How common is painful skin in shingles?

Shingles can affect a band or patch of skin on one side of the body. The area may feel prickly, burning, aching, or unusually sensitive to light touch; clothing can be uncomfortable. A cluster of fluid-filled blisters may then develop in the same area.

Painful skin can occur for reasons other than shingles. A clinician can assess the location, rash pattern, timing, and any changes in how you feel to work out the likely cause.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly if you think you may have shingles, especially when pain or a new blistering rash has started. Early assessment can help guide treatment. Keep the rash clean and dry, avoid scratching, and cover it loosely if it is weeping.

Avoid direct contact between the rash and people who are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or have not had chickenpox, until the blisters have crusted over. Wash your hands after touching the area.

Seek urgent medical advice if a painful blistering rash is on or near the eye, nose, ear, or face; if you have vision changes, eye pain, or hearing changes; or if you feel very unwell. Get urgent help for confusion, severe headache with a stiff neck, or difficulty breathing.

Ask whether the pain and rash pattern are consistent with shingles, whether treatment is appropriate for you, and how to care for the skin at home. Tell the clinician about eye symptoms, pregnancy, immune-system medicines, and conditions that affect your immune system.