Is Sun Good For Shingles

Appearance Of The Shingles Rash

The eruptive stage of shingles begins a few days later. This is when a rash appears.

The skin in the area of the prodromal pain caused by shingles will often be sensitive to the touch and reddish in appearance. As these symptoms get worse, it may begin to feel like a sunburn.

Within three to five days of the initial pain, a few tiny pimple-like spots appear and quickly multiply into clusters, forming a rash that feels prickly to the touch.

From there, sometimes within hours, the pimples develop into water-filled blisters, or vesicles, that then consolidate into larger blisters. Often, redness and swelling accompany the rash.

The shingles rash looks very much like the chickenpox rash, with a key difference: Chickenpox blisters are widely scattered over the entire body. With shingles, the rash almost always occupies a finite strip of skin.

Ultimately, the pain of shingles may get so excruciating that simply grazing the skin with clothing can set off what feels like an electric shock.

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Burning Feeling And Red Rash

Between 1 and 5 days after you start to feel the tingling or numb feeling, a red rash will develop on the same area of your skin. Most often, the rash appears on one side of your torso, but it can show up anywhere on your body.

You may also have other symptoms along with the rash, such as:

When the rash starts, you should see a doctor for treatment as soon as possible. Starting antiviral medication treatment within 3 days of the rash first appearing can lower your risk of developing complications, like long-term pain.

Recommended Reading: Is The Shingles Shot Just One Dose

What Are The Symptoms Of Shingles

Usually, shingles develops on just one side of the body or face, and in a small area. The most common place for shingles to occur is in a band around one side of the waistline.

Most people with shingles have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Fluid-filled blisters
• Tingling, itching, or numbness of the skin
• Chills, fever, headache, or upset stomach

For some people, the symptoms of shingles are mild. They might just have some itching. For others, shingles can cause intense pain that can be felt from the gentlest touch or breeze. Its important to talk with your doctor if you notice any shingles symptoms.

If you notice blisters on your face, see your doctor right away because this is an urgent problem. Blisters near or in the eye can cause lasting eye damage and blindness. Hearing loss, a brief paralysis of the face, or, very rarely, inflammation of the brain can also occur.

Can Shingles Be Brought On By Hot Sunlight

karen49042

Been abroad 2 weeks blisters appeard on my chest in the first week and then more a few days after. the lst lot have crusted and look like shingles. Ive had it before but not as bad . I also suffer with coldsores all year round . But im not unwell they are just tingly and itching .can shingles be brought on by extreme 30oc heat every day ..i keep reading all different things

1 like, 40 replies

• Posted 6 years ago

  Mine were “triggered” when I was working on the car this summer. Not sure if the sun can “bring them on” but the heat and sunshine can cause sensitivity-according to my Urgent Care Physician.

• Thanks for replying i do believe its sun that contributes to it

  Many thanks

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Administering And Storing Shingrix

• Adults 50 years and older should receive 2 doses of Shingrix. Give the second dose 2 to 6 months after the first.
• Administer Shingrix intramuscularly in the deltoid region of the upper arm with a 1- to 1.5-inch needle.
• Both vials of Shingrix must be refrigerated at a temperature of 36-46° F. Do not use if exposed to temperatures below 36° F.

Signs And Symptoms Of Shingles Rash

The Stages Before and After Rash Development

• What Causes Shingles?

The most well-known symptom of shingles is a severe skin rash. However, before any signs of blisters, you may feel as if you’re only coming down with the flu.

You may experience chills and fever, as well as intense pain. It’s not until a few days later that a rash finally joins these shingles symptoms, with clusters of tiny, pimple-like blisters progressing quickly once they appear.

If you’re familiar with the signs and symptoms of shingles, you’ll be able to recognize what’s going on, get a diagnosis quickly, and deal with it without delay. Doing so makes you less likely to develop complications, such as nerve issues or bacterial skin infections.

This article reviews the symptoms of shingles and what you need to know about potential complications.

Read Also: Can You Have Shingles Without A Rash Or Blisters

Your Roof And The Sun

First things first, lets understand how a roof reacts to heat from the sun, and the impact this relationship has on the temperature inside your home and therefore on your energy bills.

