Can You Shower with Shingles? Ouch!

Can You Shower with Shingles?

Keeping the skin clean is essential when you have shingles, but the blisters’ pain may become irritated by a shower, depending on the water pressure and temperature.  Most professionals prescribe a cool, soothing bath for those with shingles. [1]

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Jump Ahead

• Shingles Statistics
• Cool Baths Are Better Than Showers
• If You Must Shower
• Precautions with Showering
• References

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Shingles Statistics

Anybody who has had chickenpox can get shingles, which accounts for 95% of US adults.  It is most common in people over 50.  Roughly one-third of the US adult population will get shingles at some point. The likelihood of contracting it increases with age. [2]

Cool Baths Are Better than Showers

A soothing bath may help relieve some of the pain and itching accompanying a shingles outbreak.  Adding a few cups of colloidal oatmeal to each bath may help soothe and relieve.  You can either purchase an oatmeal bath or make your own by grinding plain, dry oatmeal in a blender or food processor. [3]

If You Must Shower

If you want to shower, make it cool and comforting to diffuse the burning pain that can accompany a shingles outbreak.  You may also wish to reduce your water pressure to avoid irritating painful blisters.  Make sure to pat yourself dry gently.

Precautions with Showering

Direct contact with blister fluid, or objects contaminated with blister fluid, is how the varicella-zoster virus is spread.  If your blisters are still oozing, you will need to either dispose of or thoroughly disinfect all the used items during bathing. [4]

References

• [1] Mayo Clinic – “Shingles: Lifestyle and Home Remedies“
• [2] CDC – “CDC Recommends Shingles Vaccination“
• [3] WebMD – “Shingles Treatment, Medication, and Prevention.”
• [4] University of Maryland Medical Center – “Shingles and Chickenpox (Varicella-zoster virus)“

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