How do I know if my rash is shingles?

Shingles is characterized by pain or a tingling sensation in a limited area on one side of the face or torso, followed by a red rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. The signs and symptoms of shingles usually affect only a small section of one side of your body.

How do I know if I have shingles or just a rash?

At first, the shingles rash appears as small raised dots. One difference between shingles and other rashes is the pattern that develops. The shingles rash often develops in a pattern along the nerves of the chest and belly. A rash due to allergies or eczema may develop anywhere, including the legs and the arms.

What does shingles look like in the beginning?

When the rash starts, you may notice pink or red blotchy patches on one side of your body. These patches cluster along nerve pathways. Some people report feeling shooting pain in the area of the rash. During this initial stage, shingles is not contagious.

What can be mistaken for shingles?

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is easy to confuse with the shingles rash. As with the shingles virus, psoriasis forms red patches on the skin, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. One type of psoriasis — pustular — can lead to the development of blisters.

What do shingle spots look like?

The blisters may look like chickenpox, but they are clustered together. The shingles rash can vary in color, depending on your skin tone. On darker skin, the rash may be pink, grayish, dark brown, or even purple. On lighter skin, it will be red.

Mayo Clinic Minute: Don't suffer with shingles

Where does shingles usually start?

Most commonly, the rash occurs in a single stripe around either the left or the right side of the body. In other cases, the rash occurs on one side of the face. Shingles on the face can affect the eye and cause vision loss.

Can shingles be just a few spots?

Shingles starts with skin sensitivity, tingling, itching, and/or pain followed by rash that looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters. The rash is typically affects just one area on one side of the body or face.

Will shingles go away if left untreated?

Generally, a case of shingles rash resolves within 3 to 4 weeks. It can resolve without treatment, but antiviral treatment can shorten both the duration and severity of the rash.

Are shingles itchy?

The symptoms of shingles include: Localized burning, tingling, itching, prickling pain that starts days days to weeks before the rash appears. The pain varies by person but can be constant or come and go.

What are the three stages of shingles?

Shingles' clinical manifestations are divided into 3 distinct phases: preeruptive, acute eruptive, and chronic. The preeruptive phase (or preherpetic neuralgia stage) usually lasts about 48 hours but can stretch to 10 days in some cases.

What is the best over the counter medicine for shingles?

To help with the pain of shingles, your doctor might have you take an over-the-counter pain medicine. This could include acetaminophen (one brand: Tylenol) or ibuprofen (two brands: Motrin, Advil). Applying a medicated anti-itch lotion (two brands: Benadryl, Caladryl) to the blisters might reduce the pain and itching.

Do shingles always have blisters?

Most, but not all, people with shingles develop a blistering rash. You may also experience itching, burning, or deep pain.

How painful is shingles on a scale of 1 to 10?

“Shingles is extremely painful," Wigand-Bolling said. “On a scale from one to 10, most patients will say the pain ranges from six to 10.” Between 1 and 5 days after the first symptoms occur, a rash will develop in the affected area.

What does mild shingles feel like?

Burning sensation, numbness or tingling and itching. Raised red rash which usually appears a few days after the pain. Multiple blisters which appear in a stripe pattern. The blisters contain fluid and they break open with crusting.

Can you spread shingles by scratching?

People with shingles should keep the rash covered, not touch or scratch the rash, and wash their hands often to prevent the spread of shingles. Once the rash has developed crusts, the person is no longer contagious.

Can you have a mild case of shingles and not know it?

Most cases of shingles cause severe pain and itching, and can leave scars. Fluid-filled blisters develop, break, and crust over during and a few weeks after an outbreak. You also may feel sick or fatigued, with a slight fever or headache. However, it is possible to have rashes that are so mild they're not even noticed.

What are the signs of shingles in adults?

Is it OK to be around someone with shingles?

If you have shingles, you should: Cover the rash, avoid touching or scratching the rash and wash your hands often to prevent the spread of the virus. Avoid close contact with people until the rash blisters heal (develop crusts). It is essential to avoid contact with people at higher risk from chickenpox infection.

Does shingles hurt more night?

It can be constant or intermittent and may get worse at night or in reaction to heat or cold. The pain can result in fatigue, sleep disturbance, anorexia, depression and, in general, a lowering of quality of life.

How long do you feel unwell with shingles?

Most, but not all, people with shingles develop a blistering rash. You may also experience itching, burning, or deep pain. Typically, the shingles rash lasts 2 to 4 weeks , and most people make a complete recovery. Doctors are often able to quickly diagnose shingles from the appearance of the skin rash.

Can you have shingles with a rash but no blisters?

While shingles usually produces a rash and subsequent blister-like lesions, some people who develop shingles may not have a rash. The absence of a rash makes diagnosis difficult. It also means if you are infected, you may go around spreading the virus without even knowing it.

Can Benadryl help shingles?

Over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications may reduce pain and skin irritation. Options include: anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil) antihistamines for itching, including diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

Can Neosporin Help shingles?

Neosporin may help with minor infections, but any child with any sores that are red and infected should be seen promptly by Dr. Eisner, because of possible staph infection. Shingles occur only in people who have had chickenpox, or the vaccine.

Can you put hydrocortisone cream on shingles?

Frequently Asked Questions. Can I use hydrocortisone cream on a shingles rash? There is no evidence that hydrocortisone cream will help treat pain in a shingles rash. Instead, try using calamine lotion or Benadryl (both topical and oral).

Do I need to see a doctor with shingles?

Shingles is not usually serious, but you should see your GP as soon as possible if you recognise the symptoms. Early treatment may help reduce the severity of your symptoms and the risk of developing complications.