can shingles be brought on by hot sunlight ??

Annette,

Ultraviolet light (sunlight) induces Herpes Zoster Shingles episodes. I would not expose the vesicles-blisters to direct sunlight, but keep them covered to prevent scarring and decrease the inflammation and pain.

Most of us have found that extra activity and exercise creates more pain, and that rest and sleep are best. Those that tried to power through it were dealt with setbacks such as a prolonged agonizing episode, Post Herpetic Neuralgia, and recurrent episodes of Herpes Zoster Shingles.

I don't know any of your history to be able to help you more.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

I was trying to enjoy the day and and be outside. I love to walk. Docs still not helping.

I get them more then I know and docs don't believe me.

I am so sorry you have recurrent Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

I would ask my Physician to obtain a Vitamin D level. While over 30 is considered normal, to obtain optimal health, it should be at least 40.

The maintenance dose is Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily. It is possible to overdose on Vitamin D as it is a fat soluble vitamin and can be toxic.

Also, Google High Lysine Low Arginine Diet and Herpes Zoster-Shingles. You will find a lot of information about foods to eat and avoid. I started this diet about 18 months ago. It took about 6 months before my body started decreasing the episodes. Now I have none.

I also take Vitamin D3 2000IU daily, which helps boost immunity.

I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twenty-one years and twice in my right eye...

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

Hi Merry. I’ve found this interesting thread whilst trying to find out what may have triggered an attack of shingles. I’m in the UK,  we are having an extremely warm summer compared to normal and I’ve spent several hours working in my allotment in the hot sun. The rash came out of nowhere and I felt fine but the nurse practitioner immediately put me on anti vitals acyclovir for a week. I think it’s the drug not the virus making me feel bad, today abdo pain rather like an attack of diverticulitis and a headache. I wanted to check it out as I’ve three granddaughters under 18 months and a busy couple of weeks socially. Would you think it’s virus or vitals causing the unwellness? You are obviously an expert in this field I’m just sorry you suffered for so long. I’m 62 next week slightly immune compromised but walk daily as I have a dog so try n keep fit. Thanks in advance for your feedback. 😊

Hi V!

The sun or UV light can certainly trigger the Herpes virus. As you are slightly immunocompromised and older, your immunity has waned.

The headache, malaise, aches and pains, fatigue and exhaustion, chills and sweating all are part of the disease. Unless your shingles has affected your abdominal area with the rash, the antiviral Acyclovir could be causing the abdominal symptoms.

You didn't mention the location of your rash, as Herpes Zoster-Shingles can cause severe symptoms and even complications to organs in its path.

I am sorry you are suffering with this illness, but please try to finish the course of Antivirals, as it will help decrease the duration of the pain and intensity of the pain.

Is your rash covered with clothing or a dressing? Otherwise, you are considered infectious until each vesicle-blister has scabbed over.

I hope your Physician gave you analgesics to help you with the excruciating pain.

Hi again Merry thanks so much for your helpful and clear reply. The rash is on the right side of my neck and shoulder with a slightly redder patch on the left side of my chest which I know is unusual as I'm told it's usually just on one side. It may go up into my head which is abnormally itchy right now but that I cannot see! I will keep on with the anti virals but do wonder if they're causing the worst of the symptoms, I don't react well to strong drugs, as I've quite a sensitive system. I still have post menopausal flushing after 9 years (!) and this seems to have intensified with the virus. I am  also taking cbd oil and pregabilin for fibromyalgia, so I'm thinking they could reduce the pain as  I felt so symptom free prior to taking the anti  Virals! I guess I just sit it out for the week til the Meds are finished then I will know what is causing what. It's helpful to know the fatigue and headache are part of the virus. The blisters are not very obvious, probably the more so because my neck is quite brown! I can feel them when I touch rather than see them very well, and the itchiness has died right down too. They went down substantially Sunday evening after I smothered my neck in anti histamine cream! 

I was told not to take ibuprofen whilst on the anti virals so I took  codeine last night for the headache. I still have it this morning so that didn't work but it did help me sleep. 😊 anything more like paracetamol just complicates my gut working. I've a quiet week for work which is helpful and obviously only see people if they've had chickenpox. 

Thanks again for your support, best wishes, V

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Best Wishes,

Merry Juliana

To help with the itching and pain, you might find a cream with Lidocaine applied to the area beneficial. It soothes the nerve endings. Find the one with the highest percentage of Lidocaine in the pharmacy. Your pharmacist should be able to tell you.

Some find a spray, such as Solarcaine with Aloe soothing as it contains Lidocaine. I have used Bactine, which is a first aide cleanser in the States, to help with my Scalp shingles vesicle-blisters. The important point to remember with lidocaine is one can apply a cream for 12 hours on, but then must let the nerve endings rest, or the effectiveness extinguishishes itself.

One can use ice or cold compresses on the area, as well.

If you are having severe pain, you do need to rest and sleep. The varicella virus is much more powerful than you. Hopefully, your job is not too stressful.

I am going to send you my new information sheet I just prepared on Herpes Zoster-Shingles in a different reply. I do hope you feel better shortly.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

I am so sorry you are going through this right now. I understand the agonizing lancinating pain and sleepless nights, and suffering.

I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States. I have had Herpes Zoster-Shingles in my right ear every three to five weeks for the past twenty-one years and twice in my right eye.

This is a summary of the stages, signs and symptoms of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

During the Pre-eruptive Phase, you may have some of the following symptoms:

Duration 1-10 Days, but the rash occasionally takes much longer to appear

Headache

Photophobia

Generalized Aches and Pains

Fever, Chills, and Sweating

Enlarged Lymph Nodes near the pain and rash

Fatigue and Exhaustion

Pain usually preceding the rash

Description of pain: deep burning or aching pain, or electric shock–like pains.

