“Is shingles contagious?”
I have shingles- blisters are just starting to scale over- am I still contagious?
16 Answers
Once all lesions are crusted, they are no longer contagious.
Technically shingles is not contagious with a couple exceptions. Someone who has never had chicken pox or been vaccinated against chicken pox (which is rare) can get chicken pox from shingles lesions. Also someone with marked immune suppression (in cancer therapy, bone marrow transplantation, etc.) could catch chicken pox. In those rare cases, I would avoid those people or ensure all lesions are covered as they can transmit virus until the scabs are essentially gone.
you are contagious until all blisters get crusted
Sorry about your shingles- but you are recovering! When the blisters are all scabbed over then you are not contagious anymore. You may still experience pain over the skin area affected that may actually linger for a while or forever. We call it post herpetic neuralgia. It is one of the complications of getting shingles. I recommend that you get the Zostavax vaccine to prevent further recurrence. Yes, you can get another flare - and getting the vaccine may prevent it by 90%. You may get the shot after you have recovered completely after a month.
Shingles are contagious only to people who have not had chicken pox or who have not received a vaccine against chicken pox. However at the stage of scabs, you are not contagious. There has to be direct skin to skin contact for transmission of the virus.
Jelena Berkelhammer
Internist
Yes
Radia W. Khan
Internist
Yes
if the lesions are still open, yes, especially for someone who has not had chicken pox. if the lesions are scaled over completely, then no. hopefully you're on medication for shingles at this time.
Shingles is only contagious to those that have not had chicken pox or have not been immunized to chicken pox. Exposure can cause these individuals to get the chicken pox which is an especially nasty disease in adults. Stay away from pregnant women as the fetus can be infected. After the scabs dry up and fall off, you are no longer contagious.
Yes it is contagious!
General precautions required for affected person and relatives.
It’s cpntageous till all scabs fall off.
General precautions required for affected person and relatives.
It’s cpntageous till all scabs fall off.
Your blisters are contagious until they no longer ooze. Just because they are scaling, though, doesn't mean there isn't virus that can leak out underneath. It needs to be dry.
Per medical standards, once you have scabs on Shingles lesions, patient is not contagious.
Yes
Shingles occurs in those who have previously had chicken pox in their lifetime. The virus remains dormant in your central nervous system and rarely under high stress can cause a painful shingles outbreak. While someone cannot contract shingles, you can pass the virus to anyone who has never contracted chicken pox or had the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine. Once the blisters have formed crusty scabs, you are no longer contagious. Hopefully your doctor has prescribed an antiviral and a steroid taper. There are also topical numbing creams or ointments either over the counter or prescription (as well as prescription lidocaine patches) that can help if the rash is still painful. Post-shingles nerve pain can sometimes last for months to years after your outbreak, so let your doctor know if you have continued nerve pain after healing and medication can be prescribed. It is recommended that anyone over 60 that have contracted chicken pox in their lifetime receive the shingles vaccine. Even if you are not 60, I have seen that once you develop shingles, you have a higher risk of activating the virus again. Consult with your doctor for how long after your outbreak you should wait to receive the shingles vaccine.
Yes, the fluid inside the blisters (vesicles) contain live (and contagious) viral particles.
Shingles is only contagious when there are blisters. Keep it covered and that should be fine. There is a very small risk to pregnant women of getting chicken pox from shingles, so try to avoid being close to pregnant women, if you still have blisters.
