Why does shingles feel like sunburn?

Eruptive Stage. 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.

Does shingles cause skin discoloration?

Long-term complications from shingles, such as post-herpetic neuralgia, may continue for months or many years. The disease also may cause varying degrees of skin discoloration, primarily darkening.

Can you get shingles on your back and leg?

The shingles rash most often occurs on the torso and buttocks. It may also appear on other parts of your body, including the legs, arms, or face.

Does shingles itch and burn?

Shingles is a disease that affects your nerves. It can cause burning, shooting pain, tingling, and/or itching, as well as a rash and blisters.

What does shingles look like on brown skin?

On highly pigmented skin, a shingles rash may be red, the same color as the skin, or slightly darker. The scabs may be grey. While the rash often heals within 2–4 weeks, it is important for anyone with shingles symptoms to see a doctor for treatment within 2–3 days.

Does shingles affect your whole body?

Shingles most commonly affects the torso or chest. But it can develop just about anywhere, like on your arms, head or face. Sometimes it can also affect your eyes or ears.

What does shingles back pain feel like?

The first sign of shingles, which is also called herpes zoster, is pain that might feel like burning or tingling on one side of your face, chest, back, or waist. It can be intense. You might also feel like you’re coming down with the flu, with symptoms such as: Fever.

Does shingles mean you have a weakened immune system?

Shingles occurs when the varicella-zoster virus is reactivated due to a weakened immune system. This can create a painful, blistering rash.

What does it look like if you have shingles on the left side?

The shingles rash appears as red 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. The blotches become itchy blisters that ooze fluid.

Can a shingles rash come back after the rash is gone?

In 10% to 20% of these people, however, the pain of shingles keeps hanging on after the rash is gone. “These folks go on to get postherpetic neuralgia, and we’re not exactly sure why,” Ralph tells WebMD. “Either the pain of shingles never leaves, or it resolves, comes back, and never goes away completely.”.

What was the first symptom I had of shingles?

A small rash about the size of a lemon on my back was my first symptom of shingles. ‘Fifty mosquito bites wearing wool beanies on a freshly shaven skin without using shaving cream during summer’ is the only way to adequately describe how itchy it was.

How long does it take for shingles to itch?

My shingles started as an itch in my left underarm pit for three days with no pain. On the 4th day the pain started in that area, went to my shoulder and down my left side. It was the worst pain I have ever had, but no rash.

In 10% to 20% of these people, however, the pain of shingles keeps hanging on after the rash is gone. “These folks go on to get postherpetic neuralgia, and we’re not exactly sure why,” Ralph tells WebMD. “Either the pain of shingles never leaves, or it resolves, comes back, and never goes away completely.”.

What kind of pain is caused by shingles?

Dealing with a case of shingles is painful enough. But once the skin rash resolves, a chronic pain syndrome called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) can sometimes develop. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Can you go in the Sun with shingles?

You shouldn’t be exposing the rash to open air, anyway, while you’re in public; always keep a shingles rash covered when you’re out and about to avoid spreading the virus to people who have never had chickenpox (or received the chickenpox vaccine). All that said, some sun exposure may be unavoidable when you have shingles.

Is it possible to have shingles on both sides?

Yes, it is. Not common, but possible. It is also possible for the band of pain to shift, rather than just stay in one place. In my case my pain started on my right side, then went to my left side, same area of my rib/breastbone.