How long does it take shingles to go away?

Shingles is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. Its main symptom is a painful rash on one side of your body. Shingles is also known as herpes zoster.

If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you can get shingles. That’s because the virus remains inactive in your body and may reactivate later in life. Shingles is common, becoming more common with age or if you have a weakened immune system.

Typically, a shingles rash lasts around 4 weeks, but if you experience any complications, it can last longer.

The course and duration of shingles

The duration of shingles can vary from person to person and depends on factors like age, overall health, and if you get antiviral treatment quickly.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) states that for most people, it takes 3–5 weeks to go away.

Shingles typically follows a predictable course.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) describes three stages of shingles:

1. Before the rash (pre-eruptive): This initial stage typically lasts up to 5 days. You may experience flu-like symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue. You may also have tingling, itching, or burning sensations in areas of your skin. This is your body’s first response to the virus reactivating.
2. Rash development (acute eruptive): A rash emerges, typically in a band or cluster pattern on only one side of your body where you previously felt tingling. The rash can turn into painful, itchy, fluid-filled blisters within a few days. The rash stage generally lasts up to 2 weeks, but this may be shorter if you take antiviral medication early.
3. Healing and crusting: As the rash progresses, the blisters can break, ooze, bleed, and eventually crust over. This stage typically also lasts up to 2 weeks.

However, for some individuals, the pain continues after the rash has disappeared. This is a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). According to some research, the chance of developing PHN increases with age.

It can be debilitating and keep you from everyday activities like walking or hobbies. There is no way of telling if it will last for months, years, or even life, although only 3% of patients continue to experience PHN pain 1 year after infection.

According to the National Institutes of Health, receiving antiviral treatment speeds up recovery from the rash and decreases pain, so getting treatment quickly can shorten the length of your infection.

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Symptoms of shingles

For some people, shingles is a mild infection, while others may have severe symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you may experience the following shingles symptoms:

• pain and discomfort, ranging from mild to severe
• itching, burning, or tingling sensations
• a red, blistering rash that typically appears on only one side of the body in a stripe
• fever and chills
• fatigue
• sensitivity to touch
• a headache
• nausea and vomiting

After your rash has healed, you can still develop other complications, such as:

• pneumonia
• hearing loss
• swelling of the brain (encephalitis)
• long-term pain (PHN)

Due to the severity of these symptoms, getting medical attention quickly is essential if you suspect you might be developing shingles. It is even more important if you notice the pre-eruptive symptoms of tingling and itching mentioned earlier. This can help reduce the duration, severity, and risk of complications of the condition.

Treatment and prevention

Prevention is the best approach for shingles. The Shingrix vaccine, a recombinant zoster vaccine, reduces your risk of developing shingles and PHN.

The CDC recommends Shingrix for all adults ages 50 and older, even if you’ve had shingles before. They also recommend the vaccine if you are 19 years and older and have a weakened immune system. If you fall within these groups and have not had the shingles vaccine, it’s a good idea to ask a doctor for more information.

Research finds that receiving the shingles vaccine not only reduces your chances of developing shingles but also lowers the severity of the infection and your chance of developing PHN. The vaccine comes in two doses, but once you’ve received them, you don’t need to get the vaccine again.

If you have developed shingles, the CDC suggests these treatments:

• Antiviral medications: Antiviral drugs like acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex), and famciclovir (Famvir) can shorten the duration and reduce the severity of shingles, but only if you take them in the earliest stages of the condition.
• Pain management: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help relieve pain and discomfort. In some cases, a doctor may recommend prescription pain medications like hydrocodone (Vicodin) to manage severe pain, especially if you develop PHN.
• Topical creams: Calamine lotion (Calamine Plain) or lidocaine creams (Lidoderm, Bactine) can help soothe the itching and discomfort from the rash.
• Wet compresses: A cool, wet cloth placed gently on your rash may feel cooling and soothing. Use clean compresses and be careful not to rub or irritate the area.
• Oatmeal baths: Some people find relief from taking oatmeal baths. Place 1–2 cups of colloidal oatmeal in a cool or lukewarm bath and soak for as long as is comfortable. When drying yourself, pat gently instead of rubbing harshly to keep your rash from worsening.
• Good hygiene: Keep the rash clean and dry to prevent secondary infections. Avoid scratching to minimize the risk of scarring.

A doctor can recommend which options are best for you.

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Summary

The duration of shingles can vary, but it typically takes 3–5 weeks for shingles to go away.

Shingles symptoms usually start with tingling and fever, then a rash develops, and finally, your rash starts to heal. Some people also develop health effects beyond shingles, such as PHN, which is a potentially lifelong pain condition.

Timely medical intervention with antiviral drugs can shorten the duration and severity of shingles, so if you think you might be developing it, it’s best to see a doctor as soon as you can.

The Shingrix vaccine is an excellent preventive measure that doctors recommend for everyone ages 50 years and over.

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