Demi Moore faced gruelling trials while filming her latest horror spectacle, as health experts chime in on the risks of shingles amid the star’s revelation.
In a shocking move to horror, Demi Moore’s newest film “The Substance” awed attendees at the Cannes Film Festival before taking centre stage at London’s FrightFest.
But the stark terror wasn’t limited to the screen for Demi; according to The LA Times, the actress dealt with some truly horrific personal challenges, losing an alarming 20 pounds during the shoot.
The film’s director, Coralie Fargeat, didn’t shy away from driving her actors to their limits. Bruce Willis’ former wife, aged 61, echoed this severity when she commented: “To give you an idea of the intensity, my first week that I actually had off…I got shingles.”
Despite the personal toll, Demi’s arduous endeavour seems to have been fruitful, with the flick earning a whopping 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and being lauded by critics as a “gross body horror masterpiece”.
Nevertheless, health experts stress awareness of shingles following the A-list celebrity’s ordeal, underscoring the disease’s indiscriminate age profile. Weighing in on the matter, Duncan Reid, Senior Pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, has cautioned about the classic symptoms and necessary attention for this ailment likened to chickenpox.
He cautioned that a primary symptom is an excruciatingly painful skin irritation, adding: “Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection that causes a painful rash on one side of your body, usually on the chest or belly, or sometimes the face. The pain may be a constant, dull or burning sensation and the affected area of skin will usually be tender.”
Shingles, a condition caused by the same virus as chickenpox, can reactivate later in life. Essentially, shingles is like a second bout of chickenpox. Those who have never had chickenpox are unlikely to contract shingles, but they can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles.
The rash associated with shingles can resemble chickenpox and may develop into blisters that burst and scab over during the healing process. Regrettably, other symptoms such as tingling sensations, headaches, general discomfort, and pain in the rash area can persist even after the rash has disappeared.
An expert cautioned: “While rarely life-threatening, shingles can be dangerous for certain groups, including anyone who is pregnant and not had chickenpox before, patients undergoing chemotherapy, and babies under a month old. If you have shingles, it’s important to prevent spreading the virus to others.
“You can spread the virus until your blisters dry and scab over, so don’t share towels, clothes, or take part in close-contact activities. If your rash is weeping and can’t be covered, stay away from work or school.”
While there is no cure for shingles, individual symptoms can be treated with paracetamol, ibuprofen or codeine for pain relief, and cold compresses to soothe skin discomfort. Some doctors may prescribe antiviral medication to halt the virus’s multiplication and lessen symptom severity.
The pharmacist also recommended keeping the rash clean and covered, opting for loose clothing, and steering clear of antibiotic creams which “can slow healing”. He added: “If you get shingles, it’s best to see your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible as early treatment can lessen the effects and reduce the risk of any complications.
“Shingles is one of the common conditions covered by the new NHS Pharmacy First Service, meaning your pharmacist can now prescribe you treatments without you needing to book a doctor’s appointment. They can also refer you to your GP if necessary.”