Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful, often debilitating rash that affects roughly 1 million people each year.
Fortunately, the current shingles vaccine, known by the brand name Shingrix, is highly effective at preventing shingles and its side effects.
What is shingles?
Shingles is a painful rash or blisters on the skin. It is caused by the same virus—herpes varicella zoster—that causes chickenpox, which is highly contagious. Chickenpox usually affects kids under age 15 and creates an itchy, uncomfortable rash that turns into blisters. While shingles itself is not contagious, you can also catch chickenpox from someone who has shingles if you have direct contact with fluid from their rash.
After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in certain nerve cells in the body and can reactivate later in life. This second eruption of the chickenpox virus is called shingles.
What are the symptoms?
Shingles typically appears as a painful rash or blisters. It often develops in a small area on one side of the body. It can also cause burning, itching, tingling, and even numbness in the affected area. Some people may also experience a fever, headache, chills, and an upset stomach.
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Who is at risk for shingles?
Anyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for shingles, especially as they get older. You can’t develop shingles unless you’ve been exposed to the chickenpox virus. However, more than 99% of Americans born in or before 1980 have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember having it.
About 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, usually after age 50. Although shingles can affect younger adults and even children, it is most common in older adults. People with weakened immune systems are also at greater risk.
What are the possible complications?
While shingles itself can be very painful and uncomfortable, it can also lead to serious complications. The most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a condition that causes severe nerve pain in the areas affected by the shingles rash. PHN pain can last for weeks or even months after the rash clears up. For some people, the pain is so severe that it hurts to put on clothing. Fortunately, it usually gets better over time.
Other potential complications include vision loss or hearing problems if it develops near the eyes or ears. Very rarely, shingles can also lead to pneumonia, brain inflammation, or even death.
How is shingles treated?
Treating shingles quickly with antiviral drugs can shorten the duration and reduce the severity of its symptoms. These medications include acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir.
For most healthy people who get treatment quickly, shingles usually goes away within three to five weeks, and the blisters often leave no scars. However, some people may experience lingering pain from PHN.
Tips for coping
If you do develop shingles, there are ways to manage the condition. Here are a few tips:
- Apply cool, wet compresses to the rash to relieve pain and itching. An oatmeal bath or anti-itch cream such as calamine lotion can also help sooth your skin.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing made of natural fibers to reduce skin irritation.
- Keep the rash clean and covered to prevent spreading the virus to others.
- Follow your health care provider's instructions for antiviral medications and pain management.
- Support your immune system by doing what you can to reduce stress (which can worsen symptoms) and getting plenty of rest.
Remember, if you think you might have shingles, treating it early is important, so contact your health care provider as soon as possible to discuss treatment options.
For more detailed information on coping with shingles and managing its symptoms, check out MedlinePlus and the National Institute on Aging.
Can shingles be prevented?
The most effective way to prevent shingles is to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends Shingrix for all healthy adults 50 years and older, regardless of whether they’ve had shingles before. Shingrix was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. According to the CDC, two doses of Shingrix are more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and its potential complications.
Shingrix is given as two doses typically two to six months apart. It is available at most pharmacies and doctors’ offices. Even if you’ve already had shingles or received Zostavax, which is the older shingles vaccine and is no longer available in the United States, getting vaccinated with Shingrix can help protect you from future outbreaks.
If you’re over age 50, talk to your health care provider about the Shingrix vaccine. Your doctor may also recommend the vaccine if you have a weakened immune system due to a medical condition or medication and are over 19 years old. Check if your insurance or Medicare can cover the cost of the vaccine.
Watch this video to learn more about shingles and the shingles vaccine:
*This article was originally published in September 2018. It was updated in November 2024 to reflect new information and developments.
