Can antibiotics treat shingles?

No: Shingles is caused by a virus, not a bacteria, so antibiotics will not work on it. An antiviral medication may be used however. Sometimes, antibiotics are prescribed if the skin lesions get infected because then skin bacteria may cause a secondary infection.

No: Shingles is medical condition caused be reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox (varicella). Antibiotics (used to treat bacterial infections) are not routinely used, unless the treating physician believes that a bacteria such as strep or staph has infected the skin involved with the shingles. Antivirals, however, are useful for the treatment of shingles.