What is shingles?

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same

virus that causes chickenpox. Even after the chickenpox infection is over, the virus
remains dormant in your nervous system for years before reactivating as shingles.

Shingles is also referred to as herpes zoster. This type of viral infection is

characterized by a red skin rash that can cause pain and burning. Shingles usually
appears as a stripe of blisters on one side of the body, typically on the torso, neck,
or face.

Most cases of shingles clear up within 3 to 5 weeks. According to the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, approximately one in three
people in the United States will have shingles at some point in their life. The
condition can occur in the same person more than once, especially if they have
risk factors, but this is uncommon.

Keep reading to learn more about shingles, including symptoms, treatments, and
complications.

Symptoms of shingles
The first symptoms of shingles are usually pain and burning, according to
the CDCTrusted Source. The pain is typically on one side of your body, and along
a certain area of the skin called a dermatome. A red rash often follows. However,
the rash does not always appear red. Depending on skin tone, the rash can appear
dark pink, dark brown, or purplish.

Shingles can result in complications such as vision problems, hearing

loss, and rarely encephalitis. abdmalekmd/Getty Images

The National Institute on Aging (NIA)Trusted Source says that characterizations

of a shingles rash include:

 rash that appears on one side of the body, such as on the chest, abdomen,
back, or face
 a rash on your face and ears
 itchiness
 fluid-filled blisters that break easily
 burning sensation
Some people with shingles experience symptoms beyond pain and rash. According
to the American Academy of Dermatology, these symptoms may include:

 fever
 chills
 headache
 fatigue
 muscle weakness

Rare and serious complications of shingles include:

 pain or rash that involves an eye, which should be treated immediately to
avoid permanent eye damage
 loss of hearing or intense pain in one ear, dizziness, or loss of taste on your
tongue, which can be symptoms of Ramsay Hunt syndrome and also require
immediate treatment
 bacterial infection characterized by skin that’s red, swollen, or warm to the
touch

Stages of shingles
According to the NIA, most shingles cases last from 3 to 5 weeksTrusted Source.
After the varicella-zoster virus initially reactivates, your skin may:

 tingle
 burn
 feel numb
 itch

Shingles usually develops on one side of your body, often on your waist, back, or
chest.

Within about 5 days, you may see a red rash in that area. Small groups of oozing,
fluid-filled blisters may appear a few days later in the same area. You may
experience flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, or fatigue.

During the next 10 days or so, the blisters will dry up and form scabs. The scabs
will clear after a couple of weeks. After the scabs clear, some people continue to
experience pain. This is called postherpetic neuralgia.

Shingles causes
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. If
you’ve already had chickenpox, you can develop shingles when this virus
reactivates in your body.

The reason why shingles develops in some people but not others is unclear. It’s
more common in older adults because of lower immunity to infections.

Possible risk factors for shingles include:

 a weakened immune system

 emotional stress
 aging
 undergoing cancer treatments or major surgery

Can you get shingles from the vaccine?

One vaccine called Shingrix is currently approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to prevent shingles. The CDCTrusted Source recommends
adults over 50 years old receive two doses of Shingrix separated by 2 to 6 months.
The vaccine is over 90-percent effective.

While side effects such as allergic reactions are possible from the vaccine, they are
rare. And the CDC has no documented cases of the varicella-zoster virus being
transmitted from people who were vaccinated.

Who’s at risk for shingles?

Shingles can occur in anyone who has had chickenpox. However, certain factors
put people at an increased risk of developing shingles. According to
the NIATrusted Source, these include:

 being 60 years or older

 having conditions that weaken your immune system, such as HIV or cancer
 having had chemotherapy or radiation treatment
 taking medications that weaken your immune system, such as steroids or
medications given after an organ transplant
 having had shingles before

Is shingles contagious?
According to the National Health Service, shingles is not contagious. But the
varicella-zoster virus that causes it can be spread to another person who hasn’t
had chickenpox, and they could develop chickenpox.

Note

You can’t get shingles from someone with shingles, but you can get chickenpox.

