Shingles symptoms can vary widely, but the condition often progresses through a few key stages. Here are some of the typical signs to look out for:
Pain, itching, burning, or tingling: These sensations are often the earliest symptoms, occurring before the rash appears.
Blisters or bumps: Within a few days, a rash of blisters or raised bumps usually develops on one side of the body. These blisters typically scab over in 7-10 days and fully heal within 2-3 weeks.
Additional symptoms: In some cases, people may experience fever, chills, abdominal pain, swollen glands, or headaches.
Eye complications: When shingles affect a facial nerve, it can also impact the eye, making prompt treatment essential to help prevent vision problems.
Chronic pain post-rash (postherpetic neuralgia): Persistent pain in the area where the rash appeared is more common in older adults and those who experienced severe symptoms. This long-lasting nerve pain can be challenging to manage.
Prescription antiviral treatments, like valacyclovir or acyclovir, are commonly used to manage shingles. Starting treatment within 72 hours of the first symptoms can help reduce the duration and severity of the rash, as well as lower the risk of complications, such as long-lasting nerve pain. Other curative methods include:
Specialist referral for facial shingles: If shingles appear on the face, your provider may refer you to an eye specialist to check for any potential impact on the eyes.
Shingles vaccine for high-risk groups: The shingles vaccine is recommended for individuals at higher risk, including those over 50 and immunocompromised patients. This two-dose vaccine is available through clinicians and pharmacists.
If you suspect you may have shingles, reach out to our office to schedule an appointment with one of our dermatologists for prompt evaluation and care.
Known for its intense pain and localized blistering rash, shingles typically appears on one side of the face or body. Although it’s most commonly seen in those over 50, Texans of all ages can be affected. This condition results from the dormant chickenpox virus being reactivated. After someone recovers from chickenpox during childhood, the virus can remain inactive in the spinal cord, potentially resurfacing later in life as shingles.
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is an agonizing rash triggered by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. Individuals who have had chickenpox or, in rare cases, its vaccine, are at risk of developing shingles.
Shingles occurs when the dormant virus reactivates in certain nerves in the body, primarily affecting people over 50. It can also afflict patients with a weakened immune system due to conditions like cancer, organ transplants, autoimmune disease, or HIV. While it’s possible to have shingles more than once, this is highly uncommon.
Shingles itself does not spread person to person. However, someone who has never had chickenpox or its vaccine can develop chickenpox if exposed to an active shingles rash.
Here are some of the ways that shingles may manifest on an affected person:
Antiviral prescription medications like valacyclovir or acyclovir are most effective when started within 72 hours of initial symptoms. This approach can reduce the duration and severity of the rash and help prevent complications such as long-term pain.
If shingles appear on your face, your provider may refer you to an eye specialist to assess the potential impact.
The shingles vaccine is recommended for high-risk individuals, including patients over 50 and anyone who is immunocompromised. This two-dose injection is available through clinicians or pharmacists.
If you think you may have shingles, contact our office to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Shingles is a painful condition that usually presents as a localized rash with blisters and burning on one side of the face or body. It commonly presents after the age of 50, although people of all ages in North Richland Hills can be affected. Shingles is caused by a re-activation of the chicken pox virus which is acquired during childhood. After recovering from chicken pox, the virus resides in the spinal cord and can become reactivated as “shingles” later in life.
hingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox. People who have had chickenpox—or, less commonly, its vaccine—are at risk of developing shingles.
Shingles occurs when the dormant virus reactivates in certain nerves within the body. It typically affects individuals over 50 and those with weakened immune systems, including people with cancer, organ transplants, autoimmune diseases, or HIV. Although it’s possible to have shingles more than once, this is uncommon.
Shingles itself does not spread from person to person. However, if someone without immunity to chickenpox (either from the illness or vaccine) is exposed to a person with shingles, they can develop chickenpox.
Prescription antiviral medications, such as valacyclovir or acyclovir, are most effective when started within 72 hours of initial symptoms. This can help reduce the duration and severity of the rash and lower the risk of complications, including long-term pain.
If you suspect you have shingles, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians.
An intensely painful affliction, shingles often unveils itself as a localized rash punctuated with blisters, typically concentrated on one side of your face or body, and exudes a burning sensation. Predominantly emerging post the age of 50, this ailment knows no age barriers in Southlake. Delving into its origins, shingles sprouts from the reawakening of the chickenpox virus, contracted during one’s younger days. Once the chickenpox wanes, this dormant virus takes refuge in the spinal cord, only to resurrect as shingles later in life.
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chicken pox. Individuals who have previously had chicken pox—or, less commonly, its vaccine—are at risk of developing shingles.
Shingles arises when the dormant virus reactivates in certain nerves within the body. It typically affects those over 50 or individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer, organ transplants, autoimmune diseases, or HIV. Although it is possible to get shingles more than once, it is uncommon.
While shingles itself is not contagious, a person with active shingles can pass the virus to someone who has never had chicken pox or the vaccine, potentially causing chicken pox in that individual.
Prescription antiviral medications like valacyclovir or acyclovir are typically recommended for shingles, ideally started within 72 hours of initial symptoms. Early treatment helps reduce the duration and severity of the rash and can prevent complications, including long-term pain.
If you suspect you have shingles, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians.
Shingles, characterized by its agonizing symptoms and localized blistering rash, often manifests unilaterally either on the face or body. While more commonly observed in individuals over 50, residents of Texas spanning all age groups are susceptible. This condition is essentially a resurgence of the dormant chickenpox virus. After an individual recovers from chickenpox during childhood, the virus doesn’t leave the system but instead hibernates in the spinal cord, only to possibly reawaken later in life as shingles.
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chicken pox. People who had had chicken pox, or less commonly its vaccine, are at risk of getting shingles.
Shingles occurs when the inactive form of the virus becomes active again in some of the nerves in the body. It usually occurs in people that are older than 50 and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer, organ transplants, autoimmune disease and HIV. Although you can develop
shingles more than once, it is not common.
Shingles does not spread from one person to another. However, if you are in contact with someone has never had chicken pox or its vaccine, that person can develop chicken pox.
Prescription antiviral medications such as valacyclovir or acyclovir. It is best to start treatment within 72 hours of initial symptoms. This should shorten the length and severity of the rash and prevent complications including long term pain.
• If you have shingles on your face, your provider will likely send you to an eye specialist to evaluate if the virus is affecting your eye.
• The shingles vaccine is recommended for those that are high risk including anyone older than 50 and those that are immunocompromised. It is a two-dose injection that can be given at a clinician or pharmacist.
If you are concerned you have shingles, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians.