Threemain things happen when the suns radiation hits the surface of an asphalt shingleroof:

• Absorption: Some level of heat is absorbed by the roof and transferred into the home.
• Solar Reflectance: The roof reflects a portion of the suns energy. Shingles with a higher solar reflectance allow less heat to transfer into a home.
• Thermal Emittance: The roof radiates some of the absorbed heat back into the atmosphere. Shingles with a higher thermal emittance also allow less heat to transfer into a home.

What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Shingrix

Studies show that Shingrix is safe. The vaccine helps your body create a strong defense against shingles. As a result, you are likely to have temporary side effects from getting the shots. The side effects might affect your ability to do normal daily activities for 2 to 3 days.

Most people got a sore arm with mild or moderate pain after getting Shingrix, and some also had redness and swelling where they got the shot. Some people felt tired, had muscle pain, a headache, shivering, fever, stomach pain, or nausea. Some people who got Shingrix experienced side effects that prevented them from doing regular activities. Symptoms went away on their own in about 2 to 3 days. Side effects were more common in younger people.

You might have a reaction to the first or second dose of Shingrix, or both doses. If you experience side effects, you may choose to take over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Guillain-Barré syndrome , a serious nervous system disorder, has been reported very rarely after Shingrix. There is also a very small increased risk of GBS after having shingles.

If you experience side effects from Shingrix, you should report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System . Your doctor might file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS websiteexternal icon, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.

If you have any questions about side effects from Shingrix, talk with your doctor.

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Can I Get A Shingles Vaccine If Im Younger Than 50

According to the CDC, you should only get the shingles vaccine if you are at least 19 years old and have a weakened immune system due to disease or medications used to treat a disease if you are under 50 years old and have a weakened immune system due to disease or medications used to treat a disease. Consult your health-care professional if you have any concerns.

How Is Shingles Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will do a complete physical exam and ask about your medical history, specifically about whether you have ever had chickenpox.

Your healthcare provider will likely know right away that it is shingles based on the unique rash. The rash usually appears one area on one side of the body or face. It appears as red spots, small fluid- or pus-filled vesicles, or scabs.

The healthcare provider may also take skin scrapings for testing.

Read Also: Can You Have Shingles In Your Mouth

How To Recover From Shingles Quickly

I think the most important piece of this post is this section. Of course, catching it early and taking the antivirals help a ton but shingles is so much more than just popping some pills and hoping for the best. Im not here to throw conventional medicine under the rug. I dont think Id have had such a quick turnaround if it hadnt been for the full course of antivirals I took, but there are a lot of natural treatments you can incorporate to also help speed up the process and the pain and itchiness that typically ensues.

CBD/THC

In addition to OTC pain meds, I used CBD and THC to help manage the pain. Ive been playing around with different types of CBD and found the Calm pen from Dosist to be most effective. For THC I used topical salve on the rash itself and it was literally a godsend to help manage the pain.

BONE BROTH

Theres a reason your body craves broth when youre sick. Bone broth is super anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting. It contains vitamins and minerals that help support gut health and reduce pain and inflammation.

Ive had two cups of bone broth every single day for the last two weeks. Currently obsessed with Kettle and Fire and especially their mushroom and chicken broth! Use code THEHEALTHYMAVEN to save 20% off your first order.

KOMBUCHA/PROBIOTICS

SUPPLEMENTS

Zinc supports immune function and has an antiviral effect

L-lysine an amino acid that helps reduce the spread of the shingles virus

LEMON BALM

DIET

ESSENTIAL OILS

Feeling The Burn Helpful Tips For Managing Sunburn

This time of year always brings an influx of patients that are suffering from sun-related damage. This week brought two serious conditions that I thought would be worthy of sharing here each of them had a lasting impact on me because in both cases they were entirely preventable. Ultraviolet rays from the sun are very powerful and can do a lot of damage. This damage is preventable with sunscreen.

One of my patients this week was a teenage girl presenting with a rash on her face. She had recently suffered from a bad sunburn which then turned into a pretty nasty looking rash that spread throughout her cheeks.

Also Check: How Often Do I Need The Shingles Shot

Key Points About Shingles

• Shingles is a common viral infection of the nerves. It causes a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin.
• Shingles is caused when the chickenpox virus is reactivated.
• It is more common in people with weakened immune systems, and in people over the age of 50.
• Shingles starts with skin sensitivity, tingling, itching, and/or pain followed by rash that looks like small, red spots that turn into blisters.
• The rash is typically affects just one area on one side of the body or face.
• Treatment that is started as soon as possible helps reduce the severity of the disease.

