Can You Get Shingles On Your Face And Head

Can You Get Shingles On Your Neck And Head

Theres a possibility of getting the area nearby affected with shingles too.

If you get it on your scalp, you can get it on your neck, and even other parts like the torso, waist, chest, or back will erupt with rashes.

But the good thing about this infection is that it only spreads to one side of the body and keeps it there. So if the left side is affected, only the left side will have the rashes.

And shingles on the scalp are significantly trickier to treat and require careful observation and consideration.

What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Shingles

Often the first shingles symptoms happen in the area where the rash will appear. A person may have tingling, itching, or pain in this area. When the rash shows up, the pain may be mild or severe.

The rash starts as groups of tiny pimples on one side of the body or the face. Its often in the shape of a band or belt. The pimples change to pus-filled blisters that break open and scab over in about 710 days. The scabs usually heal and fall off about 24 weeks after the rash starts.

Some kids with shingles also may have a fever and a headache, and might feel tired and achy. Rarely, a child has the pain of shingles without the rash. More severe symptoms can happen, but usually in people over age 50.

How Can I Take Care Of Myself

• Take a pain-relief medicine such as acetaminophen. Take other medicine as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Put cool, moist washcloths on the rash.
• Rest in bed during the early stages if you have fever and other symptoms.
• Try not to let clothing or bed linens rub against the rash and irritate it.
• You develop worsening pain or fever.
• You develop a severe headache, stiff neck, hearing loss, or changes in your ability to think.
• The blisters show signs of bacterial infection, such as increasing pain or redness, or milky yellow drainage from the blister sites.
• The blisters are close to the eyes or you have pain in your eyes or trouble seeing.
• You have trouble walking.

Don’t Miss: Can I Get Shingles After Vaccine

Basic Guide To Having Shingles On The Face

Shingles on the face is a painful condition that can affect anyone, but most often occurs in older adults. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the very same virus the causes chickenpox. Shingles causes an outbreak of blisters filled with fluid on just a single side of your body. Shingles are not contagious to other people, but they may be contagious to people who have never had chickenpox or shingles before. The good news about having shingles on the face is that treatment options exist. Read this article for more information about symptoms and treatment options for people with shingles on their faces.

Should I Talk To My Doctor About My Shingles Symptoms

Contact your doctor promptly if you suspect shingles, but especially in the following situations: The pain and rash occur near an eye. If left untreated, this infection can lead to permanent eye damage. Youre 60 or older, because age significantly increases your risk of complications.

What are the side effects of shingles on the body?

Neurological problems. Depending on which nerves are affected, shingles can cause an inflammation of the brain , facial paralysis, or hearing or balance problems. Skin infections. If shingles blisters arent properly treated, bacterial skin infections may develop.

Don’t Miss: What Is Prescribed For Shingles

How To Prevent Shingles: Get Vaccinated

Two vaccines may help prevent the shingles virus: the chickenpox vaccine and the shingles vaccine. The shingles vaccine is approved for adults ages 50 and older and for those 18 and older with weakened immune systems or at increased risk of herpes zoster because of a disease or treatment, according to the CDC.

Per the CDC, talk to your doctor about getting a shingles vaccination if you are 50 or older or if you have the following risk factors:

• You have cancer, especially leukemia or lymphoma.
• You are a bone marrow or solid organ transplant recipient.
• You take immunosuppressive medications, including steroids, chemotherapy, or transplant-related medications.

Scalp Pain And Hair Loss

Shingles of the scalp can lead to PHN pain in the areas of the scalp where the rash was, and long after the skin has cleared. It can also cause hair loss from scratching or combing too hard during a shingles attack, leading to a condition called cicatricial alopecia or scarring alopecia.

Hair loss occurs when the shingles rash destroys hair follicle cells responsible for new hair growth. With these cells damaged, the hair loss is permanent.

Read Also: What To Put On Shingles

Are There Natural Ways To Boost Your Immune System To Help Lessen The Chances Of Developing Shingles

Stress is a risk factor for developing shingles, so limiting your stress can be helpful. Try meditation, yoga or other relaxation methods.

Other things you can do include:

• Eat a healthy diet.
• Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
• Dont smoke or use tobacco products.

These are all tips for an overall healthy lifestyle, not just for reducing your chance of getting shingles.

Shingles Vs Other Skin Conditions

Shingles is different from other conditions in several ways:

• People may experience pain, including burning, tingling, or electrical sensations on their skin for 1 to 2 days before the rash develops.
• The shingles rash looks like a group of small blisters or lesions.
• The rash usually develops in one area, not as patches of blisters in different areas on the face.
• Shingles usually affects just one side of the face.
• Makeup, sun exposure, or an allergy do not trigger shingles.
• Shingles will not spread from one area of the body through contact, unlike some other rashes.
• Some people develop more lesions after the initial outbreak. These blisters might be near the location of the first rash, or somewhere else.
• The rash begins as sore blisters that may then crack, bleed, and scab over.
• Shingles lasts 1 to 2 weeks.
• Shingles sometimes causes other symptoms, such as a fever, headache, muscle aches, and stomach pain or vomiting.
• Only people who have previously had chickenpox can get shingles.

