What to know about over-the-counter shingles cream

Shingles is a viral infection that has no cure. It causes uncomfortable symptoms, including irritation and skin itching.

Doctors may recommend OTC shingles creams to help reduce your discomfort while the condition clears up. Typically, they recommend you use these creams alongside an antiviral treatment to speed up the course of this condition.

OTC shingles creams

A wide variety of OTC shingles creams are available. Doctors may recommend you use them alongside antiviral medication. These may include:

Lidocaine patches and cream

Around 10-18% of people who have developed shingles experience a condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This complication of shingles causes long-term nerve pain after the shingles has gone.

Lidocaine can help relieve this nerve pain. Lidocaine is available as OTC or prescription medication, depending on its concentration.

Capsaicin cream

Capsaicin cream is available both as OTC or prescription medication. Capsaicin cream may help improve PHN symptoms as it reduces the sensitivity of nerve fibers.

However, capsaicin cream is typically not the first-line treatment for shingles due to its side effects, such as a burning and stinging sensation.

Calamine lotion

Calamine lotion is an OTC medication that you can apply directly on your blisters, provided they do not have any cracks or splits. Calamine lotion can help relieve the itchiness that shingles can cause.

Botanical topical therapies

Botanical topical creams and ointments derive from plant-based sources. They may help reduce itchiness and skin irritation and relieve shingles symptoms.

A 2021 case report found that one person benefitted significantly from applying a botanical topical formulation containing the following products:

• aloe vera
• lemon balm
• English lavender
• Siberian ginseng
• purple pitcher plant
• licorice
• St. John’s wort

Saline solution

Bathing in a saline solution may help reduce skin irritation and reduce itchiness. You can bathe in saline solutions multiple times each day to soothe your skin.

Benefits

OTC shingles creams can help reduce discomfort. It is a viral condition, and there is no cure. OTC creams can help manage the itchiness and skin irritation that shingles causes.

Shingles may also cause complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This condition can cause long-term nerve pain that remains after the shingles clears up. OTC creams may help improve pain from PHN.

However, if you experience severe pain, doctors may prescribe opioids or other prescription pain relief medications.

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Possible risks

Using topical creams, such as lidocaine or capsaicin, for a prolonged period may cause side effects, including:

• skin irritation
• burning or stinging sensation
• itching
• changes in skin color
• swelling or bruising
• coughing or sneezing

When using a topical cream, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions or those on the package carefully to prevent side effects.

Other treatments

Doctors may prescribe antiviral medications to speed up the course of shingles, improve the symptoms, and reduce the risk of developing complications, including PHN.

Antiviral medications for shingles may include:

• valacyclovir (Valtrex) 1 gram (g), three times daily for 5 days
• famciclovir (Famvir) 500 milligrams (mg), three times daily for 7 days
• acyclovir (Zovirax, Sitavig) 800 mg, five times daily for 5days

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If you are experiencing severe pain, doctors may prescribe opioids to reduce your discomfort. These can include codeine, tramadol (Ultram), or oxycodone (Roxicodone).

Finally, the shingles vaccine, called Shingrix, can help prevent shingles from returning.

Summary

Shingles has no cure. Doctors may recommend OTC shingles creams to alleviate the discomfort and symptoms that shingles can cause. Sometimes, doctors may recommend you use OTC creams alongside antiviral treatments to speed up treatment.

Various OTC shingles creams, including lidocaine, capsaicin, and other topical formulations, are available. OTC creams can help relieve itchiness and skin irritation.

Specialists also recommend OTC creams for treating nerve pain due to PHN, a potential complication of shingles.

However, using OTC shingles creams like capsaicin and lidocaine for a prolonged period or not following your doctor’s or the package’s instructions can cause side effects. These may include itchiness, burning or stinging sensations, and skin irritation.

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