Can You Get Shingles More Than Once? Understanding Recurrence and its Prevention
What is Shingles?
Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by a virus. This virus is the same one that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus stays in your body but remains inactive. Years later, the virus can wake up and cause shingles.
The shingles rash usually appears as a stripe of blisters on one side of your body. Before the rash shows up, you might feel pain, itching, or tingling in that area. The rash typically forms blisters that crust over within 7-10 days and usually heal within 2-4 weeks.
Shingles can affect anyone who has had chickenpox, but it's more common in older adults and people with weak immune systems. Some people may experience long-lasting nerve pain, known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) after the rash has healed.
What Causes Shingles?
Shingles happens when the chickenpox virus (called varicella-zoster virus) that's been hiding in your nerve cells wakes up. Doctors aren't entirely sure why the virus wakes up in some people, but several things can increase the risk:
- Getting older (your immune system naturally weakens with age)
- Having diseases that weaken your immune system, like HIV/AIDS or cancer
- Taking medications that suppress your immune system
- Being under a lot of stress
- Having an injury in the area where the rash appears
You can only get shingles if you've had chickenpox before. If you've never had chickenpox, you can't get shingles. However, if you're around someone with shingles, you could catch chickenpox if you've never had it.
Can You Get Shingles More Than Once?
Yes, you can get shingles more than once, although it doesn't happen very often. Most people who have had shingles won't get it again. About 1-6 out of 100 people might have shingles a second or third time in their life.
The risk of getting shingles again is higher for people with:
- Weak immune systems
- Other health problems
- A severe first case of shingles
- Lasting nerve pain after their first bout of shingles
What Makes Shingles Come Back?
Several things can make shingles more likely to come back:
Age
As you get older, your immune system gets weaker, making it harder for your body to keep the virus inactive.
Weak Immune System
People with conditions like HIV/AIDS, cancer, or those taking medicines that weaken the immune system (like steroids or chemotherapy) have a higher risk.
Genetics
Some people may be born with genes that increase their likelihood of developing shingles multiple times.
Lifestyle Factors
High stress, poor diet, and lack of sleep can weaken your immune system and may increase your risk.
Environmental Triggers
Things like too much sunlight or injury to an area of nerves might trigger the virus to wake up again.
What can you find here?
Signs of Recurring Shingles
Early Warning Signs
If shingles comes back, you might notice:
- Tingling, itching, or burning feeling in one area
- Pain in a specific spot
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Mild fever
These symptoms often show up in the same place as your first shingles outbreak.
How Does It Compare to the First Time?
Recurring shingles is usually similar to your first case, but there can be differences:
- The rash and blisters often appear in the same area
- The outbreak might be milder, but not always
- Some people have less pain, while others might have worse pain
- If you had long-lasting nerve pain after your first case, you might get it again
How Long Does Shingles Last?
A typical case of shingles lasts 3-5 weeks from start to finish:
- First few days: Pain, itching, or tingling in one area
- Next 7-10 days: Red rash appears and turns into fluid-filled blisters
- Next 2-3 weeks: Blisters crust over and gradually heal
What Can Make Shingles Last Longer?
Shingles might last longer if you:
- Are older
- Have a weak immune system
- Don't start treatment early
- Are under a lot of stress
- Have other health problems
Long-Lasting Pain (Postherpetic Neuralgia)
Some people continue to experience pain long after the rash has healed. This condition is known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This pain can last for months or even years and is more common in:
- Older adults
- People who had severe pain during their shingles outbreak
Treatment for Recurring Shingles
Antiviral Medications
These medicines fight the virus that causes shingles:
- They work best when started within 3 days of the rash appearing
- Common ones include acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir
- They can make the outbreak shorter and less severe
- Your doctor will prescribe the correct dose based on your health
Pain Relief
To manage pain from shingles, you can try:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Prescription medicines for nerve pain like gabapentin or pregabalin
- Lidocaine patches or capsaicin cream applied to the skin
- Steroid medicines to reduce inflammation
Home Care Tips
These simple steps can help you feel better:
- Keep the rash clean and dry
- Apply cool, wet compresses to reduce pain and itching
- Use calamine lotion or take an oatmeal bath to soothe your skin
- Wear loose-fitting clothes
- Get plenty of rest
- Don't scratch the blisters to avoid infection and scarring
Preventing Shingles from Coming Back
Shingles Vaccine
The best way to prevent shingles from returning is to get vaccinated:
- The Shingrix vaccine is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles
- It's given as two shots, 2-6 months apart
- Even if you've had shingles before, the vaccine can help prevent it from coming back
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In the UK:
- The NHS offers the vaccine to people aged 70-79
- People aged 50 and older can get it privately
- It's especially important for people with weak immune systems or who have had severe shingles before
Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Risk
You can help prevent shingles by:
- Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Exercising regularly
- Getting enough sleep
- Managing stress through activities like meditation or yoga
- Avoiding things that might trigger shingles, like too much sun or extreme tiredness
Pharmacy Treatments
When to See a Doctor
Warning Signs
See a doctor right away if:
- You think you might have shingles
- The pain is severe
- The rash is on your face or near your eyes
- You have a weak immune system
- Your symptoms don't improve after a few days of treatment
- You develop a fever, headache, or confusion
- The rash looks infected (more red, swollen, or has pus)
Working with Your Doctor
To manage your risk of shingles coming back:
- Keep regular check-up appointments
- Talk about getting the shingles vaccine
- Discuss any new symptoms right away
- Follow your treatment plan
- Ask about ways to boost your immune system
Living with Recurring Shingles
Coping Strategies
If you get shingles more than once, these tips can help:
- Exercise regularly to reduce stress
- Try relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation
- Join a support group or talk to friends and family
- Keep a journal to track your symptoms and triggers
- Explore treatments like acupuncture or massage for pain relief
Long-Term Outlook
The future for people with recurring shingles varies:
- Some people might have it only occasionally
- Others might have it more often
- Working closely with your doctor can help you manage your condition
- With the right treatment and prevention, you can still enjoy a good quality of life
Remember, if you think you have shingles, see your doctor right away. Early treatment is the best way to reduce pain and prevent complications.
The AI in healthwords.ai refers to conversational search, while the only AI tools used for articles are grammar and language improvements - medical content remains rigorously authored by healthcare professionals.
What can you find here?