---
title: "Shingles"
---
If you had chickenpox, the virus that caused it is still inside your body. When the chickenpox cleared, the virus moved from your skin to your nerves, where it went dormant. [3] Shingles is that virus waking up. Most people who get it develop a painful, blistering rash. [1]
**The rash appears on one side of the body only**, most often on the torso, in a band. [2] That one-sided band is the most recognizable thing about it. For one to two days before the rash appears, you may have pain, burning or tingling in the area, which is why people often describe a strange sensation before there was anything to see. [2]
On lighter skin tones the bumps tend to be red. **On darker skin tones you may see grayish, pink, dark brown or purplish bumps** rather than red ones. [2] That is worth knowing, because a rash that does not look like the pictures still needs the same two-to-three-day response.
**What it looks and feels like**
- Pain, burning or tingling for one to two days before anything appears [2]
- A painful, blistering rash on one side of the body, often on the torso [2]
- A band-like pattern, which is where it gets the name shingles band [2]
- Blisters that clear in seven to ten days [4]
- A rash that goes completely within two to four weeks [2] [4]
This is the only page on this site organized around a clock, and it is organized that way because the evidence is unusually clear about it.
WhenWhat to doPain, burning or tingling, nothing visible yetNote the date. This can precede the rash by one to two days [2]A rash appears on one side of the bodyCall. Aim to be seen within two to three days of the rash appearing [1] [5]The rash is anywhere on your faceThis is a medical emergency. Be seen immediately. Even if the rash is not on your eye, it can still affect your eyesight [1]More than three days have passedStill call. Treatment after the window still helps, and there is no point at which it stops being worth being seen [4]While you have blistersCover the rash. Avoid pregnant women, infants under 12 months, anyone immunocompromised and anyone unvaccinated, until it clears [5]After the rash clearsIf pain persists, say so. That has a name and its own treatment [1]
**Why the window matters, in plain terms.** Starting prescription medication within two to three days of the rash appearing can dramatically reduce your symptoms, shorten how long you have shingles, and lower your risk of developing other health problems. [1] Nothing else on this site has a lever that specific.
**What you can and cannot pass on.** You cannot give anyone shingles. While you have blisters you can spread a virus, and if it infects somebody who has never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, that person can get chickenpox. [5] That is why the covering and the avoiding matter, and why the answer to "am I contagious" is more precise than yes or no.
AreaWhat tends to happen thereTorsoThe most common site, and where the one-sided band is most obvious. [2]FaceA medical emergency, and it can affect eyesight even when the rash is not on the eye. [1]Around one eyeThe highest-urgency presentation, and the reason face rashes are not watched at home. [1]Neck and shoulderCommon, and often mistaken for a muscular problem during the pain-before-rash phase.One side of the backFrequently reported as a strange burning before anything appeared. [2]Anywhere, on one sideThe rule is the one-sidedness rather than the location. [2]
There is not much to say about competitive advantage on a condition where the whole game is the calendar. What matters is that somebody looks at the rash promptly, confirms what it is, and starts treatment inside the window. A dermatologist can often diagnose shingles by looking at the rash, and where it is not clear, fluid from a blister is examined under a microscope. [4]
The reason to call a dermatology practice rather than wait is that a one-sided painful rash gets mistaken for a lot of things, including [a rash from something your skin touched](/conditions/contact-dermatitis/), and the cost of waiting to see whether it settles is measured in the window closing. **If you think you might have shingles, ask for [an appointment](/treatments/skin-care-consultations/) rather than a callback.** And if the rash is anywhere on your face, do not wait for us: that is an emergency.
**Be seen immediately if:**
- The rash is anywhere on your face. It is a medical emergency, and it can affect eyesight even when the rash is not on your eye [1]
**Call for an appointment today if:**
- A painful, blistering rash has appeared on one side of your body [2]
- You have had pain, burning or tingling in one area, and now a rash has followed it [2]
- You suspect shingles at all. The window is two to three days from the rash appearing [1] [5]
**Still call, even if:**
- More than three days have passed. Treatment after the window still helps [4]
- The rash is clearing but pain is not. That has a name and its own treatment [1]
Diagnosis is usually by looking at the rash, sometimes with fluid from a blister examined under a microscope. [4] Nothing about it requires preparation, and speed is the only thing that matters.
**While you have it** [5]
- Wash the rash with a fragrance-free cleanser
- Apply a thin layer of clean pure petroleum jelly, and cover with a new, sterile, non-stick bandage
- Wash your hands after touching the rash
- A cool, damp washcloth for five to ten minutes, several times a day
- A cool oatmeal bath, and calamine once the blisters have scabbed
- Loose cotton or linen clothing, rest, and less stress where that is available to you
- Cover the rash and stay away from pregnant women, infants under 12 months, anyone immunocompromised and anyone unvaccinated, until it clears
**About the pain afterward**
- Pain typically settles within one or two months [4]
- For some people it lingers after the rash clears. That is called postherpetic neuralgia, and it can cause constant tingling, burning and pain [1]
- It can last months, years, or the rest of a person's life, and treatment can help reduce the amount of pain you feel [1]
- If pain is still there after the rash has gone, say so at a follow-up rather than waiting it out
Diagnosis and prescription treatment, promptly. Pick a treatment to see how the appointment works.
