Herpes zoster or sometimes called just zoster and also known as shingles is a very painful rash that appears on the body in a small area.  It normally is found on just one side of the body in a stripe formation.  

The virus first shows itself early in most peoples lives as chickenpox.  Chickenpox is a varicella zoster virus that is very short lived and infects children and younger people.  Once the chickenpox has cleared up, the virus stays in the body and may end up causing shingles.

Shingles tends to show up many years later and has completely different illness symptoms.

The reason the virus reappears is not clear, but normally only one attack occurs.

The shingles virus can occur in any age group, but your chances tend to higher if your over sixty years old.

If you had chickenpox before you were one year old.

If your immune system is weakened.

You will first have a pain or burning sensation on one side of your body.  The pain is usually severe and will be followed by a rash.

Soon small blisters will appear, the blisters will break and sores will form.  They will dry and form crusts which will fall off in two to three weeks.

The rash is normally found in the belly or chest area, but the rash has been found on the face, eyes, mouth and ears.

If the herpes zoster infects your face you may have other issues such as:

drooping eyelids
hearing loss
vision problems
problems with taste
and loss of motion in  your eye

How do I treat this?

There are various medicines that can fight the virus. Anitvirals help reduce pain and can shorten the length of the disease.

If possible you need to take the medication before the blisters form.  The drugs are given in large doses and can even be taken by IV.

Other medicines that can be taken are antihistamines to help with itching.  Pain killers for obvious reasons. and Zostrix a cream that helps reduce the risk of postherpetic neuralgia.

Try to keep the area clean and get as much rest as possible.  Soothing baths can also help with the itching and pain.  

There can be complications with shingles. People have been known to have repeated attacks, become blind or deaf and even contract encephalitis from a weakened immune system.  

There are ways to avoid the herpes zoster virus.  There is a vaccine that is different from the chickenpox vaccine.  Adults who take the vaccine have been shown to have less complications from shingles.