Face swelling with shingles: what to know

[Shingles](/conditions/shingles/) is reactivation of the virus that causes [Chickenpox](/conditions/chickenpox/), travelling along a nerve. On the face, pain, tingling, burning, or sensitivity may come before a one-sided rash. Fluid-filled [Skin Blisters](/symptoms/skin-blisters/) can follow, and nearby inflammation may cause swelling. Facial involvement matters because the rash can affect the eye or nearby nerves.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly through a [GP Consultation](/treatments/consultations-and-assessment/gp-consultation/) or local urgent service. Keep the rash clean and dry, avoid scratching or popping blisters, and wash hands after touching it. Do not share towels with people who have not had chickenpox or vaccination. A clinician may prescribe [Antiviral Treatment](/treatments/medical-dermatology/antiviral-therapy/) and advise suitable pain relief; treatment decisions depend on timing, location, and health history.

Seek urgent care for a rash on the forehead, nose, eyelid, or around the eye; eye pain, redness, light sensitivity, or vision change; severe headache; facial weakness; confusion; or rapidly worsening swelling. Emergency help is needed for breathing difficulty or swelling of the tongue or throat. New or severe [Painful Skin](/symptoms/skin-pain/) and [Burning Skin](/symptoms/skin-burning-sensation/) should not be dismissed when blisters are developing.

Ask whether the eye or facial nerves may be involved, whether antiviral treatment is appropriate, how to protect other people, and whether [Shingles Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/shingles-vaccination/) is suitable later.