Shingles Explained: Symptoms, Causes, And Treatments

Odds are you have heard of shingles — although you may not know much about it. Shingles, or herpes zoster, is an infection of the nerves caused by the varicella-zoster virus, also known as the chickenpox virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Shingles typically shows up as a painful set of blisters or a rash on your skin. However, this is not always the case. "Shingles symptoms vary in severity and some people can experience shingles pain without ever developing a rash," osteopathic family physician Dr. Rob Danoff told Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine.

Shingles is more common than you might think. The CDC estimates that 1 million people contract shingles every year in the United States, and one in three people will contract shingles in their lifetime. As such, it is important to know what signs to look for, what to expect during recovery, and ways to alleviate your pain efficiently. 

Shingles is the result of the chickenpox virus lying dormant in your body for years, sometimes never even affecting your health. Experts say it's not clear what causes the virus to activate again years later, but "it may happen when something weakens the immune system," according to Medical News Today. When your immune system is working properly and at full effectiveness, your B and T cells can remember the virus from when you had chickenpox and mount a defense quickly (via Harvard Health). But a weakened immune system is not able to do that.

There are factors that can cause your immune system to weaken over time, therefore resulting in a higher risk of shingles down the road. Your age, an autoimmune disorder or virus like HIV, and your genetics are some things you can't really control but can lead to a weaker immune system response. Stress may also play a role (via Healthline).

As if shingles symptoms weren't enough to go through, there are additional complications that this virus may cause after the outbreak is long gone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the most common shingles complication is postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN, which is severe and sometimes debilitating pain in the areas of your shingles rash. In this case, damaged nerves send exaggerated pain messages to your brain, according to the Mayo Clinic.

PHN affects up to 18% of people with shingles. The older the person with shingles is, the higher the risk of PHN. The condition can affect the quality of your sleep, cause weight loss, and interfere with your life (via Houston Methodist). Vision loss and eye infections are also possibilities for those who experienced shingles on or near their eye (via Mayo Clinic). Neurological issues like facial paralysis can also occur, as well as skin infections from the blisters not being treated properly. Other rare complications include brain inflammation, hearing problems, and pneumonia, according to the CDC. Death is also a potential complication, although it is rare.

You may be wondering if shingles is contagious like the chickenpox virus. The answer is yes, the virus is contagious — but not in the way you may think. The varicella-zoster virus can be passed to someone who hasn't had chickenpox or the vaccine via fluid from your rash or blisters. However, the virus will cause chickenpox, not specifically shingles (via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). That means you can't get shingles from someone with shingles, but you could develop shingles at a later date.

There are some steps to prevent transmission of the chickenpox virus. Covering your shingles rash is the main way to keep the virus away from others. You should also avoid scratching the rash and wash your hands to prevent spread. Thankfully, the virus cannot be transmitted before the shingles rash appears nor after the rash starts healing or crusting, according to the CDC. It also isn't an airborne virus, meaning you have to come in direct contact with a rash or blister to catch it (via Healthline).

Until your rash heals, though, it is wise to avoid premature or low birth weight infants, pregnant women who haven't had chickenpox or the vaccine, and those with weak immune systems, per the CDC.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for shingles. But there are multiple treatment options to help shorten your outbreak and make your symptoms less intense. Specific treatment options will be based on your age, health, medical history, and your body's tolerance to certain medications or procedures (via Johns Hopkins Medicine).

Timing is especially important. Starting prescription medication within three days of the rash's development can reduce your pain, reduce the virus' duration, and potentially prevent complications like postherpetic neuralgia (via American Academy of Dermatology Association).

Pain can be mitigated with over-the-counter or prescription painkillers. You will likely be prescribed antiviral medications like acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir. Other medication options may include anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and steroids as needed. Like chickenpox, the itching or discomfort from the rash can be the most irritating and painful part of shingles. Some treatment options for the itching include calamine lotion, colloidal oatmeal baths, and wet, cool compresses (via Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

You may have heard that only elderly people get shingles. However, this isn't true. While it is rare for people to get shingles before the age of 40, it is possible, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. If a younger person is undergoing a large amount of stress or chronic health issues, the immune system may not be able to fight off the shingles virus like it typically would. A younger person's case of shingles could be milder than it would be for an older person (via Healthline).

Another myth you may have believed is that a person cannot get shingles more than once. While it isn't very common, there is still a chance that you'll get shingles a second time. In fact, women are at a higher risk than men of having a secondary shingles outbreak (via Health). Thankfully, the shingles vaccine can reduce the chance that you will get another outbreak, according to Harvard Health.

If you think you may have shingles, the American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends seeing a doctor as soon as possible — ideally within three days of spotting the rash. Even if your symptoms seem mild, the sooner your doctor can diagnose and treat you for shingles, the sooner you can be on your way to recovery.

"In particular, we want you to come into the office so we can try to reduce your chances of developing PHN [postherpetic neuralgia]," Dr. Donald Brown, a primary care practitioner, tells Houston Methodist. "PHN occurs most frequently in those over the age of 60, and there's evidence that antiviral treatment can reduce a person's risk of developing this complication."

If you have a fever or notice the rash worsening, don't hesitate to call your doctor. And "even if you've already seen your doctor for shingles, you should get medical care right away if the rash starts to spread to your face," ShareCare advised.