You May Like: How Soon After Having Shingles Can You Get The Vaccine

Is The Zostavax Vaccine Still Being Used

Yes. The CDC, however, recommends Zostavax for adults age 60 and older, but not routinely for people aged 50 to 59. Zostavax is given as a single-dose shot versus the two-dose shot for Shingrix. Zostavax is less effective than Shingrix in preventing shingles and postherpetic neuralgia .

You can consider Zostavax if you are allergic to Shingrix or if Shingrix is unavailable because of supply shortage and you want some immediate protection from a possible case of shingles and/or postherpetic neuralgia. Because its a weakened live vaccine, it may be dangerous if you have cancer, HIV, or take steroids, chemotherapy or other medications that suppress your immune system. Ask your healthcare provider if the Zostavax vaccine is an option for you.

Hearing Loss And Facial Weakness

Complications of herpes zoster oticus and Ramsay Hunt syndrome might include hearing loss and facial weakness. For most people, these are temporary symptoms, but it is possible for the damage to become permanent, especially if shingles is left untreated.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome accounts for up to 12% of facial paralysis. In some cases, it has a worse outcome than Bells palsya condition that causes temporary weakness in the muscles of the face.

Don’t Miss: How To Tell When Shingles Need Replacing

Can Shingles Affect The Brain

Depending on which nerves are affected, shingles can cause an inflammation of the brain , facial paralysis, or hearing or balance problems.

These are neurological issues but can be described as rare and severe symptoms.

This only happens when the treatment cant be started within time and shingles spread far enough to affect the brain in various ways.

Shingles Of The Mouth

Shingles can affect the mouth if the virus affects certain parts of the trigeminal nerve.

Shingles in the mouth may present as small, fluid-filled blisters on the palate and gums. It can also affect the tongue. Oral presentations of shingles may or may not occur in addition to a skin rash or lesions on the face.

Complications of shingles of the mouth may affect the teeth, and include tooth loss and tissue decay.

Don’t Miss: Why Is Shingles Pain Worse At Night

Who’s At Risk For Shingles

Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can get shingles, but the risk increases with age. People older than age 60 are up to 10 times more likely to get shingles than younger people. Other factors that increase your risk include:

• Some cancer medicines
• A weak immune system from illnesses such as cancer or HIV

A quarter of adults will develop shingles at some point, and most are otherwise healthy.

Who Should Get The Shingles Vaccine

The shingles vaccine is recommended for individuals age 50 and older with a healthy immune system, even if the person has received Zostavax for shingles in the past or has had a prior episode of herpes zoster. Individuals age 19 and older who are currently or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed because of underlying disease or therapy should also receive the shingles vaccine.

Don’t Miss: Best Cream For Shingles Scars

Hives Can Cause Itchy Red Bumps

Hives are red or skin-colored bumps that can cause mild to severe itching, according to the ACAAI. They typically appear suddenly and disappear quickly. Pressing the middle of a red bump will make it turn white, which is known as blanching. Hives can be caused by a number of triggers, including allergies, cold or hot weather, and infections.

Can You Get Shingles On Your Head

Asked by: Prof. Annie Ferry

The rash also may appear on one side of your face or scalp. The painful rash may be in the area of your ear or eye. When shingles occurs on the head or scalp, symptoms can include headaches and weakness of one side of the face, which causes that side of the face to look droopy.

Recommended Reading: Who Can Get Free Shingles Vaccine

Psoriasis Forms Red Patches On The Skin

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is easy to confuse with the shingles rash. As with the shingles virus, psoriasis forms red patches on the skin, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. One type of psoriasis pustular can lead to the development of blisters. Areas of skin affected by psoriasis often develop into silvery scales on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. Treatment can help control the condition.

Will Shingles Go Away On Its Own

Shingles isn’t life-threatening, but it can be incredibly painful and, in some cases, complications can arise. While this rash typically goes away its own, prompt treatment can reduce your pain and help shingles go away faster.

“Several antivirals can be used to treat shingles. These drugs can help you heal more quickly and reduce your pain, but they are most effective when started within 72 hours of your rash appearing. This means it’s important to see your doctor as soon as you suspect shingles,” says Dr. Brown. “When it comes to the pain associated with shingles, most people are able to manage it using over-the-counter pain relievers. But, pain can be severe for some people. In these cases, your doctor can prescribe stronger pain medications.”

