Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBathsCool CompressesWitch HazelPastesLotions and CreamsLifestyle ChangesEssential Oils and Herbal RemediesFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Baths
Cool Compresses
Witch Hazel
Pastes
Lotions and Creams
Lifestyle Changes
Essential Oils and Herbal Remedies
Frequently Asked Questions
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. Often, your provider will support at-home remedies that provide relief while you recover from the illness with medical treatment. Not all natural remedies, though, have scientific evidence supporting them, so discuss the therapies with your provider.
What Is Shingles?
There are several types of therapeutic baths recommended as a home remedy for shingles.
Cool Water Baths
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 TemperatureThe water in your bath should not be hot. Using hot water increases blood flow, which can worsen shingles blisters.You also want to avoid ice water since extremely cold temperatures will increase the sensitivity of your already sensitive skin.
Water Temperature
The water in your bath should not be hot. Using hot water increases blood flow, which can worsen shingles blisters.You also want to avoid ice water since extremely cold temperatures will increase the sensitivity of your already sensitive skin.
The water in your bath should not be hot. Using hot water increases blood flow, which can worsen shingles blisters.
You also want to avoid ice water since extremely cold temperatures will increase the sensitivity of your already sensitive skin.
Cool compresses can be used several times per day on shingles to help with:
Use a clean washcloth each time you begin a new sequence of compresses to help prevent infection.
Some experts suggest adding a white vinegar solution to the cool compress to help soothe the pain from herpes 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.
Witch hazel is available in a cream you can put on your skin where there is itching, pain, and inflammation from a shingles rash.
One study found that chamomile cream was as effective as hydrocortisone cream (0.25%) in treating some skin conditions. 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.
Many different types of lotions and creams you can get over-the-counter (OTC) can be used on the shingles rash to help with symptoms.
While you’re healing from shingles, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help with your recovery, including managing stress, adjusting your diet, getting enough sleep, and quitting smoking.
Diet
Shingles is associated with a weakened immune system. As you are getting better from shingles, make sure you are eating a nutritious diet.
Foods that help build a strongimmune systemand promote healing include:
Foods to Avoid
One study found that eating too much of certain foods (such as white sugar) makes inflammation worse and lowers the body’s immune system response to infections.
Foods that may get in the way of healing shingles include:
If you don’t want to cut out these foods, eating less of them can still help your immune system.
Studies have shown that at least 90 types of essential oils are recommended for the treatment of skin disorders like rashes.
Some essential oils have antimicrobial properties that fight disease-causing pathogens, including 16 that fight viruses.
Shingles has been treated with several types of topical essential oils and herbal products including:
Warning About Essential OilsEssential oils can be harsh on the skin, and some can cause allergic reactions. Ask your healthcare provider before using any of these oils. Note that you have to dilute them in the proper ratio (with another type of oil called carrier oil) before putting them on your skin.
Warning About Essential Oils
Essential oils can be harsh on the skin, and some can cause allergic reactions. Ask your healthcare provider before using any of these oils. Note that you have to dilute them in the proper ratio (with another type of oil called carrier oil) before putting them on your skin.
Summary
A number of simple topical treatments or soaks can help soothe the pain associated with shingle flair ups. While there are home remedy options for shingles, you still need to see your provider to get antiviral medications to treat shingles. If your pain is not getting better after two or three weeks of using a combination of at-home and medicinal treatments, call your provider to discuss other options.
There is no evidence that hydrocortisone cream will help treat pain in a shingles rash. Instead, try using calamine lotion or Benadryl (both topical and oral). Since medication can affect everyone in different ways, it may help to ask a healthcare provider for their input.Learn MoreHow Shingles is Treated
There is no evidence that hydrocortisone cream will help treat pain in a shingles rash. Instead, try using calamine lotion or Benadryl (both topical and oral). Since medication can affect everyone in different ways, it may help to ask a healthcare provider for their input.
Learn MoreHow Shingles is Treated
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: Tips for Managing.
MedlinePlus.Shingles.
MedlinePlus.Shingles—Aftercare.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Shingles.
Tabassum N, Hamdani M.Plants used to treat skin diseases.Phcog Rev.2014;8(15):52.47.125531 doi:10.4103/0973-78
Kaiser Permanente.Capsaicin topical.
Bandyopadhyay D.Topical antibacterials in dermatology.Indian J Dermatol.2021 Mar-Apr;66(2):117-125. doi: 10.4103/ijd.IJD_99_18.
Myles IA.Fast food fever: reviewing the impacts of the Western diet on immunity.Nutr J. 2014;13(1):61. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-13-61
Shenefelt, P.D.Herbal medicine: biomolecular and clinical aspects. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors.Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis.
Wang K, Coyle ME, Mansu S, Zhang AL, Xue CC.Gentiana scabrabunge: formula for herpes zoster: biological actions of key herbs and systematic review of efficacy and safety: gentiana formula for herpes zoster.Phytother Res. 2017;31(3):375-386. doi:10.1002/ptr.5769
Orchard A, van Vuuren S.Commercial essential oils as potential antimicrobials to treat skin diseases.Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2017;1-92. doi:10.1155/2017/4517971
Abu-Jafar A, Huleihel M.Antiviral activity of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaves ethanolic extract on herpes viruses infection.International Journal of Clinical Virology. 2017;1(1):001-009. doi10.29328/journal.ijcv.1001001
Armour M, Semprini A, Ee C, MacCullagh L, Shortt N.Efficacy of a topical herbal and mineral formulation (Dynamiclear) for the treatment of herpes simplex labialis in the community setting: study protocol for a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial.BMJ Open. 2020;10(1):e031876. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031876
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
