Shingles

What is shingles?

Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is an infection which causes a painful rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is the same virus which causes chickenpox. 

What are the symptoms of shingles?

The main symptoms of shingles include:

• Pain followed by a rash that develops into small blisters that look similar to chickenpox spots
• A tingling, burning, itchy or numb feeling on your skin the affected area
• Headaches
• A high temperature
• Feeling generally unwell

A rash is one of the most common symptoms of shingles. The rash usually appears on one side of the body. 

You may find that you develop new blisters for up to a week. Once they have disappeared, they become yellow in colour, appear flatter and eventually dry out. Scabs can then form where the blisters once were. Sometimes this can leave slight scarring.

Who qualifies for a Pharmacy First Shingles condition appointment? 

• Patients registered with a GP
• Individuals with the symptoms listed above
• Ages 18 years and over

What causes shingles?

Like chickenpox, shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Once a person has chickenpox, the virus remains in the body, and it can reactivate later on in life and cause shingles. This is especially likely in those with a weakened immune system due to another illness or condition, stress or treatments such as chemotherapy.

It’s important to note that you cannot get shingles from someone who already has shingles or chickenpox. However, if you haven’t had chickenpox before, you can contract it from someone with shingles.

You can experience shingles more than once, although it is rare to get it more than twice.

How to prevent the spread of shingles

You cannot pass shingles to other people, but other people can develop chickenpox from you if they haven’t had it before. 

If you have shingles, it will remain contagious until the last blister has dried up and scabbed over. 

To prevent the spread of shingles, you should:

• Stay home from work, or keep your child off school
• Avoid sharing towels and bedding
• Avoid swimming and contact sports

Shingles vaccine

To protect yourself from shingles, you could get the shingles vaccine. It is available on the NHS for those eligible. This includes people who:

• Turned 65 years of age on or after 1st September 2023
• Are aged 70 to 79 that have not had the vaccine
• Aged 50 and over that have a severely weakened immune system

While the vaccine does not stop you from getting shingles altogether, it can significantly reduce your symptoms if you were to contract the virus. 

How to treat Shingles

There is no cure for shingles, but there are ways you can treat your symptoms and help yourself feel more comfortable, such as:

• Taking painkillers, like paracetamol
• Keeping the rash clean, dry and covered with loose-fitting clothing
• Using a cool, damp cloth on the affected area
• Applying calamine lotion to relieve itching
• Avoid using antibiotics which can make the condition worse

How can Pharmacy+Health help?

If you are suffering with shingles and you’re struggling to alleviate your symptoms, your local community Pharmacy+Health is here to help.

Under the NHS Pharmacy First service, our pharmacists are now able to assess your symptoms to provide the most effective shingles treatment for you. Our team will ensure the type of shingles medicine they recommend is suitable for the severity of your symptoms, taking into account whether you’re at risk of complications.

We offer a range of options, including shingles rash treatment, and antiviral medication for shingles that may help speed up your recovery. Since we are able to provide you with prescription-only medicine for shingles, there’s no need to book an appointment with your GP or obtain a prescription first. Simply visit your local branch to speak to our highly qualified team to find out how we can help you feel better, sooner.

For advice and effective treatment for shingles, find your nearest Pharmacy+Health today.

Book a Pharmacy First appointment today

Our fully qualified healthcare experts are here to help you if you or your child suffer from Shingles. We provide consultation appointments and treatments for Shingles and many other common health conditions. Our expert pharmacists provide clinical advice and will recommend the most suitable treatment for you.

So, for information, advice and Shingles treatment, book a pharmacy appointment with us today. We’re here to make accessing healthcare quicker, easier and more convenient.