • Injectables
      • Fillers
        • Bellafill®
        • Juvederm®
        • Restylane
        • Restylane Lyft
        • Restylane Silk
        • Volbella®
      • Neurotoxins
        • Botox® Cosmetic
        • Dysport®
      • KYBELLA®
  • Skin Care Products
    • Arnika Forte™
    • Colorscience®
    • Clarisonic
    • Elta MD
    • ISDIN Products
    • Latisse®
    • NEOCUTIS Products
    • Nutrafol
    • Obagi Products
    • Revision Skin Care
    • ReFissa®
    • Senté®
    • SkinCeuticals
    • Skinbetter Science
    • Stratpharma Products
    • Viviscal
  • Patient Resources
    • Care Credit
    • Insurance
    • Online Bill Pay
  • Contact Us
  • Shop Online
    • Shop Northshore Derm
    • Shop SkinMedica

Shingles / Herpes Zoster

You are here: Home / Services we provide / Medical Procedures / General Dermatology / Shingles / Herpes Zoster

Shingles is a condition caused by a reactivation of the varicella virus, the herpes virus responsible for chickenpox. Once an individual has been infected with chickenpox, this virus lies dormant within the body’s nerve tissue. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles, often after another illness or during a period of great stress. Advancing age and immune deficiency disorders are also risk factors for shingles.

Shingles most commonly presents as a painful rash of fluid-filled blisters wrapping around only one side of the body. Early treatment for shingles may minimize symptoms and prevent complications. Since shingles affects the nerves, patients may experience a wide variety of sensations including shooting pain, itching, burning, numbness or aching similar to a pulled muscle. Additional symptoms of the disorder may include headache, fever, fatigue and general body aches. The shingles rash usually lasts for several weeks to as much as a month. For most individuals, the pain lessens as the rash heals. Some patients, however, experience long-term nerve pain after a case of shingles, pain which may linger for more than a year.

Shingles is diagnosed by an examination of the rash and a discussion of the patient’s symptoms. If a definitive diagnosis is difficult to make, the doctor may take a biopsy or sample of fluid for a laboratory culture. Treatment of shingles consists of the use of analgesics and antiviral medications. Antivirals may shorten the course and decrease symptom severity as well as decrease the risk of ongoing pain. While shingles is not a life-threatening disease, it can be extremely painful and interfere greatly with normal activities and quality of life.

A shingles vaccine is now available and recommended for individuals age 60 and older. While not preventative of the reactivation of the shingles virus in all cases, it has been demonstrated to greatly reduce the risk of an outbreak, as well as to lessen the severity of the disease should it occur.

Help with healing and lessen pain.

  • Cosmetic Procedures
    • Allumera
    • Chemical Peels
      • Theraplex® Salicylic Acid Facial Peels
      • VI Peel
    • CoolSculpting
    • Dermaplaning
    • EMSCULPT Non-Invasive Fat Removal & Muscle Toning
    • HydraFacial MD
    • Laser Genesis
    • Laser Hair Removal
    • Limelight (IPL / Photofacial)
    • MiraDry
    • NeoGraft
    • Pearl Laser
    • PicoSure Laser
    • Sellas Laser
    • Skin Renewal, Scar Removal & Stretch Mark Treatment: 1540
    • Skin Revitalization
    • SkinPen®
    • Titan Laser
    • Ultherapy®
    • Vein Therapy
  • Injectables
    • Fillers
      • Bellafill®
      • Juvederm®
      • Restylane
      • Restylane Lyft
      • Restylane Silk
      • Volbella®
    • KYBELLA®
    • Neurotoxins
      • Botox® Cosmetic
      • Dysport®
  • Medical Procedures
    • General Dermatology
      • Acne
      • Acne Scar Treatment
      • Actinic Keratosis
      • Atopic Dermatitis & Eczema
      • Cold sores / Herpes Simplex Virus
      • Cysts
      • Dry Skin
      • Folliculitis
      • Fungal Infections of the Skin
      • Hair Loss
      • Hives (Urticaria)
      • Hyperhidrosis
      • Keratosis Pilaris (KP)
      • Melasma
      • Mohs Surgery
      • Moles (Nevus / Nevi)
      • Psoriasis
      • Rosacea
      • Scabies
      • Seborrheic Dermatitis
      • Seborrheic Keratoses
      • Shingles / Herpes Zoster
      • Vitiligo
      • Warts
    • Pediatric Dermatology
      • Molluscum
    • Surgical Dermatology
      • Skin Cancer
        • Basal Cell Carcinoma
        • Melanoma
        • Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Request A Consultation

Contact Us

Phone: (847) 234-1177
Fax Number: (847) 234-1875
 

Business Hours

Mon: 9:30am to 7:00pm
Tues: 9:00am to 5:30pm
Wed: 9:30am to 5:00pm
Thu-Fri: 9:30am to 5:00pm
Sat: 10:00am to 1:00pm

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Services we provide
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Connect With Us

Locate Us

© Northshore Dermatoplogy | Website and Marketing Powered by Advice Media
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • About Us
  • Services we provide
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
Scroll to top