What are the first on set signs of the shingles?

Burning pain: The first sign of shingles is burning pain on or under the skin. The pain is limited to a narrow band on one side of the body reaching around from back to front. Pain precedes the rash. This is the best time to treat shingles. In a couple days the skin develops the typical small blisters and redness associated with shingles.

Unwell with rash: The earliest symptoms of shingles  may include headache, sensitivity to light or flu like symptoms without a fever.  later, you may feel itching, tingling, or pain in a localized area. That’s where a band, strip, or small area of rash may occur a few days later. The rash turns into clusters of blisters. The blisters fill with fluid and then crust over.