What Is Shingles?

You can think of shingles as a one-two punch of infections. Anyone who gets it had a case of chickenpox first, often decades earlier.

Video Transcript CDC: “Shingles (Herpes Zoster).”; NIH Senior Health: “Shingles.”; AudioJungle; Image Source Pink; Troels Graugaard; itsmejust [MUSIC PLAYING]

These two conditions come from the same virus, called varicella zoster.

Chickenpox causes itchy blisters that might start on your back, chest, and face and spread to the rest of your body. Shingles is a rash with shooting pain. It usually shows up on one side of your body.

The rash turns into red, fluid-filled blisters. They usually dry out and crust over within 7 to 10 days.