Shingles can be a painful and alarming condition, especially if you don’t know what to expect. It often starts with strange skin sensations and can develop into an uncomfortable rash that may linger for weeks. Knowing the early signs of shingles and what steps to take next can make a big difference in your recovery and comfort.
Here’s everything you need to know about recognising shingles and getting the right help quickly.
What Is Shingles?
Shingles is a viral infection caused by the same virus that gives you chickenpox (varicella-zoster). Even after you recover from chickenpox, the virus stays in your body and can reactivate years later as shingles. It usually affects one side of your body, often around your chest, back, face or neck.
Early Signs of Shingles
Before the rash appears, you might feel like something isn’t quite right. The early signs of shingles can be easy to miss or confuse with other issues. These symptoms often appear a few days before any rash or blisters show up:
- A tingling or burning feeling in one area of the skin
- Pain, itching or sensitivity to touch
- A feeling of fatigue or being unwell
- Mild fever or headache
These sensations usually appear in one strip or patch on one side of the body. Some people describe the discomfort as a stabbing pain or a deep aching in the skin.
What Does Shingles Look Like?
Once the rash appears, it usually goes through several stages. Here are the different shingles rash stages:
1. Red Patches: Small red areas begin to form where you had the earlier tingling or pain.
2. Blisters: Within a day or two, the red patches develop into small fluid-filled blisters. These look similar to chickenpox but are grouped in clusters.
3. Bursting and Crusting: The blisters eventually burst, ooze, and then crust over. This can take 7 to 10 days.
4. Healing: The crusted blisters slowly heal and fade. However, the skin may remain sensitive or discoloured for weeks or even months.
How to Treat Shingles
If you think you may have shingles, it’s important to act quickly. Antiviral medicines work best when taken early, ideally within the first 3 days of the rash appearing. These can help shorten the length of the illness and reduce the severity.
You can manage the discomfort with:
- Pain relief: Our pharmacists may recommend paracetamol or other pain-relieving options.
- Cool compresses: Applying a cool, damp cloth can soothe irritated skin.
- Calamine lotion or creams: These may help relieve itching.
- Loose clothing: Wearing soft, loose clothes will avoid irritating the rash further.
Avoid scratching the blisters, and wash your hands often to prevent spreading the virus to others. While shingles isn’t spread in the same way as chickenpox, direct contact with the rash can infect others who haven’t had chickenpox before.
When to Seek Expert Help
If you’re experiencing a rash and pain on one side of your body, especially if the blisters are clustered and painful, speak to our pharmacists without delay. Shingles can sometimes lead to complications, especially if it affects your eyes or you have a weakened immune system.
Our experts can guide you through the shingles treatment options available and help ease your symptoms with timely advice and medication.
Final Tips for Recovery
- Get plenty of rest and drink fluids.
- Keep the rash clean and dry.
- Avoid contact with pregnant women, babies, and people with weak immunity until your blisters have crusted over.
With the right care, most people recover fully in 2 to 4 weeks. However, some may experience lingering nerve pain known as postherpetic neuralgia. This is more common in older adults.
Take Control of Shingles Symptoms Today
Worried about shingles? Let us help. If you live around Slough or Gerrards Cross, book an appointment at Aroga Pharmacy in Farnham Common for expert guidance and effective shingles treatment. Our pharmacists can advise you on the right steps to take, recommend treatments, and help you recover faster.