If you’ve ever had shingles, you know how painful it can be. An infection triggered by the same virus that causes chicken pox, it can remain dormant in your body for years before reactivating – and bringing a rash, blisters and a burning sensation with it.
Serena Huang, MD, a family medicine physician with Yale New Haven Health, answers your questions about shingles.
What are the signs and symptoms of shingles?
Early symptoms may include headache, fatigue, fever, chills, pain, itching or tingling before you see a rash on your skin. The hallmark shingles rash is painful, filled with blisters and travels on one side of your body along a specific nerve path known as a dermatome. It often appears on your waist, back or chest but can also show up on your face.
The rash is often red, but can also appear dark pink, dark brown or purplish. The rash typically goes through stages: red rash that becomes a cluster of clear blisters that eventually fill with pus and rupture, forming ulcers that then dry and crust-off. The rash usually lasts 7-10 days and heals within 2-4 weeks.
Who is at risk for shingles?
Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. However, there are factors that can increase your risk:
- Being 50 years or older
- Health conditions that weaken your immune system (i.e. cancer, HIV, diabetes, COPD, asthma or autoimmune diseases)
- Certain medications (i.e., chemotherapy or steroids)
- Previous case of shingles
What are the potential complications of shingles?
Notable complications of shingles, particularly in older adults or immunocompromised individuals, can include:
- Postherpetic neuralgia – chronic neuropathic pain that continues after the blisters have cleared up
- Vision loss – when shingles occurs in or around the eyes
- Skin infections around the lesions/rash
Is shingles contagious?
If you have open sores from your shingles rash, you can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn’t immune to chickenpox. Until your blisters scab over, you should avoid anyone who hasn’t had chickenpox or been vaccinated against it – particularly pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems.
Can you get shingles more than once?
Yes. The virus that causes shingles stays latent in the nervous system and can reactivate. It’s not very common, but it can happen—especially if you have one or more of the risk factors. Women are more likely to experience a relapse. Anxiety and stress are also associated with onset and recurrence of shingles.
How can I prevent shingles?
Vaccination with Shingrix (a recombinant zoster vaccine) is the most effective way to prevent shingles. It is recommended for all adults over 50, including those who have had a prior shingles episode. It is a two-dose treatment; the second shot should be administered 2-6 months after the first one.
Get your Shingrix vaccine at one of our Yale New Haven Health Pharmacy locations.
What happens if I get the first shot of the vaccine but not the second one?
One dose of Shingrix offers some protection against shingles but you need both shots to be fully protected. You may experience some mild side effects after receiving the vaccine. Side effects can include muscle pain, swelling, fatigue and fever. Your pharmacist may advise you to use over-the-counter medications like Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) to ease symptoms.
Can I get shingles even after I get the vaccine?
Shingrix is 90 percent effective at preventing shingles and about 76 percent effective at preventing postherpetic neuralgia. It is still possible to get shingles, but cases are usually milder.
Can I get shingles if I’ve never had chickenpox?
You cannot get shingles if you have never had chickenpox or have never been vaccinated for chickenpox. If you have never had chickenpox, ask your doctor or pharmacist about getting the two-dose chickenpox vaccine series to prevent primary infection and future shingles risk. After completing the chickenpox series, you may consider the shingles vaccine if you meet the age or risk criteria.
