Does Having Shingles Once Make You More Likely to Get It Again

Will My Shingles Come Back?

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, Medico on August 11, 2021

If you've had shingles once, you probably won't get it over again.

That doesn't mean it can't happen, information technology's just unlikely. Also called herpes zoster, shingles can come dorsum a second or, rarely, a third time. But you can take steps to aid prevent it, or ease it the side by side fourth dimension around.

How Ofttimes Does Shingles Return?

Experts don't know exactly how many people get shingles more than than once. They do know it comes back more ofttimes in people with weakened immune systems.

If your immune system is healthy:

• In the first several years, your chances of having shingles again are lower than it is for people who have never had shingles.

• Over time, your chances of a second bout go up. One study found that within 7 years, the odds of getting it over again may be almost 5%. That's about the same as the odds of getting shingles the first time.

Who Is Most Likely to Become Shingles Again?

Y'all're more likely to go information technology again if:

• Y'all had astringent pain from shingles that lasted more than than 30 days. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
• You are a woman.
• You lot were age 50 or older when you lot had shingles the first fourth dimension.
• Your allowed organization is weak from atmospheric condition like leukemia, lymphoma, or HIV, or you take medicines that suppress your immune arrangement.

Does the Vaccine Assistance Forestall It?

The CDC suggests getting the shingles vaccine Shingrix (RZV) if yous're a healthy adult ages 50 or older, or if y'all are19 years of age and older and  are or will exist immunodeficient or immunosuppressed due to disease or therapy.. It was approved in 2017 and has been found to exist more than than 90% effective in preventing shingles and the complications caused by the disease. Even if yous've already had shingles, the CDC says the vaccine tin can assistance prevent a 2d round of it. Shingrix is preferred over an earlier vaccine, Zostavax, which was removed from the market place in 2020. You should also get information technology if you previously had the Zostavax vaccine.

Shingrix is also canonical for those xviii years or older who may be immunodeficient or immunosuppressedbecause of an disease or treatment.

Talk to your doctor about when to get the vaccine. If you've just gotten over shingles, the CDC recommends waiting at to the lowest degree until the shingles rash has disappeared.

You should not go the Shingrix vaccine if you:

• Are pregnant or nursing
• Are allergic to the vaccine
• You tested negative for immunity to chickenpox (varicella zoster); if so, you should ask nearly the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine.

Does Shingles Come up Back in the Same Identify?

Shingles is likely to return in a different role of your body. In general, the rash is most common on the torso or face. So if you've had information technology on the right side of your stomach, it might come back on the left side - or on your face, chest, neck, or back.

What Are the Symptoms?

A blistering rash in the shape of a ring is the telltale sign of shingles. If your immune organisation is weak, the rash may come up on several parts of your trunk.

Other symptoms to await out for:

• Pain, itching, or tingling, which may get-go a few days earlier the rash appears
• Headache
• Fever
• Chills
• Upset breadbasket

When Should I Encounter a Doctor?

See your md at the first sign of shingles. Getting treated early tin aid it go away faster and may aid you avoid related problems. For instance, shingles on the face can cause hearing or sight problems, including blindness.

If yous have a weak immune organisation and can't get the vaccine, early on treatment is your best defense force against shingles.

Sometimes what seems to be shingles is really herpes simplex. Though information technology normally appears every bit "cold sores" around the mouth or genitals, this course of herpes tin can bear witness upward elsewhere. A dissimilar treatment is used to articulate information technology upward. Your md tin can do tests, such as a viral civilization, to ostend whether you have shingles and to go you the right treatment.

How Is Shingles Treated When It Comes Back?

Every bit with a first case of shingles, antiviral medicines tin can assist ease a second case. These include:

• Acyclovir
• Valacyclovir
• Famciclovir

To relieve itching, attempt:

• Oatmeal baths
• Wet compresses
• Calamine lotion

If yous get PHN hurting, your dr. may propose gabapentin (an antiseizure medicine) or a rub-on cream or lotion. Antidepressants can likewise assist pain.

Steroids are sometimes used to care for shingles.

Shingles treatments like antivirals work all-time when yous start them right away. Telephone call your doctor as soon as a rash appears -- or you take any symptom y'all think may be shingles. If you lot had it once, you know the symptoms. That can give you a caput start on the route to recovery.

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Source: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/shingles/shingles-come-back#:~:text=Over%20time%2C%20your%20chances%20of,getting%20shingles%20the%20first%20time.

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