Why is shingles airborne

Most cases of shingles clear up within 2 to 3 weeks. Shingles rarely occurs more than once in the same person. The first symptoms of shingles are usually pain and burning. The pain is typically on one side of the body and occurs in small patches. A red rash often follows. However, the rash does not always appear red on different skin colors. Depending on skin tone, the rash can appear dark pink, dark brown, or purplish. Rashes from shingles can :. Some people with shingles experience symptoms beyond pain and rash.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association , these symptoms may include:. Rare and serious complications of shingles include :. Shingles usually occurs on one side of your back or chest, but you can also get a rash on one side of your face. If the rash is close to or in your ear, it can cause an infection that could lead to:. Shingles inside your mouth can be very painful. It may be difficult to eat and may affect your sense of taste. A shingles rash on your scalp can cause sensitivity when you comb or brush your hair.

Without treatment, shingles on the scalp can lead to permanent bald patches. For some people, shingles occurs in and around the eye. This is referred to as ophthalmic herpes zoster or herpes zoster ophthalmicus. A blistering rash may appear on your eyelids, forehead, and sometimes on the tip or side of your nose. After the rash disappears, you may still have pain in your eye due to nerve damage.

The pain eventually gets better for most people. Without treatment, shingles of the eye can lead to serious problems, including long-term vision loss and permanent scarring due to swelling of the cornea. While shingles rashes usually develop around one side of your waistline, a stripe of blisters may appear along one side of your back or lower back. You can get a shingles rash on your buttocks.

Shingles usually only affects one side of your body, so you may have a rash on one buttock but not the other. As with other areas of the body, shingles on your buttocks may cause initial symptoms like tingling, itching, or pain. After a few days, a red rash or blisters may develop.

The varicella-zoster virus is spread when someone comes into contact with an oozing blister. To prevent spreading the varicella-zoster virus 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. You should avoid being around at-risk people, such as pregnant people and people who have weak immune systems.

These vaccines are recommended for adults ages 50 and older. Zostavax is a live vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the varicella-zoster virus. While side effects such as allergic reactions are possible from these vaccines, the CDC has no documented cases of the varicella-zoster virus being transmitted from people who were vaccinated. Ideally, you should be treated within 72 hours of developing symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe medications to ease symptoms and shorten the length of the infection.

Shingles typically clears up within a few weeks and rarely recurs. If you have any questions, talk with your doctor or nurse.

You can also visit the following websites for more information:. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www. New York State Department of Health www.

Your feedback will help us improve the information we provide to patients and caregivers. We read every comment, but we're not able to respond. If you have questions about your care, contact your healthcare provider. For more resources, visit www. Back to top What is herpes zoster? Back to top What are the symptoms of herpes zoster? Back to top How is herpes zoster spread? Back to top Who is at risk for herpes zoster?

Herpes zoster usually develops in people who have serious illnesses or weakened immune systems. After dissemination is ruled out, completely cover lesions and follow standard precautions until lesions are dry and crusted. Consider the following recommendations when healthcare personnel are exposed to someone with varicella or herpes zoster.

Top of Page. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Shingles Herpes Zoster. Additionally, Black people are less likely to have shingles than White people. Older adults are more likely to have complications as a result of shingles than other age groups. If you have not had chickenpox or never received the chickenpox vaccine, you are at risk of contracting VZV. Caregivers providing support to someone with shingles can take the following actions to protect themselves from the virus:.

The most effective way for people with shingles to prevent the spread of VZV is to:. Additionally, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people if you develop shingles.

Until the rash begins to heal and crust over, you should avoid people at higher risk for VZV complications, including people with compromised immune systems and pregnant people. A person with shingles is contagious until their rash crusts over. You can go to work if you have shingles and are no longer contagious.

Shingles can be excruciating and debilitating. This is typically 10 days after the rash first crops up. Two vaccines may help prevent shingles. But you can still get chickenpox despite being vaccinated, which means you can also potentially get shingles later in life. The current shingles vaccine , Shingrix, is recommended for adults 50 years of age and older. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine. For maximum effect, a person needs to get the second dose within at least six months of the first.

Also, avoid the vaccine if you have a weakened immune system. If in doubt, talk to your healthcare professional to determine whether it makes sense for you to get the shingles vaccine. Shingles is a painful condition that can be prevented. Getting vaccinated for chickenpox or shingles can help you avoid infection and potential complications.

Why bother protecting yourself? Shingles often crops up later in life. While you might feel in tip-top shape now, years down the road, you might have to deal with a health condition that increases your risk of complications with shingles. In some people, shingles can cause lasting effects such as nerve damage.