Shingles is a blistering skin rash and can be very painful. Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella virus, the same one that causes chicken pox. The virus becomes dormant in the nerve cells after an outbreak from chicken pox and can reappear years later. Shingles are usually found in bands and emerge in specific locations on the body.
On One Side
Shingles are found in one particular area, only on one side of the body or face, and often start as pain with a tingling or burning sensation, numbness and itching. The Mayo Clinic reports that some people experience such severe pain and often mistake it for problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. A fever, fatigue, head ache, chills and an upset stomach sometimes accompany the pain. Red patches or a rash often follow the pain. Some people don't even form a rash with shingles, but just experience the pain. Small, fluid-filled blisters then form. It's possible to pass on the virus that causes shingles when it's in the blister-phase but not in the rash form, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The blisters eventually break open after 3 to 5 days and develop a scab. The rash is no longer contagious once the scabs are formed. The rash and scabs usually heal in 2 to 4 weeks, and the pain felt in the specific area of the body that developed shingles subsides. The CDC states that for 1 in 5 people, the pain continues after the rash is cleared. This pain is referred to as post-herpetic neuralgia.
Chest and Abdominal Area
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reports that the most common location where shingles are found on the body is in a band called a dermatome. This usually occurs on one side of the chest in a narrow area or band and can wrap around from the spine to the breastbone. The abdominal area can also be involved.
Facial Area
Shingles may affect a nerve in the facial area. This can include the face, eyes, mouth and ears. Shingles occurring in the face area can cause the eyelids to droop (ptosis), vision problems (blindness if occurred in the eye), hearing loss or deafness, taste diversions and trouble with moving some of the muscles in the face. The Mayo Clinic recommends contacting a doctor promptly if shingles are assumed and a rash or pain is experienced near an eye. The infection can lead to permanent eye damage if left untreated.