How To Contract The Shingles

The varicella-zoster virus reactivates in your body after you’ve had chickenpox, resulting in shingles. According to the CDC, you cannot receive shingles from someone else who has it. Chickenpox can, however, be contracted from someone who has shingles, increasing your chances of developing shingles later.

According to the National Library of Medicine, no one knows why the varicella-zoster virus suddenly becomes active again years later. According to the findings, many people who had mild cases of chickenpox are unaware they even had the virus in the first place.

Also Check: What Age Can I Get The Shingles Vaccine

What Everyone Should Know About The Shingles Vaccine

Shingles vaccination is the only way to protect against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia , the most common complication from shingles.

CDC recommends that adults 50 years and older get two doses of the shingles vaccine called Shingrix to prevent shingles and the complications from the disease. Adults 19 years and older who have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix, as they have a higher risk of getting shingles and related complications.

Your doctor or pharmacist can give you Shingrix as a shot in your upper arm.

Shingrix provides strong protection against shingles and PHN. In adults 50 years and older who have healthy immune systems, Shingrix is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and PHN. Immunity stays strong for at least the first 7 years after vaccination. In adults with weakened immune systems, studies show that Shingrix is 68%-91% effective in preventing shingles, depending on the condition that affects the immune system.

How Long Does Shingles Last

Most cases of shingles last three to five weeks.

• The first sign is often burning or tingling pain sometimes it includes numbness or itching on one side of the body.
• Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear.
• A few days later, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters.
• About one week to 10 days after that, the blisters dry up and crust over.
• A couple of weeks later, the scabs clear up.

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What Can I Do To Help Prevent Shingles Or A Shingles Outbreak

• A vaccine may be given to help prevent shingles. You can get the vaccine even if you already had shingles. The vaccine comes in 2 forms. A 2-dose vaccine is usually given to adults 50 years or older. A 1-dose vaccine may be given to adults 60 years or older.
• The vaccine can help prevent a future outbreak. If you do get shingles again, the vaccine can keep it from becoming severe. Ask your healthcare provider about other vaccines you may need.

How Well Does Shingrix Work

Two doses of Shingrix provide strong protection against shingles and postherpetic neuralgia , the most common complication of shingles.

• In adults 50 to 69 years old with healthy immune systems, Shingrix was 97% effective in preventing shingles in adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 91% effective.
• In adults 50 years and older, Shingrix was 91% effective in preventing PHN in adults 70 years and older, Shingrix was 89% effective.
• In adults with weakened immune systems, Shingrix was between 68% and 91% effective in preventing shingles, depending on their underlying immunocompromising condition.

In people 70 years and older who had healthy immune systems, Shingrix immunity remained high throughout 7 years following vaccination.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Herpes Zoster

A tingling and burning feeling and itchy skin rash caused by shingles typically develop in a small area on one side of the face or body. It is common to develop shingles rash in a band-like pattern at the waistline.

Symptoms of shingles can include:

• Numbness, tingling, and itching of the skin
• Fluid-filled blisters
• Fever, chills, malaise, headache, upset stomach

Some people get shingles that only cause mild symptoms, such as itching. Others can have extreme pain triggered by even a gentle touch. It is important to get prompt treatment for shingles, especially if you develop shingles blisters on your face. Facial blisters can lead to serious complications like eye damage, hearing loss, facial paralysis, and encephalitis .

Who Should Get Shingrix

Adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. Adults 19 years and older who have or will have weakened immune systems because of disease or therapy should also get two doses of Shingrix. If needed, people with weakened immune systems can get the second dose 1 to 2 months after the first.

You should get Shingrix even if in the past you:

• Received varicella vaccine

There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.

If you had shingles in the past, Shingrix can help prevent future occurrences of the disease. There is no specific length of time that you need to wait after having shingles before you can receive Shingrix, but generally you should make sure the shingles rash has gone away before getting vaccinated.

Chickenpox and shingles are related because they are caused by the same virus . After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in the body. It can reactivate years later and cause shingles.

Shingrix is available in doctors offices and pharmacies.

If you have questions about Shingrix, talk with your healthcare provider.

* A shingles vaccine called zoster vaccine live is no longer available for use in the United States, as of November 18, 2020. If you had Zostavax in the past, you should still get Shingrix. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine the best time to get Shingrix.

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