Somewhere between one and five days after the tingling or burning feeling on the skin, a red rash will appear. A few days later, the rash will turn into fluid-filled blisters. About one week to 10 days after that, the blisters dry up and crust over. A couple of weeks later, the scabs clear up.
Preeruptive phase (preherpetic neuralgia) Acute eruptive phase. Chronic phase (PHN)
In many cases, shingles gets better within around two to four weeks. However, it's still important to see your GP or pharmacist as soon as possible if you recognise the symptoms of shingles, as early treatment may help reduce the severity of the condition and the risk of potential complications.
Clinical Features People with herpes zoster most commonly have a rash in one or two adjacent dermatomes (localized zoster). The rash most commonly appears on the trunk along a thoracic dermatome. The rash does not usually cross the body's midline.
It can take three to five weeks from the time you begin to feel symptoms until the rash totally disappears. First, a few days before the rash appears, you may feel pain in an area on your skin. The pain is described as itching, burning, stabbing or shooting.
The incubation period is 2–3 weeks and is usually 14–16 days.
Valacyclovir works best if it is used within 48 hours after the first symptoms of shingles or genital herpes (e.g., pain, burning, or blisters) begin to appear. For recurrent outbreaks of genital herpes, valacyclovir works best if it is used within 24 hours after the symptoms begin to appear.
Response and effectiveness. May take up to two hours to reach peak plasma concentrations after oral acyclovir administration. May take up to three days for symptom reduction; however, acyclovir should be taken until the course prescribed is completed. Acyclovir works best when started within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Generally, a case of shingles rash resolves within 3 to 4 weeks. It can resolve without treatment, but antiviral treatment can shorten both the duration and severity of the rash.
Common complications of herpes zoster infections include acute pain, postherpetic neuralgia, persistent neuropathy, hemorrhage, ulceration, necrosis, myonecrosis, necrosis of bone, and (uncommonly) secondary bacterial infection.
Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex 2. The condition we call shingles is caused by herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is the same viral infection that causes chicken pox, and the herpes zoster virus can live in the body for years after the case of chicken pox is gone, and re-emerge as the painful blisters of shingles.