Shingles Rash: Early Symptoms, Affected Areas, and Stages

Initial Shingles Rash

Initial shingles rash is mostly noticed on the left or right side of your body. The places where these rashes usually begin to form are on your neck and face. However, you can also spot early shingle rash anywhere on your body, but on one side.

These rashes usually start as a stripe of blisters, which may be very painful for you. Some common feelings you may experience when you notice these rashes are tingling and burning sensations.

In some cases, you may not spot these initial shingles rash anywhere on your body. However, you may experience certain symptoms that may indicate the onset of shingles. These symptoms include a feeling of overall tiredness, persistent headaches, and light sensitivity.

How do you know if you have shingles?

Your doctor will examine the skin rashes thoroughly and confirm the diagnosis of shingles under the following circumstances:

• You have rashes on only one side of your body.

• You experienced the above-mentioned symptoms first before the appearance of rashes.

• The skin rashes are found only in a few areas of one side of your body, with most of them found around the trunk region (chest, abdomen, and back) and face.

• The rashes turn into blisters, and these remain on your skin for a maximum of 4 weeks.

With these signs and symptoms in place, you can know what to expect when you notice the first skin rash on one side of your body.

Places Where Shingles Rash Appears

Although the initial shingles rash is found only on your back or chest, it will gradually spread to your face and eyes as well. When you notice these, you have to seek medical help immediately, as this can lead to severe complications later.

• Face Shingle Rash

Watch out for skin rashes on any part of your face. If the rashes are near your ear, it can impact your hearing and overall body balance. These rashes can weaken your facial muscles. If they are near or in your mouth, it can make eating a difficult and painful process.

Sometimes, the skin rashes due to shingles can also spread to your scalp. You may experience a lot of pain while combing your hair in this case. Not treating these rashes for a long time can lead to hair thinning and bald patches.

• Eyes Shingle Rash

Also known as ophthalmic shingles, this condition is where you notice skin rashes all around your eyes, forehead, and eyelids. This can cause redness, itchiness, and swelling of the eyes, If you don’t treat these rashes on time, it can also cause vision impairment, permanent damage to the cornea, and more.

How do shingles rashes develop in various stages?

According to doctors, shingles rashes start to disappear after 4 or 5 weeks if they are diagnosed and treated on time. You must know the different sensations you may experience as the rashes start developing so you can remain prepared for the outcome.

The first is a tingling sensation, where you feel discomfort in the areas where the initial shingle rash appears. As the rash starts becoming bigger, you will experience a burning sensation. As the stages advance, you will notice a numbing sensation in the areas where the rashes appeared initially and where they have eventually spread. The last stage is when you start to experience an unpleasant, itching sensation in the areas of the rashes.

The rashes start to appear as thin, red lines. Gradually, they grow to become fluid-filled boils or blisters, like what you witness in cases of chickenpox. These boils will burst after a few days. In about 10 days, the blisters will dry, and you will notice scabs in those places. With the right treatment, It might take another 15 days for these scabs to clear off. Some people experience pain and irritation long after the rashes and scabs have disappeared.