What you need to know about shingles
In the realm of rashes, shingles is related to chickenpox as they are caused by the same virus and appear as a bumpy and burning rash, but they aren’t quite the same. Consider shingles the grown-up version of the viral infection since it’s usually more serious, more painful, and more likely to strike adults. To save your skin and yourself from the serious pain and problems of shingles, gain insight into the infection and how common it’s become, along with your risk of getting this rash and the severe symptoms that must be endured. While shingles can be prevented, find out which treatments are best if you fall victim to the virus to clear up both any symptoms and any confusion about shingles.
Why shingles is a real pain
Not all rashes are created equal. While shingles is caused by the same varicella-zoster virus as chickenpox, the rashes and reactions that result are very different. Even if you came down with chickenpox as a child, you can still get shingles as an adult. After having chickenpox, the virus remains in the body where it may stay silent for years. As you get older, the virus can suddenly become active again. For many adults, the virus never reactivates, and you never develop shingles. But if it does, it’ll cause a case of shingles. While chickenpox is unpleasant, having shingles is an intensely painful and uncomfortable experience.
Shingles has gone viral
Shingles may not be considered common, but it should be. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in every three people will develop shingles at some time in their life. In fact, more than a million people suffer from shingles in the United States each year. As with chickenpox, most people who develop shingles only have it once in their life. There are, however, individuals that get shingles multiple times, even though it’s very rare.
The risk of the rash
While chickenpox is known to be very contagious, the question of whether shingles can be spread has a more complex answer. Shingles itself is not contagious in the sense that shingles cannot be spread to other people. However, the virus behind both infections can be spread from a person with shingles to someone who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. This happens through direct contact with the fluid from a shingles rash. As a result, someone with shingles can only spread chickenpox, but not shingles, to others who have not had chickenpox or its vaccine. As far as risk factors go, having a history of chickenpox isn’t the only factor to consider. The following factors increase the risk of developing shingles:
- Older age, with shingles more common in people over age 50
- A weakened immune system
- Certain cancers
- Some cancer treatments
- HIV
- Organ transplant drugs
- Chronic diseases, such as arthritis and diabetes
An outbreak of shingles symptoms
The symptoms of shingles are impossible to ignore. Early signs of the virus include a tingling or burning sensation on the skin where the rash will emerge. Soon after, a painful, burning, and blistering rash develops, usually on only one side of the torso, but the rash may appear anywhere on the body. Unfortunately, these signs are just the beginning. The most common symptoms of shingles include:
- Tingling or numbness of the skin
- An itchy, irritating rash
- Small, fluid-filled blisters
- Extreme shooting pain
- Fever
- Headaches
- Upset stomach
- Chills
- Long-term pain
A rash of shingles treatments
While there’s no cure for shingles, there are treatments and rash-relieving tips to help manage the symptoms and suffering. Certain antiviral medications can lessen the length and severity of the virus. But it’s important to contact your SignatureMD-affiliated doctor as soon as possible because these medicines are more effective if taken within three days of the rash emerging. Some other treatments to help calm and clear the symptoms include over-the-counter pain relievers, wet compresses, oatmeal baths and calamine lotion, along with keeping the rash covered, avoiding touching or scratching the rash, and washing your hands often.
The pain of shingles can be excruciating, but there’s a way to avoid the agony. A vaccine called Shingrix can reduce the risk of shingles and the painful problems it causes for people age 50 and older, as well as adults over age 19 with weakened immune systems. This vaccine is even recommended for people who have already had shingles. Prevention is the best protection, and the vaccine could be your best shot for being spared from the suffering of shingles.