Shingles typically starts with skin sensitivity, tingling, itching and sometimes pain. Then a skin rash develops, often just on one side of the body, that progresses into blisters.¹ The rash most often appears on the torso but can appear anywhere on the body.²

Shingles is caused by varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.³

Each individual may experience shingles symptoms and stages differently. A common progression of the stages of shingles is:⁴

• Skin sensitivity, tingling, itching or pain on the skin before the rash appears.

• Possible other early symptoms of stomach upset, chills or headache.

• One to five days after initial symptoms, a rash appears that looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters.

• Blisters typically scab over in seven to 10 days.

• The shingles rash clears up within two to four weeks with proper treatment.

You can get shingles anywhere on the body. The virus follows certain nerves in the body and the most common place is to get shingles is on one side of your torso. It is also common to have a shingles rash on the face.⁵ Less commonly, shingles can occur in the eye, ear or even internally.⁶

The rash from shingles usually clears up within two to four weeks after treatment. However, the virus that causes the rash remains in your system indefinitely.⁷

Shingles cannot be passed from person to person. However, the varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox) can spread through the fluid in the blisters. If you have active blisters, it is best to avoid direct contact with others.⁸

Generally, shingles rashes will stay along the nerves that the virus affects. However, if a person has a weakened immune system, the rash can spread to other parts of the body.⁹

Yes, you can get shingles more than once. The virus that causes shingles remains in the body even after the rash has cleared.¹⁰

The varicella-zoster virus belongs to a group of viruses known as herpes viruses. However, it is not the same virus that causes cold sores or genital herpes.¹¹

There is no cure for shingles.¹² However, using antiviral treatments like acyclovir, valacyclovir (Valtrex®) or famciclovir (Famvir®) can shorten the duration of the flare up and lessen the risk of serious complications like long-term pain, nerve damage, prolonged itching, vision or hearing damage, and stroke or heart attack.¹³

Shingles will go away on its own, usually within two to four weeks. Antiviral drugs can lesson symptoms and prevent more serious complications.¹⁴

There is a vaccine, Shingrix, that can lower the risk of shingles and is recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for healthy adults over the age of 50.

If you have never contracted the chickenpox virus, avoiding anyone who has an outbreak of chickenpox or shingles can help prevent you from getting shingles.¹⁵

1. John Hopkins

2. Mayo Clinic

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5. Cleveland Clinic

6. National Library of Medicine

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13. Harvard Health

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15. National Library of Medicine

Treatments available for shingles include:¹⁶

• Creams or lotions to help relieve itching like hydrocortisone and triamcinolone.

• Cool compresses applied to affected skin areas.

• Antiviral medicines like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir.

• Oral steroids like prednisone and methylprednisolone.

There is no cure for shingles, but there are some over-the-counter (OTC) and home remedies that can ease pain and itching, including:¹⁷

• OTC pain medications.

• Wet compresses.

• Calamine lotion.

• Warm oatmeal baths.

You can also get antiviral medications, and oral or topical steroids to treat shingles from home with telehealth and online pharmacy providers like RedBox Rx. Start an online consult to see if medication is right for you.

If left untreated, shingles could progress into serious conditions, including:¹⁸

• Long-term pain. Often-disabling pain can linger in the area of a healed shingles rash and can last several months to a year.

• Prolonged itching. Many people are left with an itchy area from shingles, which can be as disabling as chronic pain.

• Damage to vision and hearing. Shingles pain and rash near the eye can cause permanent vision damage. A shingles rash near the ear can cause permanent hearing or balance damage.

• Strokes and heart attacks. The risk of stroke and heart attack rise significantly in the weeks and months following a shingles outbreak.

Shingles is only contagious when blisters are present. Once blisters have resolved, the infection can no longer spread from person to person.¹⁹

Yes, there is a vaccine for shingles called Shingrix. It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all adults over the age of 50 and adults over the age of 19 with a weakened immune system should get the shingles vaccine.

Side effects of the shingles vaccine include:

• Sore arm.

• Redness and swelling at injection site.

• Tiredness.

• Muscle pain.

• Headache.

• Shivering.

• Fever.

• Stomach pain.

• Nausea.

For most people, symptoms resolved within two to three days after the vaccine.

The shingles vaccine requires two shots with two to six months in between. After that, the shingles vaccine is up to 90% effective at preventing shingles for at least seven years.

Costs of the vaccine will vary. If you have Medicare Part D coverage the vaccine will be free. Medicaid and private insurance will vary on coverage of the shingles vaccine.²⁰

Prescription medications to treat shingles include:²¹

• Creams or lotions to help relieve itching like hydrocortisone and triamcinolone.

• Antiviral medicines like acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir.

• Oral steroids like prednisone and methylprednisolone.

You can use over-the-counter pain medication to help manage symptoms of shingles.²²

Telehealth providers, like RedBox Rx, allow you to connect with a licensed medical provider anywhere you have an internet connection. If prescribed, we can ship prescription treatment for shingles to all 50 U.S. states, or you can select pick up at your local pharmacy. Start an online consult now.

16. John Hopkins

17. CDC

18. Harvard Health

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View our telehealth and online pharmacy FAQs here.