What would a mild case of shingles look like?

It typically looks like a single stripe of blisters that wraps around the left side or the right side of your torso. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Can you have a slight case of shingles?

For some people, the symptoms of shingles are mild. They might just have some itching. For others, shingles can cause intense pain that can be felt from the gentlest touch or breeze. It's important to talk with your doctor if you notice any shingles symptoms.

What can be mistaken for shingles?

Skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or an allergic rash can be mistaken for shingles by some, but rarely by health professionals who know what to look for. While red and itchy like some other rashes, the shingles rash is otherwise very distinct.

How do I know if my rash is shingles?

Signs & Symptoms

Shingles is a painful rash that develops on one side of the face or body. The rash consists of blisters that typically scab over in 7 to 10 days and fully clears up within 2 to 4 weeks. Before the rash appears, people often have pain, itching, or tingling in the area where it will develop.

What is a mild form of shingles?

Other patients may have just a few scattered lesions that don't cause severe symptoms. Mild cases of shingles with only a few lesions are common. For most healthy people, the blisters start to scab over after 3-5 days. The rash usually clears within 2 to 4 weeks.

Mayo Clinic Minute: Don't suffer with shingles

Do I need to see a doctor for mild shingles?

If you think you could have shingles, see a board-certified dermatologist or other health-care provider within 3 days of getting the rash. When started within 3 days, treatment can prevent possible complications, such as long-lasting nerve pain.

Can you leave mild shingles 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.

What does shingles look like right at the beginning?

The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on 1 side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles. The blotches become itchy blisters that ooze fluid. A few days later, the blisters dry out and scab.

What usually triggers shingles?

What causes shingles? Shingles is caused when the chickenpox virus is reactivated. After a person has had chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain nerves for many years. Shingles is more common in people with weakened immune systems, and in people over the age of 50.

Can I use hydrocortisone cream on shingles rash?

Official answer. Hydrocortisone cream is not recommended to put on a shingles rash and there is no evidence that hydrocortisone cream will help treat the pain of a shingles rash. The preferred treatment for shingles are antiviral medicines that you take by mouth, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir.

Can you have a small cluster of shingles?

Shingles appears as a cluster of bumps or fluid-filled blisters. People may have a few lesions outside the main cluster, but if there are more than 20 lesions outside the main rash, this is disseminated shingles. Disseminated shingles may affect three or more dermatomes.

How do you get rid of mild shingles?

Several antiviral medicines—acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir—are available to treat shingles and shorten the length and severity of the illness. These medicines are most effective if you start taking them as soon as possible after the rash appears.

Is shingles caused by stress?

Shingles is a reminder that the mind and body are not separate. Essentially, emotional stress doesn't cause shingles as we know the virus is already lying dormant in the body. However, emotional stress can weaken the immune system, reducing the body's ability to defend against illnesses.

Is shingles activated by stress?

And while stress may not directly cause or trigger shingles, there is a link between the two. Large amounts of stress can wear away at the body's immune system, lowering its ability to defend against all sorts of viruses—shingles included.

How long are you contagious with shingles?

"When you have shingles, you're considered contagious until your open sores crust and scab over. This generally takes between 7 to 10 days," says Dr. Brown. "Depending on where your rash develops on your body and where you work, you may (or may not) be able to return to work before your shingles dry up."

Should you put Neosporin on shingles?

Use An Antibiotic Ointment

But be careful about which one you choose. Neomycin and Neosporin are notorious skin sensitizers, says Nordlund. Polysporin and erythromycin are better choices.

Do I need antibiotics if I have shingles?

Antibiotics — If the rash becomes infected, you may need treatment with an antibiotic medication. Treatment of postherpetic neuralgia — Treatment is available to reduce pain and maintain quality of life in people with postherpetic neuralgia (see 'Postherpetic neuralgia' above).

Does shingles look like little blisters?

Close-up of a shingles rash

The shingles rash often causes a cluster of tiny blisters. You may notice that the skin beneath the blisters is red and inflamed, as shown here. The rash will also feel painful.

Does Benadryl help 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.

What ointments help with shingles?

Caladryl lotion can help soothe the itching from the rash. Antibiotic ointments may help if the rash has become infected. Capsaicin cream is used on the skin to ease itching, burning, and pain.

What is better for shingles heat or ice?

Apply a cold compress

Placing an ice pack or a cold compress over the shingles rash may help numb the pain and itching.

Can I put a bandaid on shingles?

A person can no longer spread the virus once the shingles lesions crust over. Covering the site of infection with a dry, adhesive bandage can minimize the spread of the virus.

Is it OK to be around someone with shingles?

Answer: Shingles cannot spread from one person to another. However, the virus that causes shingles (varicella-zoster virus) can spread from a person with active shingles to someone who is not immune to chickenpox (most people have had a chickenpox infection or vaccinated against chickenpox).

Can you take a bath with shingles?

Healing baths

Daily cleansing of the blisters reduces the risk of spreading the infection. Take a cool bath or shower to soothe skin. The coolness of the water can ease pain from shingles blisters and calm itchiness. You can also take a healing bath to reduce symptoms.

Can you be around someone with shingles and not get it?

Shingles is not contagious. But if someone comes into contact with the rash at a certain stage, they may contract the varicella-zoster virus and develop chickenpox. If they have chickenpox, shingles can develop later in life. To prevent the virus from being transmitted, keep shingles rashes covered.