Question 1

sorry don't know if my question went threw but if the shingles are all crusted over does that mean its inactive?

Accepted Answer

: Only when the crusts are all gone is my opinion. But not clear by what you mean by inactive.  I have had numbness and itching over my shingles site for 40 years so for me its is still active. But no infectious. Be certain it is shingles and not monkey pox these days. Usually easy to tell apart.

Question 2

i have been diagnosed with shingles almost a week ago. the rash appeared 8 days ago, but has not oozed or crusted. is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Likely normal : In immunocompetent patients (normal immune system), the little vesicles crust by 7 to 10 days at which time there are no longer considered infectious. If new lesions have appeared more than a week after the initial rash, it should be discussed with your doctor as it may indicate an underlying immunodeficiency.

Question 3

can you get shingles from sciatica? there is crusty scabs on my buttocks.

Accepted Answer

Stress can bring on : A case of shingles which can include pain induced by sciatica.  Also, shingles can present over sciatic distribution as it lays dormant in a nerve until it is induced by some type of stress. So one could be doubly unlucky and have a case of sciatica & the pain could also cause a shingles presentation in the same nerve at the same time if one of the nerves contributing to the sciatic nerve.

Question 4

i have a mild case of shingles. god meds right away i swim for exercise. blisters never opened and are now crusting over.  when can i swim again?

Accepted Answer

Maybe 2 weeks: Resume swimming when all the scabs are gone.

Question 5

my husband was given dx of shingles on 8/28. no symptoms, just visible rash. not all blistered; of what did, most seemed to resorb; only a few crusted, taking almost 3 weeks to do so. now it's started tingling/itching. is this indicative of relapse?

Accepted Answer

: Most of the times itching follows inflammation and accompanies healing. Abstaining from scratching is critical in protecting skin integrity otherwise. Follow up is recommended with treating doc to assess for proper healing.

Question 6

red rash on left leg with blisters that appear to be crusting over looks like a tree branch. painful and itchy> could it be shingles?

Accepted Answer

Herpes zoster: Yes. This sounds very much like shingles.

Question 7

c6 shingles. acyclovir since day 2. no new rash since day 5. now at day 15. arm crusted, deep palm blisters fading but never crust. still contagious?

Accepted Answer

Probably not, but...: Most likely it's no longer contagious, but maybe possiblly transmissible until crusts have dried and fallen away, and all vesicles (blisters) cleared up. Best to continue to take precautions, but probably little risk if you forget.

Question 8

can young adults (early 20's) be diagnosed with shingles?

Accepted Answer

Yes but rare: Shingles, which is a reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus.  Most people are infected with the virus as children and it lays dormant in our nervous system.  The disease generally manifests in times of stress or when our immune systems are weak which generally occurs as we get older.

Question 9

i had shingles at 28. can i have them again, i'm in my 50's.?

Accepted Answer

Yes:  Shingles can recur. “Healthy adults 50 years and older should get two doses of Shingrix, separated by 2 to 6 months. You should get Shingrix even if in the past you: had shingles, received Zostavax, are not sure if you had chickenpox. There is no maximum age for getting Shingrix.”  REF:  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html

Question 10

is it becoming more common for young adults (mid 20's) to develop shingles?

Accepted Answer

No: There is no such evidence that incidence of shingles is increasing in younger population.

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Doctor answers about:

Crusted over shingles

A member asked:

Sorry don't know if my question went threw but if the shingles are all crusted over does that mean its inactive?

A member asked:

I have been diagnosed with shingles almost a week ago. the rash appeared 8 days ago, but has not oozed or crusted. is this normal?

A member asked:

Can you get shingles from sciatica? there is crusty scabs on my buttocks.

A member asked:

I have a mild case of shingles. god meds right away i swim for exercise. blisters never opened and are now crusting over. when can i swim again?

A member asked:

My husband was given dx of shingles on 8/28. no symptoms, just visible rash. not all blistered; of what did, most seemed to resorb; only a few crusted, taking almost 3 weeks to do so. now it's started tingling/itching. is this indicative of relapse?

A member asked:

Red rash on left leg with blisters that appear to be crusting over looks like a tree branch. painful and itchy> could it be shingles?

A member asked:

C6 shingles. acyclovir since day 2. no new rash since day 5. now at day 15. arm crusted, deep palm blisters fading but never crust. still contagious?

A member asked:

Can young adults (early 20's) be diagnosed with shingles?

A member asked:

I had shingles at 28. can i have them again, i'm in my 50's.?

A member asked:

Is it becoming more common for young adults (mid 20's) to develop shingles?

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