The varicella-zoster virus is spread when someone comes into contact with an
oozing blister. It’s not contagious if the blisters are covered or have formed scabs.
To prevent the varicella-zoster virus from spreading if you have shingles, be sure
to keep the rash clean and covered. Do not touch the blisters, and make sure to
wash your hands often.

Avoid being around at-risk people, such as people who are pregnant or have weak
immune systems.Shingrix vaccine.

Shingles complications
While shingles can be painful and bothersome on its own, it’s important to
monitor your symptoms for potential complications:

 Eye damage can occur if you have a rash or blister too close to your eye.
The cornea is particularly vulnerable.
 Bacterial skin infections can easily occur from open blisters and can be
severe.
 Pneumonia is possible.
 Ramsay Hunt syndrome can occur if shingles affects the nerves in your
head and can result in partial facial paralysis or hearing loss if untreated. If treated
within 72 hours, most people make a full recovery.
 Brain or spinal cord inflammation, such as encephalitis or meningitis, is
possible. These complications are serious and life threatening.

When to contact a doctor

It’s important to visit your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect you have
shingles, especially if you’re somebody at an increased risk of developing it.

The American Academy of Dermatologyrecommends visiting a dermatologist or

other healthcare professional within 3 days to prevent long-term complications.

Shingles typically clears up within a few weeks and does not commonly recur. If
your symptoms have not lessened within 10 days, contact a doctor for a follow-up
and reevaluation.

Shingles diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose shingles by examining your rashes and blisters. They
also ask questions about your medical history.
In rare instances, your doctor may need to test a sample of your skin or the fluid
from your blisters. This involves using a sterile swab to collect a sample of tissue
or fluid. Samples are then sent to a medical laboratory to confirm the presence of
the virus.

Shingles treatment
There’s no cure for shingles, but treating it as soon as possible can help prevent
complications and speed up your recovery. Ideally, you should receive treatment
within 72 hours of developing symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe medications
to ease symptoms and shorten the length of the infection.

Medication

The medications prescribed to treat shingles vary, but may include the following:

Drug
Type Purpose Method
frequency

antiviral
medication 2 to 5 times
to reduce
s, including daily, as
pain and
acyclovir, prescribed oral
speed
valacyclovi by your
recovery
r, and doctor
famciclovir

anti-
inflammato to ease pain
every 6 to 8
ry drugs, and oral
hours
including swelling
ibuprofen

narcotic likely to be
medication to reduce prescribed
oral
s or pain pain once or
relievers twice daily
anticonvuls
ants or to treat
once or
tricyclic prolonged oral
twice daily
antidepress pain
ants

antihistami
nes, such as
to treat every 8
diphenhydr oral
itching hours
amine
(Benadryl)

numbing
creams,
gels, or to reduce applied as
topical
patches, pain needed
such as
lidocaine

to help
reduce the
risk of a
nerve pain
called
capsaicin postherpeti applied as
topical
(Zostrix) c neuralgia, needed
which
occurs after
recovery
from
shingles

Shingles home remedies

Home treatment can help ease your shingles symptoms. According to
the NIATrusted Source, these remedies include:

 taking cool baths or showers to clean and soothe your skin

 applying wet cold compresses to the rash to reduce pain and itching
 applying calamine lotion or making a paste with water and baking soda or
cornstarch to reduce itching
 eating foods with vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and vitamin E
 taking L-lysine supplements to strengthen your immune system

How to prevent shingles

The NIATrusted Source says that getting vaccinated can help keep you from
developing severe shingles symptoms or complications. All children should
receive two doses of the chickenpox vaccine, also known as a varicella
immunization. Adults who’ve never had chickenpox should also get this vaccine.

The immunization doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t get chickenpox, but it
does prevent it in 9 out of 10 people who get the vaccine.

Adults who are 50 years or olderTrusted Source should get a shingles vaccine,

also known as the varicella-zoster immunization, according to the CDC. This
vaccine helps to prevent severe symptoms and complications associated with
shingles.

There is one shingles vaccine available, Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine).

The CDCTrusted Source notes that if you have received Zostavax, a shingles
vaccine used in the past, you should still get the Shingrix vaccine.