Beyond treating your immediate pain and rash, seeing your doctor is also important since serious complications can occur as a result of shingles, such as:

• Postherpetic neuralgia pain that lasts for months to years after the rash clears, with this pain being debilitating in some cases
• Skin infection occurs if the open sores of your rash become infected with bacteria, which can require antibiotics and delay healing
• Vision problems while rare, if your rash develops near your eye, the associated inflammation can damage your retina and, in some cases, result in vision loss

You May Like: How To Treat Shingles Blisters

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Shingles

Shingles causes a painful, blistering rash on your skin. If you get shingles, you may notice the following:

• Before the rash appears: For 1 to 2 days before the rash appears, you may have pain, burning, or tingling on an area of skin where the rash will develop. Some people say they felt an electrical sensation on their skin before getting the rash.

• Rash appears: A painful, blistering rash appears. It usually appears on one side of your body, often on the torso however, it can appear anywhere on your skin. Some people get more blisters after the rash appears, so it can seem that the rash is spreading.

• Rash starts to clear: As the rash clears, the blisters may crack open, bleed, and scab over. For most people, the rash will clear within 2 to 4 weeks.

Although the rash will clear on its own, treatment is important. Taking medication within 3 days of getting the shingles rash can:

• Reduce your risk of developing other health problems, such as long-lasting nerve pain, pneumonia, or hearing loss

Shingles rash on the face

If you have a shingles rash on your face, immediately seeing a doctor for treatment could save your eyesight.

You May Like: When Should I Get My Second Shingles Vaccine

When You Should See Your Doctor

Go to your doctor as soon as you see the rash, as treatment is most effective if its started early.

Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medicine, which may help you recover faster and will reduce the chance that the pain will last for a long time.

Your doctor may also give you medicine for pain relief.

See your doctor again if:

• you get any blisters on your face
• your fever or pain gets worse
• your neck gets stiff, you cant hear properly or you feel less able to think clearly
• you develop new symptoms such as drooping or weakness to one side of your face
• the blisters show signs of infection or if you see milky yellow drainage from the blister sites.

Call Healthline if you are unsure what you should do.

You May Like: What Cream To Apply On Shingles

Check If You Have Shingles

The first signs of shingles can be:

• a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin
• a headache or feeling generally unwell

A rash will appear a few days later.

Usually you get the shingles rash on your chest and tummy, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals.

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.

Am I At Risk For Shingles

Everyone who has had chickenpox is at risk for developing shingles. Researchers do not fully understand what makes the virus become active and cause shingles. But some things make it more likely:

• Older age. The risk of developing shingles increases as you age. About half of all shingles cases are in adults age 60 or older. The chance of getting shingles becomes much greater by age 70.
• Trouble fighting infections. Your immune system is the part of your body that responds to infections. Age can affect your immune system. So can HIV, cancer, cancer treatments, too much sun, and organ transplant drugs. Even stress or a cold can weaken your immune system for a short time. These all can put you at risk for shingles.

Most people only have shingles one time. However, it is possible to have it more than once.

Read Also: Is Shingles An Autoimmune Disease

Shingles Can Harm Your Eyes

Eyelid shingles can impact your vision and your comfort. But shingles can do even more. The virus can spread to tissues within the eye, and that can cause additional damage.

Researchers say 1 person in 100 can develop the ophthalmic version of shingles, and most who do are elderly. If you have the condition, you may visit your doctor complaining of:

• Vision changes.
• Redness in your eye.
• Welts around your eye.

Itâs important to get help right away when shingles appears in your eye, says Mayo Clinic. Shingles can cause longstanding problems with your vision, and in some cases, it can cause blindness. The sooner you act, the better.

You will probably be encouraged to get help, experts say, as shingles within the eye are excruciating. You might describe the pain as itchy, burning, or stabbing. It does not get better if you blink or rest. And it may feel worse with each passing day.

Shingles brings more than just extreme discomfort to the eyes. It can also weaken the structures within the eye, and that can increase your risk of other eye health problems. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says a case of shingles can up your risk of developing these issues:

If the welts appear on your cornea, they can leave scars behind. Those marks can blur your vision for years to come.

Read Also: How Often Does One Need The Shingles Vaccine

How Is Shingles Diagnosed And Treated

If you think you might have shingles, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Its important to see your doctor no later than three days after the rash starts. The doctor will confirm whether you have shingles and can make a treatment plan. Most cases can be diagnosed from a visual examination. If you have a condition that weakens the immune system, your doctor may order a shingles test. Although there is no cure for shingles, early treatment with antiviral medications can help the blisters clear up faster and limit severe pain. Shingles can often be treated at home.

You May Like: What Is The Current Shingles Vaccine