Does a dermatologist treat shingles, or should i see my family doctor?

Family doctor: A family doctor is perfectly qualified to diagnose & treat shingles. If there are complications or the diagnosis is not clear for some reason, a specialist like a dermatologist may be helpful but this is not common.

Family doctor: While your family doctor is more than qualified to treat shingles as mentioned in an earlier post, it is important to note that if you develop shingles that involve the eye you may want to request to be seen by an opthalmologist as well. One recent study published in 2010 actually found those who had ocular (eye) shingles had a 4 fold increase risk of having a stroke in the future.

Yes: Dermatologists treat shingles. There is no cure but treatment can shorten the length of the illness and prevent complications. Antivirals (ie: acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir) are given to reduce the duration and pain of shingles. Pain meds, antidepressants, topical creams can also help relieve long-term pain.