Diagnosis and treatment of shingles are medical care rather than a cosmetic service, and are handled differently from the aesthetic treatments on this site. Our office will go through what applies to you when you book.
**Do not let a question about cost delay a call.** The window on this condition is two to three days, and the practical answer to any billing question is faster than the answer to a rash that was left alone.
**Q: How quickly do I need to be seen?**
Within two to three days of the rash appearing. Starting prescription medication in that window can dramatically reduce your symptoms, shorten how long you have shingles, and lower your risk of other health problems. [1] If more than three days have passed, still call: treatment after the window still helps. [4]
**Q: What if the rash is on my face?**
Be seen immediately. A shingles rash on the face is a medical emergency, and even if the rash is not on your eye it could still affect your eyesight. [1] That is not a call to make in the morning.
**Q: Is it contagious?**
Yes, and in a specific way: you cannot give anyone shingles. While you have blisters you can spread a virus, and if that virus infects somebody who has not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, that person can get chickenpox. [5] Cover the rash and stay away from pregnant women, infants under 12 months, anyone immunocompromised and anyone unvaccinated until it clears. [5]
**Q: How long does it last?**
Blisters tend to clear in seven to ten days, and the rash goes completely within two to four weeks. [2] [4] Pain typically resolves in one or two months. [4]
**Q: What if the pain does not stop?**
Pain that lingers after the rash clears is called postherpetic neuralgia. It can cause constant tingling, burning and pain, and it can last months, years or longer. [1] Treatment can help reduce the amount of pain you feel, so it is worth raising rather than enduring. [1]
**Q: Should I get the vaccine, and do you give it?**
The shingles vaccine is recommended for healthy adults aged 50 and over, and in studies it reduced the risk of developing shingles by 96.6 percent in people aged 50 to 59, 97.4 percent in people aged 60 to 69, and 91.3 percent in people aged 70 or older. [1] [3] We do not administer it here. Ask your primary care physician or your pharmacy.
**Q: Do I need a referral?**
Yes, this is medical dermatology and the practice is currently accepting new medical patients by referral. If you think you have shingles right now, call the office anyway and say so. Do not let the referral process cost you the treatment window.
1. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Shingles: Overview." States that "most people who get this disease develop a painful, blistering rash," that "starting prescription medication within 2 to 3 days of developing the rash can dramatically: reduce your symptoms... lessen the amount of time you have shingles... lower your risk of developing other health problems," that "having a shingles rash on your face is a medical emergency. Even if the rash isn't on your eye, it could still affect your eyesight," that postherpetic neuralgia is "pain that can linger for months or years after the rash clears," that "PHN can cause constant tingling, burning, and pain," that "you can have PHN for months, years, or the rest of your life," that "treatment can help reduce the amount of pain you feel," and that the shingles vaccine "reduced the risk of developing shingles by: 96.6% in people 50-59 years old, 97.4% in people 60-69 years old, 91.3% in people 70 or older." [https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-overview](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-overview) · Medical Organization
2. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Shingles: Signs and symptoms." States that "shingles causes a painful, blistering rash on your skin," that "a painful, blistering rash appears. It usually appears on one side of your body, often on the torso," that "the rash only develops on one side of your body," describing "the shingles band because it looks like a band that appears on one area of your body," that "for 1 to 2 days before the rash appears, you may have pain, burning, or tingling," that "for most people, the rash will clear within 2 to 4 weeks," that "people with darker skin tones may see grayish, pink, dark brown, or purplish bumps," and that "on lighter skin tones, the bumps tend to be red." [https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-symptoms](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-symptoms) · Medical Organization
3. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Shingles: Who gets and causes." States that "if you had chickenpox, the virus that caused it is still inside your body. When the chickenpox cleared, the virus moved from your skin to your nerves," that the virus "moves to nerves inside your body, where it goes to sleep," that it is "rare to get shingles before 40 years of age" with risk rising in the fifties, names leukemia and lymphoma, HIV, organ transplant with immunosuppressants, severe psoriasis and advanced psoriatic arthritis, and ongoing chemotherapy among risk factors, and notes the CDC recommendation of shingles vaccination for healthy adults aged 50 and over. [https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-causes](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-causes) · Medical Organization
4. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Shingles: Diagnosis and treatment." States that "a dermatologist can often diagnose shingles by looking at the rash on your skin," and that where it is uncertain fluid is scraped from a blister and examined under a microscope. States that blisters "tend to clear in 7 to 10 days," that the rash "goes away completely within 2 to 4 weeks," that pain typically resolves "in 1 or 2 months," advises seeking care "within 3 days of getting the rash," and notes that treatment after that window still helps. Names antiviral medications and pain relief among treatments. [https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-treatment](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-treatment) · Medical Organization
5. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "Shingles: Tips for managing." Advises to "see a doctor within 2 to 3 days of getting the rash," to "wash the rash with a fragrance-free cleanser," to "apply a thin layer of clean pure petroleum jelly," to "cover the rash with a new, sterile, non-stick bandage," to "wash your hands after touching the rash," to use a cool damp washcloth for five to ten minutes several times daily, to soak in "a cool, oatmeal bath," to apply calamine after scabbing, and to wear loose cotton or linen clothing, rest and reduce stress. States that "yes, but you cannot give anyone shingles. While you have blisters, you can spread a virus. If that virus infects someone who hasn't had chickenpox (or the chickenpox vaccine), the person can get chickenpox," and advises covering the rash and avoiding pregnant women, infants under 12 months, immunocompromised people and unvaccinated people until it clears. [https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-self-care](https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/shingles-self-care) · Medical Organization
Content on this page is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. A shingles rash on the face is a medical emergency and requires immediate care. Several conditions can produce a painful rash, and diagnosis is made by examination. Antiviral and pain medications carry their own risks, which are discussed at the visit. Vaccination is not provided at this practice; discuss it with your primary care physician. Individual results may vary.