Acute Eruptive Phase

Rash of grouped vesicle-blisters in a dermatomal pattern.

Occurs in waves or crops over a period of 5-7 days.

Vesicle-blisters look dissimilar and are of different sizes.

The rash is on a red base.

The pain may continue to increase into the second and third week.

The clear vesicle-blisters cloud over, look like pustules, scab over, and turn black. This process may take between 2-4 weeks. Once every vesicle-blister has scabbed over, you are no longer infectious!

You are considered infectious (contagious) if your rash is open to the air, ie not covered, to anyone who has not had chickenpox. This includes all pregnant women! Remember, not all women know they are pregnant!

Chronic Phase (Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN)

30 days after onset of rash. Definition varies

Duration may last months or years after initial episode of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

The resolution of the scars can take up to a year to heal.

Management and Medications

ANTIVIRALS: THE CORNERSTONE OF TREATMENT

Famciclovir 500 mg 3x daily 7-10 days, sometimes 14 days.

Smallest Tablet

Convenient dosing

Least Resistance

Valcyclovir 1000 mg 3x daily 7-10 days

Large Tablets difficult to swallow for some

Based on Acyclovir

Acyclovir 800 mg 5x daily 7-10 days

Inconvenient Dose Schedule

Growing Resistance to Varicella Virus

Acyclovir is prescribed extensively in the UK.

What dosage of the medication are you on? Sometimes, the Physician places the patient on a lower dose, but needs to increase it to help with the pain-itching.

Sometimes, you need to be placed on a cocktail of medications as they will work synergistically to help you. These are all by prescription. I have grouped them according to class. A clinician would start with one from the Anticonvulsant class, taper the dosage up, then one from the Antidepressant Class, etc. This list is by no means complete.

ANALGESICS

NSAIDS

Ibuprofen

Naprosyn

Acetominophen

OPIOIDS

Oxycodone

Hydrocodone

Codeine

CBD

ANTI-CONVULSANTS

Gabapentin-Neurontin

Pregabalin-Lyrica

ANTI-DEPRESSANTS

SNRIs

Cymbalta

Effexor-Venlafaxine

Heterocyclics

Nortriptyline

Amitriptyline

2. I would find 100% cotton knit clothing. Make sure there are no seams to irritate your skin. The cotton knit is the most breathable, least irritating cloth to most individuals.

3. Use Lidocaine Cream or Spray OTC topically to help with the pain- itching, eg, Solarcaine with Aloe or Bactine

Many on this forum feel either Lidocaine or Benzocaine help with the pain-itching. The cream might soothe the inflamed nerve endings better and last longer on the skin. You can only use Lidocaine 12 hours on and 12 hours off, as the usefulness will extinguish itself.

4. Use ice or cool compresses. Do not take hot showers, as it will only increase the pain-itching

5. You need to rest and sleep. You cannot power through this disease. Do not go back to work! This virus is way stronger than you are, and you will only get more pain, the more exertion you do.

6. Most Importantly, get the Shingrex Immunization. It is a two phase vaccine, two months apart. It is given intramuscularly. It is highly efficacious in stopping Post Herpetic Neuralgia PHN and recurrent episodes of Herpes Zoster-Shingles.

It is available in the US at the pharmacy and covered by insurance if you are over 50 years of age. If you are younger than 50, and have had a documented case of shingles, it is still covered.

If you are in the UK/Canada/Australia/NZ, I know it has been distributed there, but the national health insurance may not cover it until age 70, which is ridiculous. It is expensive, but I would have paid thousands not to have recurrent shingles.

Best Regards,

Merry Juliana

very interested to read this,we have indeed enjoyed a wonderful hot Summer in the UK, i topped this off with three weeks travel in France so have spent the past three months or so in the heat albeit with sunscreen and sitting in the shade. I had no idea of the connection with shingles, I was diagnosed yesterday and am taking acyclovir. Feels like a mild case as after the initial pain last week before the rash, painkillers are having an impact and the rash doesn't seem to be getting worse. But I was really shocked to find that despite trying to stay healthy in the sun I can still get ill?? Hope you're on the mend.

Hi Sarah sorry to read you too have succumbed. Strange isn't it I thought the sun was really helping me and I felt better and stronger than I had in ages yet I get shingles. Like you mild thankfully I think the anti virals helped stopped the progression, I actually felt unwell on them and better when they finished, I hope you are suffering too much. They gave me a headache for days. I've heard of quite a few people who've had it this summer so can't help but think it's heat connected! I felt heaps better once off the drugs and hope you will too. I am however left with immense tiredness. Mine came out at the beginning of August so it's a bit of a long haul recovery. Nothing to do other than try and ease off where possible.  Hope you're feeling better soon Sarah. 

Oops sorry that should've read hope you ARENT suffering too much 

2 minutes agoEarly days but it seems to be if I do too much one day I suffer the next, by 'too much' i mean only a tiny bit of not even exertion! Today I have been out for coffee and made dinner, so we'll see how I am tomorrow. Thanks for your response. I am just so relieved to have made this connection as I felt so well this Summer and am certainly anything but stressed having retired two years ago!! When I think, we were in Crete in late April so over four months of sun and warmth has taken its toll, clearly I will have to be careful in future. I wonder if the vaccination is available privately?? We want to continue travelling but I don't wish to tempt fate and have a reoccurence. Hope you're doing ok now