text: is there anything that you can take or put on your skin when you have shingles to help with the pain?   get to your doctor asap.  there is something they can give you to soften the affect of shingles, but it has to be very close to the onset of it.  if it is too late for that, there are different kinds of pain reducing creams he can prescribe.  or a cream with cordison(?)..  you can ask the pharmacist about an over the counter cream.  good luck with it.