```ld+json
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/#concern",
"name": "Shingles",
"url": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/",
"description": "Shingles is a painful, blistering rash, usually in a band on one side of the body. **Starting prescription treatment within two to three days of the rash appearing changes how the whole thing goes**, which makes this one of the few skin conditions wh…",
"image": {
"@type": "ImageObject",
"contentUrl": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/shingles-2x-1024x512.jpg",
"width": 1024,
"height": 512,
"caption": "Shingles on the legs"
},
"possibleTreatment": [
{
"@type": "MedicalTherapy",
"name": "Skin Care Consultations",
"url": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/treatments/skin-care-consultations/"
}
]
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "MedicalWebPage",
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/#webpage",
"name": "Shingles",
"url": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/",
"mainEntity": {
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/#concern"
},
"lastReviewed": "2026-08-01",
"reviewedBy": {
"@type": "Person",
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/providers/dr-christine-kilcline/#provider",
"name": "Dr. Christine Kilcline",
"url": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/providers/dr-christine-kilcline/"
},
"about": [
{
"@type": "MedicalSpecialty",
"name": "Dermatology",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q171171"
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Herpes zoster",
"sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q182155"
}
],
"speakable": {
"@type": "SpeakableSpecification",
"cssSelector": [
".geo-summary"
]
}
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"name": "Home",
"item": {
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/",
"@type": "WebSite",
"name": "Home"
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"name": "Concerns",
"item": {
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/",
"@type": "CollectionPage",
"name": "Concerns"
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 3,
"name": "Shingles",
"item": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/"
}
]
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Shingles",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Shingles is a painful, blistering rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox, reactivating years later. It usually appears as a band on one side of the body. It is diagnosed and treated at Coastal Dermatology + Aesthetics in San Luis Obispo."
},
"isPartOf": {
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/#webpage"
},
"url": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/conditions/shingles/"
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Review",
"reviewBody": "Dr. Kilcline is the best dermatologist! Best experience ever! Love her new beautiful facility & location.",
"itemReviewed": {
"@type": "Organization",
"@id": "https://coastaldermaesthetics.com/#organization",
"name": "Coastal Dermatology + Aesthetics"
},
"author": {
"@type": "Person",
"name": "Linda T."
},
"reviewRating": {
"@type": "Rating",
"ratingValue": 5,
"bestRating": 5
}
},
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "How quickly do I need to be seen?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Within two to three days of the rash appearing. Starting prescription medication in that window can dramatically reduce your symptoms, shorten how long you have shingles, and lower your risk of other health problems. [1] If more than three days have passed, still call: treatment after the window still helps. [4]
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What if the rash is on my face?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Be seen immediately. A shingles rash on the face is a medical emergency, and even if the rash is not on your eye it could still affect your eyesight. [1] That is not a call to make in the morning.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is it contagious?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes, and in a specific way: you cannot give anyone shingles. While you have blisters you can spread a virus, and if that virus infects somebody who has not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, that person can get chickenpox. [5] Cover the rash and stay away from pregnant women, infants under 12 months, anyone immunocompromised and anyone unvaccinated until it clears. [5]
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "How long does it last?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Blisters tend to clear in seven to ten days, and the rash goes completely within two to four weeks. [2] [4] Pain typically resolves in one or two months. [4]
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What if the pain does not stop?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Pain that lingers after the rash clears is called postherpetic neuralgia. It can cause constant tingling, burning and pain, and it can last months, years or longer. [1] Treatment can help reduce the amount of pain you feel, so it is worth raising rather than enduring. [1]
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Should I get the vaccine, and do you give it?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "The shingles vaccine is recommended for healthy adults aged 50 and over, and in studies it reduced the risk of developing shingles by 96.6 percent in people aged 50 to 59, 97.4 percent in people aged 60 to 69, and 91.3 percent in people aged 70 or older. [1] [3] We do not administer it here. Ask your primary care physician or your pharmacy.
"
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Do I need a referral?",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Yes, this is medical dermatology and the practice is currently accepting new medical patients by referral. If you think you have shingles right now, call the office anyway and say so. Do not let the referral process cost you the treatment window.
"
}
}
]
}
]
}
```