Early signs of shingles may include tingling and localized pain. You may also develop a blistering rash that can itch, burn, or hurt.

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, occurs when the dormant chickenpox virus (varicella zoster) is reactivated in your nerve tissue.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 3 adults in the United States will develop shingles at least once in their lifetime.

The shingles rash usually lasts 3 to 5 weeks, and most people completely recover. Doctors can often quickly diagnose shingles from the appearance of the skin rash.

Keep reading to learn more about shingles symptoms and to see pictures of what shingles look like.

Before the rash starts, you may develop a burning sensation, itchiness, or tingling on one side of the body, often on the trunk. You may also develop:

  • headache
  • sensitivity to light
  • general fatigue

When the shingles rash starts, you may notice pink, red, or purple blotchy patches on one side of your body along nerve pathways.

These are not contagious yet, but fluid-filled blisters like chickenpox soon develop, possibly accompanied by itching. In most cases, the blisters appear over a localized area, but widespread blistering is possible.

Blisters usually appear on the face and torso but can occur elsewhere. In rare cases, there’s no rash.

Once a rash starts, it’s important to consult a doctor within 3 days. In the first 3 days, they can prescribe an antiviral, which can help speed up recovery and lower symptom severity.

Shingles blisters can sometimes erupt and ooze. They may then turn slightly yellow and begin to flatten. As they dry out, scabs form.

Each blister can take 7 to 10 days to crust over, per the National Institute on Aging.

During this stage, your pain may ease a little, but it can continue for months or, in some cases, years.

Once all blisters have completely crusted over, there’s a low risk of transmitting the virus.

Shingles often appears around the rib cage or waist and may look like a “belt” or “half belt.” You might also hear this formation called a “shingles band” or a “shingles girdle.”

This classic presentation is easily recognizable as shingles. The belt can cover a wide area on one side of your midsection. Its location can make tight clothing particularly uncomfortable.

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In some cases, shingles rash can present near the eye. This is known as ophthalmic shingles.
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Ophthalmic shingles, also known as herpes zoster ophthalmicus, occurs around the eye. Often, it starts as a burning or tingling sensation on the scalp, cheeks, or forehead.

This tingling sensation can turn into an itchy, painful rash.

Get immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms to avoid complications like vision loss.

Though less common, shingles may develop as a rash that crosses multiple dermatomes. Dermatomes are separate skin areas that are supplied by separate spinal nerves.

When the rash affects three or more dermatomes, it’s called “disseminated or widespread zoster.” In these cases, the rash may look more like chickenpox than shingles.

If you have a weakened immune system, you’re more likely to develop widespread shingles.

Most doctors can visually examine and diagnose shingles based on the rash and other symptoms. In most cases, the rash:

  • appears a few days after other symptoms, such as a tingling sensation
  • develops only on one side of the body
  • often occurs around the trunk
  • appears only in one or two areas
  • develops a blistering effect that lasts about 2 to 4 weeks

Shingles is in the same viral family as herpes simplex. At first, it may be difficult to tell the two conditions apart because they cause blistering rashes.

But shingles, unlike herpes, typically does not cross the body’s midline and often appears on the trunk. Herpes often appears around the genitals or in the mouth.

In both cases, you may not develop a rash at all or may develop other symptoms that can help a doctor distinguish between the two conditions.

It’s important to talk with a doctor if you’re not sure which virus may be causing the rash.

Learn more about herpes versus shingles.

Poison ivy, oak, or sumac may cause an allergic reaction that results in a painful, itchy rash. When the rash appears, it often appears as a straight line.

One way to distinguish between the two conditions is that poison ivy often appears on exposed areas of skin and both sides of the body.

How do I know if I’ve got shingles?

Before a rash develops, you may experience itchiness, tingling, or a burning sensation on one side of your body. A tell-tale sign of shingles is a rash in the shape of a band that wraps around one side of your torse.

What does a very mild case of shingles look like?

In mild shingles, you may only experience tingling or itching but without the painful blistering. This is more common in younger people with healthy immune systems. Learn more about mild shingles.

How long are you contagious with shingles?

It’s impossible to transmit shingles. But you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles through contact with active blisters due to the same virus causing both illnesses. The blisters are no longer active when they’ve dried and scabbed over.

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is caused by the reactivation of the dormant chickenpox virus (varicella zoster) in your nerve tissue. This can lead to tingling sensations and localized pain.

Eventually, a rash with blisters may appear, which can be itchy, uncomfortable, or painful.

You cannot transmit shingles to someone else. However, they can develop chickenpox from contact with active shingles blisters if they never had chickenpox or never received the chickenpox vaccine.

Most people recover from shingles within a few weeks.