shingles on the skin

This may not be the exact look of your condition. Please confirm your diagnosis with your dermatologist.

What is it?

Shingles is a viral infection that forms a line of blisters and is usually uncomfortable or painful. The cause of shingles is believed to be the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox also has the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant in nerve endings, except for its outbreak as shingles.

Someone who has contracted shingles can transmit the virus to anyone who is not immune to chickenpox; that is, anyone who has not had a vaccination, or has not had chickenpox, or whose immune system is not strong. In those people, the virus is spread through direct contact with the shingles.

Symptoms?

Shingles is typically localized to a particular area of the body often, but not always on one side, and presents itself as a very painful red rash with small blisters. It is often accompanied by numbness and/or a tingling sensation, which can sometimes occur before the actual shingles outbreak is apparent on the skin.

Other symptoms include:

Headaches
Fever and/or chills
Fatigue
Fluid-filled blisters
Severe itching, burning, pain or discomfort

Could this be what you have?

People over age 50, people with a compromised immune system or those not immune to chickenpox are more likely to contract Shingles.

Treatment Options @ Pinnacle

The best change of defense against shingles is the chickenpox vaccine, and for certain people, the shingles vaccination. Once shingles has appeared, however, treatment options include:

Prescription antiviral drugs
Numbing creams or sprays
Medications which can help with pain