Shingles is a viral infection that arises from the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Even after recovering from a chickenpox infection, the varicella-zoster virus can still linger in your nervous system for years. The dormant virus can reactivate many years later as shingles. However, shingles can only arise in people who have previously had chickenpox. If the virus comes into contact with people who have no previous history of chickenpox, they are more likely to develop chickenpox symptoms rather than shingles. Shingles mainly occur once in a person’s lifetime and clear up within three weeks. Below are the top symptoms of shingles.
Skin rash
Skin rash is one of the first symptoms of shingles. The rashes typically develop in tiny patches in one area of the body, such as the back. Once the shingles virus reactivates, it spreads along the nerve ganglion. In most cases, the skin rash and blisters have a red tone. The rash can also be pink, purple, or brown, depending on the individual’s skin tone.