Shingles is a viral infection that is best-known for causing a painful rash on one side of the body or the face. While it is typically a benign self-limiting rash, it may appear on the tip of the nose, which can indicate involvement of the nerves of the eye. Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus (VSV). Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. The virus lies dormant in your body – sometimes for years, even decades later – until a potential trigger reactivates it.1
How do you know if you have shingles? Generally, most people notice when they develop a painful rash that can last for up to three months and may lead to other complications.1 Anyone can get shingles, even younger people, but your risk increases as you get older. Around one out of every three people in the United States will get shingles at some point in their life and an estimated 1 million people in the U.S. contract it every year.2
Wondering if a rash is shingles or something else? We’ve put together some facts about rashes and what they mean.
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What Are the Symptoms of Shingles?
There are two stages of symptoms:2
- Pre-rash stage: The area where the rash will appear will be painful, often feeling like it is burning, tingling, tickling or numb. You may also develop a fever.
- Rash stage: Shingles causes a painful rash, which most commonly appears on your torso as a strip of blisters that will extend around your right or left sides. It usually scabs over within a few weeks, clearing up within a month.
Other symptoms may include:2
- Blisters filled with fluid that can break easily
- Chills
- Headache
- Itching
- Pain on one side of the body
- Pain when the rash is touched
- Red patches on the skin
- Upset stomach
What Types of Complications Are Common with Shingles?
The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). It occurs where the shingles rash appeared, even after the rash goes away. PHN is very painful and may last for weeks, months and even years. It causes a feeling of needles and pins, itching and sensitivity to being touched.2
10 percent to 18 percent of people who have had shingles will experience PHN. The risk is lower for those under 40 but increases with age. There is no known reason why PHN happens.
Other complications include:2
- Bacterial infection
- Brain inflammation
- Death
- Decreased appetite
- Depression
- Exhaustion
- Eyes issues, including vision loss
- Hearing issues
- Insomnia
- Pneumonia
- Poor concentration
Those with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a more severe and longer-lasting rash and to have complications from shingles.2
How Do You Treat Shingles?
There are medications available that may shorten the length and severity of shingles. They work best when taken as soon as possible after the rash appears. That’s why you should make an appointment to see a provider as soon as you have the first signs of shingles.
Treatments include:3
- Antiviral medications: Acyclovir, Valacyclovir and Famciclovir are the most commonly prescribed medications.
- Pain medications: Depending on the severity of your pain, you may either take over-the-counter pain relief medications or get a prescription from your provider.
How Do You Manage the Symptoms of Shingles?5
The first step toward managing your symptoms is to ensure that you care for the rash every day until it clears. Wash it with a fragrance-free soap and then dry it thoroughly. Apply petroleum jelly, then cover the infected area with a sterile non-stick bandage or wrap.
Ensure that you wash your hands with soap and warm water after touching the rash. If you don’t have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
If you’re dealing with itchiness from shingles, you can relieve it with wet cold compresses, calamine lotion or warm oatmeal baths.
While you have shingles, it’s important that you take care of yourself. Avoid stress, get plenty of rest and wear loose-fitting cotton or linen clothing.
You should avoid taking corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone cream, to reduce itchiness. It may increase or aggravate the symptoms of your infection.6
How Do You Prevent Shingles?
Recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix) can help prevent shingles and any complications. It is over 90 percent effective at preventing shingles and PHN.3
The CDC recommends two doses of Shingrix for adults 50 years and older. As they have a greater chance of having complications from shingles, anyone with weakened immune systems – as long as they are at least 19 years old – should receive Shingrix.7
MedExpress does not carry the Shingrix vaccine but a provider can write a prescription for you and guide you to the best place to be vaccinated.
How Often Do You Need to Get the Shingles Vaccine?
Shingrix offers a strong level of immunity – nearly 90 percent – for the first seven years after vaccination.7
Wondering how vaccines work? We have an informative blog that’ll give you the answers you’re looking for.
What Causes Shingles?
The varicella-zoster virus can remain in your body for years, with the risk of getting shingles increasing after you reach the age of fifty.7
MedExpress Pro Tip: You can’t get shingles from someone who has shingles. However, you can get chickenpox from someone who has shingles, even if you never had chickenpox or received the chickenpox vaccine. Here’s more info on chickenpox.
Other reasons for shingles may include:3, 8
- Autoimmune diseases treated with immune-suppressing drugs, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and lupus
- Diseases that damage your immune system, such as HIV
- Having had surgery such as bone marrow and kidney transplants, which require treatment with immunosuppressants
- Immunosuppressant medications like chemotherapy, long-term corticosteroids and anti-inflammatory medications
There are several theories that shingles can be caused by stress. While stress can weaken the immune system, there is no evidence that it directly causes shingles.8
If you think you have shingles, it’s important for you to see a provider as soon as possible. You can schedule a visit to MedExpress online or walk in any time from 8 to 8 to get the care you need.
References:
1 CDC. Shingles. Last updated February 3, 2022. Accessed April 30, 2024.
2 CDC. Shingles Symptoms and Complications. Last updated April 19, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2024.
3 CDC. About Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Last updated May 10, 2024. Accessed August 8, 2024.
5 American Academy of Dermatology Association. Shingles: Tips for managing. Accessed April 30, 2024.
6 National Library of Medicine. Short-term efficacy and safety of prednisone in herpes zoster and the effects on IL-6 and IL-10. Accessed April 30, 2024.
7 CDC. Shingles Vaccination. Last updated July 19, 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024.
8 Healthline. Understanding What Causes Shingles to Activate. Last updated September 18, 2023. Accessed August 8, 2024.