Are you wondering if a painful or painful rash is shingles? Shingles is a common disease – about one-third of Americans with chicken pox will get shingles, and the chance increases after age 50. Fortunately, shingles can be treated without serious problems, especially if you start treatment early.
But it’s not always easy to tell the difference between shingles and other rashes, especially in the beginning. Below, we will cover the first symptoms of shingles, how the virus progresses and when you should see a primary care doctor or doctor.
Early signs and symptoms of shingles
Shingles go through three stages with a recognizable beginning, middle and end. You may experience different symptoms at each stage, and the intensity of your symptoms may change over time.
In the early stages of shingles, you will feel rather than see symptoms
The initial stage of shingles is the pre-eruptive (prodromal) stage. You will not see visible skin changes or signs of a rash, but you may feel tingling, itching or pain at the site where the rash will develop. Flu-like symptoms are also early signs of shingles, including headaches, chills, hot flashes, headaches, brain pain and fatigue.
Known as the active phase or the eruption phase, the second stage of shingles is when the fire breaks out. Lesions usually appear on one side of the body, usually on the neck, trunk or face. However, people with a weakened immune system may experience a generalized rash.
When a shingles rash appears, the pain becomes more severe. It can be a burning or sharp pain, which can feel like electricity for some people. Even the slightest touch or feeling of clothes against your body can make you feel uncomfortable.
The good news is that this stage won’t last forever, and shingles usually goes away within 10 days. In the meantime, gentle self-care can ease the discomfort. Cool pads, loose fitting and over-the-counter pain relief can make a big difference. In addition, pain and other symptoms improve as the lesions disappear.
If you are active, shiny shingles, it is best to stay at home. It is especially important to avoid contact with people who have not had chicken pox or who may be sick, such as pregnant women and infants.
What are fire shingles?
When first developing, shingles rash may look like a collection of small blisters. Eventually this rash will turn into a cluster of fluid-filled blisters under the skin called vesicles. In light skin, burning vesicles are usually red or pink, and in dark skin, they can appear yellow or brown. Fluid-filled areas in any wound can sometimes appear white or gray.
Shingles can become chronic in the third stage
In some cases, shingles pain, stiffness or discomfort may last for months or years after the rash has healed. This is called postherpetic neuralgia, a condition caused by changes in nerve function after shingles. When nerves are affected, they can send mixed or exaggerated pain signals to the brain. Postherpetic neuralgia is common in people over 60, and it gets better with time.
Improvement of symptoms and better body
The symptoms of shingles will begin to disappear as you heal. Blisters will burst, begin to ooze, scabs will fall off, which can be painful, but it is part of the healing process. Once that happens, the sore spot can look like a dry burn, becoming painful and uncomfortable. In rare cases, scabs from a collection of lesions can be combined, such as plaque psoriasis. However, that tingling, painful feeling should start to go away.
What causes shingles?
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chicken pox. When you recover from chickenpox, the virus will not go away. Instead, it “sleeps” in your nerve roots. In some places, the virus remains dormant. But in others, the virus “wakes up” when illness, stress or aging make the immune system stronger. The virus stimulates your nerve roots, which gives sensation to your skin in every part of your body. Once the virus is active again, it can cause shingles, not chicken pox.
Anyone with chickenpox can get shingles. It is more common in adults over 50 and those with weakened immune systems, but children can also get shingles.
Shingles are contagious?
You can’t hold a shingle from someone else. However, there is a small chance that the varicella-zoster virus can be spread from someone with active shingles to someone who has never had chicken pox or the chicken pox vaccine. If you haven’t had any and if you get this virus, you’ll get chickenpox, not shingles.
Viruses spread through direct contact with wound fluid, so covering up heat and hygiene helps prevent spread. Once the blisters are covered, the risk of spreading the virus is gone.
How is shingles different from other rashes?
How shingles progresses and the types of symptoms you will experience are very different than most other rashes. With shingles, you usually have other symptoms before the outbreak, and your rash will develop on one side of the body. If you have a rash that appears without warning, it’s likely to be caused by something else, although it could still be shingles.
In addition, burns and the treatment process are often more painful than other skin conditions, and the symptoms can last even after the burns are gone.
Is there a vaccine that prevents shingles?
Yes. To help prevent shingles, HealthPartners recommends that healthy adults age 50 and older get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine (separated by 2 to 6 months). Shingrix is over 90% effective in preventing shingles. But if you get shingles after getting the vaccine, the rash may be less painful and clear up quickly.
How to treat shingles to help manage pain and other symptoms
Shingles is treated with antibiotics and pain relievers. Starting antibiotic treatment within the first 72 hours can help your rash heal faster and be less painful. Early treatment can also help prevent long-term problems. In addition to medication, there are home remedies you can do to help skin lesions heal faster.
1. Wash the wound daily
Unfortunately, it is possible for shingles to become infected, usually due to itching and scratching. To prevent infection, it is important to wash the wound every day. Use mild, non-abrasive soap and water, making sure not to scratch or scrub. Once you have bitten, cover the wound with a non-toxic bandage.
2. Apply calamine lotion
Calamine lotion can help soothe sores and reduce itching. However, don’t use lotions on wounds that work well. Calamine lotion helps in the early stages of shingles after the bite.
3. Try using a cold compress
Cold compresses (such as liquids, ice packs or ice packs) can help calm the irritation that causes shingles pain. It can also reduce inflammation and provide relief from itching. Use your cold compress for 10-20 minutes at a time, making sure to wrap the ice packs so they don’t touch the skin directly.
See a doctor early if you think you have shingles
If you think you have shingles, it’s best to see a doctor within two or three days. Just make an in-person or video appointment to see your primary care doctor or hospitalist.
Shingles, like many other viruses, will run its course. But getting care can help manage symptoms and make you feel better, faster.
