Shingles is a painful rash that follows the path of a nerve on one side of the body. When it affects the scalp, it can cause discolored patches of skin with bumps or blisters that eventually form scabs.
Approximately
As the shingles rash progresses, blistering can occur. People may experience other symptoms accompanying the rash, such as burning, tingling, and fatigue. Early diagnosis means a doctor can prescribe antivirals and certain medications to help manage symptoms.
This article will discuss what shingles on the scalp looks like, other symptoms it can cause, and how to prevent it.
Typically, shingles infection leads to a rash. It goes through three stages, and the scalp may look different.
Preeruptive stage
At this stage, no rash is visible. Before the rash appears on the scalp, many people experience tingling, red or dark areas, or pain.
Eruptive stage
The skin develops reddish or discolored patches with some bumps appearing, but this stage is brief. Typically, small blisters appear within hours or days.
The blisters generally cluster together, and the rash appears as bands across the affected area.
After a few days, the blisters dry up, leading to the formation of yellowish scabs. Scratching the scalp can cause the blisters to burst, which may leave a person more susceptible to bacterial infections or scarring.
Shingles appears differently on different skin tones. Typically, it appears red on lighter skin and purple or grayish on darker skin.
For most people, shingles lasts for about
Post-eruptive stage
Some people will still experience pain, even after the rash disappears, the pain remains. It can lead to a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
PHN can last for weeks, months, or even years and mainly occurs in older people.
The most common symptom of shingles is painful, blistering rashes. Other symptoms that accompany the rash include:
Reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus causes shingles.
When a person first contracts the varicella-zoster virus, it often develops into chickenpox. Once the infection resolves, the virus can remain
However, a weakening of the immune system can result in the reactivation of the virus, causing shingles.
Certain risk factors can increase a person’s chances of experiencing shingles, for example:
- being ages 50 years or older
- having a weakened immune system due to:
- HIV
- certain cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia
- taking certain medications, such as steroids or immunosuppressants
Doctors usually diagnose shingles based on visual assessment. The typical rash and accompanying pain are the main signs of shingles.
Doctors will also take a medical history and ask about other symptoms a person may be experiencing.
Laboratory testing can help confirm the diagnosis. A doctor can take a fluid sample from the affected area and send it to a lab to determine if the varicella-zoster infection is present. Blood tests may also help detect the virus.
There is no cure for shingles. However, early treatment with antiviral medications can speed up healing and relieve severe pain.
Medications
Doctors may recommend the following medications for treating shingles:
- antiviral medications, such as valacyclovir (Valtrex), famciclovir (Famvir), and acyclovir (Zovirax)
- pain relief and fever-reducing medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- topical lidocaine to numb the skin and prevent pain
- nerve pain medications, such as gabapentin, can reduce pain in some people
- corticosteroids for reducing inflammation
Other approaches
Some alternative approaches that can help people feel better are:
- applying a cool washcloth over the affected area of the scalp
- applying calamine lotion to soothe the scalp
- using a mild, fragrance-free shampoo
- avoiding scratching the scalp
- taking a bath with lukewarm water
- getting plenty of rest
- eating a nutritious diet
- avoiding stress
According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), shingles is not transmissible to another person. A person could contract the virus and develop chickenpox if they have not had it or the vaccination. However, the transmission rate is
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people ages 50 years or older and those over 19 years old with weakened immunity have the Shingrix vaccine. This course involves two doses.
According to the CDC, the vaccine is approximately
Shingles is a skin condition that causes painful, blistering rashes anywhere on the body, including the scalp. People experiencing symptoms should consult a doctor, who may prescribe antivirals to shorten the duration and reduce the severity of symptoms.
For most people, shingles lasts no longer than 5 weeks. Several other treatment options are available that can reduce shingles-associated pain.
People with weakened immune systems or ages 50 or over should consider having the Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles and its complications.