Shingles in San Juan Capistrano, CA

What Is Shingles?

Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you have had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissue for years and can later reactivate as shingles, often when the immune system is weakened by age, stress, illness, or medications. Adults over 50 and people with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk.

Shingles can appear anywhere on the body or head, but it most often forms a band-like rash on one side of the torso. Some people develop shingles around one eye or on one side of the face or neck. Shingles around the eye requires urgent care because it can affect vision.

You cannot catch shingles from someone else. However, a person with active shingles blisters can spread the virus through direct contact to someone who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, and that person would develop chickenpox, not shingles.

Symptoms of Shingles

The first sign of shingles is usually pain, which may begin days before any rash appears. Symptoms often include:

• Pain, burning, or aching in one area of the skin, followed by a red rash
• Numbness or tingling
• Sensitivity to touch
• Itching
• Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
• Fever, headache, fatigue, and sensitivity to light

It is possible to have shingles pain without ever developing a visible rash. A shingles outbreak typically lasts two to six weeks, and most people get shingles only once, although it can recur. For most healthy adults, shingles resolves with treatment, but people with weakened immune systems may be more vulnerable to complications.

Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)

For some patients, pain continues long after the rash has healed because damaged nerve fibers keep sending exaggerated pain signals to the brain. This condition, called postherpetic neuralgia, can last for months or even years and significantly affect quality of life. The risk of PHN increases with age, which is one reason early treatment of acute shingles is so important.

How We Treat Shingles

Like several other viral infections, shingles has no cure, but prompt treatment with antiviral medication, ideally started within 72 hours of the rash appearing, can significantly reduce symptoms, shorten the outbreak, and lower the risk of complications. Dr. Klein has developed a new treatment approach designed to significantly reduce the progression of acute shingles and to reduce the pain associated with chronic postherpetic neuralgia. Learn more in his overview: Introduction to New Treatment for Severe Herpes Shingles Infections.

Your treatment plan may also include pain relief, cool compresses, and gentle care to keep blisters clean and prevent infection. If healed blisters leave marks, our scar removal treatments and fractional laser resurfacing can help improve their appearance.

Preventing Shingles

A shingles vaccine is recommended for most adults age 50 and older, as well as some younger adults with weakened immune systems. Vaccination greatly lowers the risk of shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. Talk with your primary care provider or pharmacist about whether the vaccine is right for you.

A painful, blistering rash can sometimes be confused with other rashes, eczema, hives, or insect bites. If you are unsure, our team can make a quick, accurate diagnosis. Explore our medical dermatology services, see all conditions we treat, review our insurance information, or visit our new patient page. Learn more about Dr. Klein and why patients choose HK Dermatology, or read our general FAQs.

Shingles FAQs

Get Prompt Shingles Care

Early treatment makes a difference. If you have symptoms of shingles or ongoing nerve pain after shingles, call HK Dermatology at (949) 248-1632 or request an appointment online in San Juan Capistrano, CA .