Shingles, also known as Chicken Pox, is an infection caused by a virus that can cause a painful rash, blisters, and other signs. These are sometimes mistaken as acne, but it is a whole different story. The rash usually shows up on one side of the body, often in a band or strip, and can last for several weeks. If you have these type of clinical signs, you may want to know if the virus can spread to other people.
This article will talk about whether or not shingles are contagious and what you can do to stop the virus from spreading.
Why do people get shingles?
Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, called varicella-zoster. When a person gets over chickenpox, the virus stays in their body but does not do anything. The virus can come back and cause shingles much later in life.
Are shingles likely to spread?
Shingles can spread, but only to people who have never had chickenpox. If you have shingles, you can give the virus to other people by touching their blisters or rash. The virus can spread through the fluid that comes out of the blisters, which contains the varicella-zoster virus. But the virus is not likely to spread if the blisters are covered.
Who is likely to get shingles?
Anyone who has had chickenpox could get shingles in the future because the virus can lie dormant in the body and come back to life years later.
But there are things that can make it more likely to get shingles, such as:
Advanced age: Shingles happen more often in older people because their immune systems get weaker as they get older.
Immunesupressed people: People who have HIV, cancer, or are getting chemotherapy are more likely to get shingles because these conditions weaken the immune system.
Stress: Too much stress can weaken the immune system and make it more likely that you will get the disease.
Certain medications: Steroids and other drugs that weaken the immune system, like immunosuppressants, may make the risk of this disease higher.
History-associated: Chickenpox has been around for a long time. People who have had chickenpox are more likely to get or develop the disease later in life.
If you have chicken pox, there are a few things you can do to keep the virus from spreading:
1. Cover the rash. To avoid getting blister fluid on your skin, keep the rash covered with a loose-fitting bandage or clothing that doesn’t stick.
2. Wash your hands: You should wash your hands often with soap and water to stop the virus from spreading to other people.
3. Stay away from high-risk people: Stay away from pregnant women, babies, and people with a weak immune system, because they are more likely to get sick from the virus.
4. Stay at home. If you have a rash and feel sick, stay at home until the rash crusts over so you don’t spread the virus to other people.
Key Takeaways
People who have had exposure to chickenpox or shingles can potentially spread to people who have never had chickenpox.
If the rash is covered, the risk of spreading the virus is low. It is important to take precautions to stop the virus from spreading to other people.
If you have this disease, it’s important to stay home if you feel sick and stay away from people who are more likely to get sick. If you are worried about getting infected, talk to your doctor about how to prevent it and how to treat it.
Learn More:
The Difference Between Acne And Pimples Explained!
Understanding Skin Purging vs Breakout