What are shingles symptoms?
The most common symptoms of shingles include:
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A tingling, burning, numb, or painful sensation on your skin
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A rash that forms in a belt-like pattern and affects one side of the body
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Painful fluid-filled blisters that burst, dry up, and crust over
During the early stages of shingles, you may also experience other symptoms, such as:
What causes shingles?
Shingles happen when the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox infection, becomes reactivated. It’s unknown why the virus becomes reactivated in some people and not others, but many people who develop shingles have a weakened immune system.
Your risk of developing shingles may be higher if you:
Age and gender are also important risk factors for shingles. Most cases of shingles happen over the age of 50, and women are more likely to develop shingles than men. Even young adults, however, can get shingles.
What do the early stages of shingles look like?
As the varicella-zoster virus reactivates in your body, you may notice a tingling, burning, or itchy sensation on your skin. Within 5 days, you’ll notice a rash in the affected area.
A few days after the rash appears, you may notice small groups of oozing, fluid-filled blisters in the same area. People who have had shingles often describe the early stages as similar to the beginning of the flu, with a headache, fever, and nausea.
What does a mild case of shingles look like?
A mild case of shingles may include a rash without blisters. The shingles rash is a distinct characteristic of the illness. Many people who experience mild shingles do not experience headaches, fever, fatigue, or other flu-like symptoms.
Whether mild or severe, pain is the most common symptom of shingles. Most people describe a deep burning, throbbing, or stabbing sensation. The pain usually subsides within 30 days.
How long does it take for shingles to progress?
Shingles starts with increased nerve pain and numbness in the affected area, which usually lasts for 48–72 hours. Within 3–5 days, a blistering rash will form over the area, which will turn into fluid-filled blisters. Then, the blisters will burst open, dry up, and crust over after 7–10 days.Once the rash blisters, it can last another 3–5 days before the lesions scab over. After the lesions crust over, it may take 2–4 weeks to heal completely.At this time, pain may still be present. After the rash heals and the scabs clear up, some people continue to experience pain. This condition is called post-herpetic neuralgia.
What are some home remedies for shingles?
If you have shingles, home remedies can help reduce pain and soothe skin:
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Wearing loose-fitting clothing to let your rash breathe.
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Take a cool bath with colloidal oatmeal or use calamine lotion to calm your skin.
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Apply a cool washcloth or cold compress to your blisters to ease the pain.
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Keep the area dry. Avoid scratching your blisters to avoid skin infections and scarring.
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Take over-the-counter pain medications to relieve pain.
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Get plenty of rest.
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Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water to avoid spreading the virus. If someone has never had chickenpox, they may develop it if contact from your shingles rash occurs. They will not get shingles from your rash.
Is there a shingles vaccine?
Yes, a shingles vaccine is available for healthy adults over the age of 50. The current shingles vaccine, Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine), is a two-dose vaccine series. The doses are separated by 2–6 months to prevent shingles and potential complications. It’s incredibly effective, with over 90% risk reduction in developing shingles if received.
Is shingles contagious?
Yes, shingles is contagious. A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn’t immune to chickenpox.
The virus usually spreads through direct contact with open sores. If you pass the virus onto someone else, they’ll become infected with chickenpox—not shingles.
What are some common treatments for shingles?
Common treatments for shingles include home remedies and medications. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medication to shorten the length and severity of the illness.
If you have any shingles symptoms, book an appointment with a virtual PlushCare doctor to learn more about online shingles treatment.
What is the best medicine for shingles?
The best medications for shingles are antiviral medications, which help shorten the length and severity of the illness. At PlushCare, our online doctors can prescribe:
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Cyclovir (Zovirax)
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Famciclovir (Famvir)
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Valacyclovir (Valtrex)
Antivirals can ease the discomfort of shingles, especially if you take them within 72 hours of symptom onset. They can also prevent pain that happens after the rash disappears, called post-herpetic neuralgia.
What are the complications of shingles?
Especially if left untreated, shingles may rarely result in long-term nerve pain that may persist for months or years. This is called post-herpectic neuralgia. Talk with one of our primary care doctors at Plushcare today to learn more.
What pain relief is available over the counter for shingles?
While a shingles rash itself requires a doctor's visit for diagnosis and antiviral medication, there are some over-the-counter options that can help manage the discomfort. Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help reduce pain and inflammation caused by the shingles rash. Applying calamine lotion or cool compresses to the itchy rash can also provide some relief.Seeing a doctor for shingles is important for early diagnosis and treatment with antiviral medication, which can shorten the duration and severity of your shingles outbreak. Your doctor will also help assess your pain level and decide if you need prescription pain management. With PlushCare, online doctor's appointments are fast, convenient and affordable.
