Mostly affecting people over 50, shingles is a painful skin condition caused by the same virus as chickenpox, called the varicella-zoster virus. About one in three people will get shingles, and outbreaks usually last for 3 to 5 weeks.
If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you’re at risk of developing shingles – since once you heal from chickenpox, the virus stays in your system and hibernates in nerve cells. Although your immune system keeps the virus in check, as you get older your immune system naturally weakens, and this can cause a localized shingles outbreak somewhere on your body.
Shingles in stages: there are four different stages of shingles, including a skin-blistering phase which makes the disease contagious to other people. Here’s what you need to know about the shingles early stages, how it progresses, as well as the healing stages.
Understanding Shingles In Stages
Shingles typically progresses through a few distinct stages. The experience can vary from person to person, but the timeline often follows a similar pattern, starting with internal sensations before any rash appears.
Stage 1: Tingling Pain or Numbness
The first sign of shingles often isn’t visible. It starts with a localized sensation on one side of the body. Before a rash appears, you might feel:
- Itching or burning
- Tingling or “pins and needles”
- Numbness or reduced sensation
- Sharp, shooting, or stabbing pains
This discomfort can last for one to five days. Some people also experience flu-like symptoms during this early stage, such as a headache, fever, or an upset stomach.
Stage 2: Burning Rash Appears
After the initial tingling stage, a red rash will develop in the same area. This rash typically appears as a single stripe on one side of the body, most often on the torso, but it can show up anywhere.
It’s important to contact a doctor as soon as you notice a rash, especially if it’s accompanied by pain. Starting antiviral treatment within the first 72 hours can significantly reduce the severity of the outbreak and lower your risk of complications.
Stage 3: Blistering
A few days after the rash appears, it will develop into fluid-filled blisters. This is often the most uncomfortable and painful stage of the outbreak.
These blisters can break open and ooze fluid, which contains the varicella-zoster virus. At this stage, shingles is contagious to people who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine. Contact with the fluid could cause them to develop chickenpox, but not shingles.
Stage 4: Blisters Dry and Crust Over
After about 7 to 10 days, the blisters will stop oozing and start to dry out, forming crusts or scabs. Once all the blisters have crusted over, you are no longer contagious.
The scabs will gradually heal and fall off over the next couple of weeks. The entire process, from the first tingle to the skin clearing up, can take three to five weeks.
How Quickly Does Shingles Progress?
A shingles outbreak could last up to five weeks. Anywhere between one and 5 days after you experience tingling or burning, the rash will appear. A few days later, it will turn into blisters, and about one week to 10 days after that, the blisters dry up and crust over. A couple of weeks later, the scabs clear up.
How Shingles Is Treated
Just like other viral infections, (like the common cold) shingles must run its course. But treatments can shorten the course.
The primary treatment for shingles is an antiviral medication. Three common antivirals include:
- Acyclovir
- Valacyclovir
- Famciclovir
If taken soon after the rash has developed, the antiviral medicine can speed up the healing process by a week or more, as well as lessen the severity of your symptoms. Over-the-counter pain medication may also be helpful, especially during the beginning stages of a shingles outbreak.
Topical treatments that ease itching include:
- A cool, wet compress
- Calamine lotion
- Colloidal oatmeal baths
What Are the Complications of Shingles?
For most people, shingles clears up without any lasting issues. However, the most common complication is postherpetic neuralgia, or PHN.
PHN is long-term nerve pain that continues in the area of the rash even after the blisters have healed. The pain can range from mild to severe and may last for months or, in some cases, years. Starting antiviral medication early can reduce the risk of developing PHN.
What to Do If You Get Shingles While Traveling
Getting sick while traveling is always stressful, but a shingles outbreak can be particularly disruptive. The pain can make it difficult to enjoy your trip, and you may need to adjust your plans.
If you develop a painful rash while abroad:
- See a doctor immediately. Don’t wait to get home. Early treatment is key to managing symptoms and preventing complications.
- Keep the rash covered. This prevents the virus from spreading to others and keeps the area clean.
- Rest and manage your pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help, but a doctor can prescribe stronger medication if needed.
Navigating a foreign healthcare system can be overwhelming. Air Doctor helps travelers connect with trusted, multi-lingual doctors for video or in-person consultations, so you can get the care you need without the extra stress.
In Short
Shingles is a painful condition caused by the chickenpox virus reactivating in your body.
- It usually affects people over 50 or with weakened immune systems.
- The outbreak progresses through stages: tingling, rash, blistering, and then crusting over.
- Shingles is contagious during the blistering stage to those who haven’t had chickenpox or the vaccine.
- Early treatment with antivirals, ideally within 72 hours of a rash appearing, is crucial to reduce severity and complications like postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
- The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults aged 50 and older.
- If you’re traveling and suspect shingles, see a doctor quickly to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
About The Air Doctor App
With the Air Doctor app in your pocket, you can access medical care and receive expert medical guidance anywhere you travel.
Air Doctor offers a wide range of benefits, including:
- A global network of multi-lingual doctors and specialists
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FAQs
While stress alone doesn’t cause shingles, it can be a trigger. The varicella-zoster virus is already in your body if you’ve had chickenpox. Periods of intense physical or emotional stress can weaken your immune system, making it easier for the virus to reactivate.
Yes, it is possible to get shingles more than once, but it is not common. Most people who get shingles will only have one outbreak in their lifetime.
For most people, the pain associated with the shingles rash subsides as the blisters heal, usually within 3 to 5 weeks. However, if the pain continues for more than three months after the rash has cleared, it is known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
