In the United States, one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime. But what is shingles, who is at risk for it, and can it be prevented?

Here’s what you need to know about this rash, and how to relieve symptoms if you get one.

What is shingles?

Shingles is a painful, blistering rash. While some cases are mild, most people with shingles experience severe pain that lasts two to four weeks. In some cases, shingles can cause complications that last for months or even years.

What are the signs and symptoms of shingles?

this first signs of shingles Includes pain, itching, or tingling on one side of the body, usually the chest, stomach, or back. You may experience tingling or burning, or the area may feel numb or tingling. Sometimes people feel tired and achy, and have a fever, chills, headache, or an upset stomach that feels like the flu. After a few days, a blistering rash develops on the skin, causing severe pain.

The rash usually appears around the waistline, but occasionally it can appear on other parts of the body, including the arms, head or face. You can even get shingles inside without a visible rash. If the rash appears on the face, it may damage the eyes. In rare cases, shingles can cause blindness, hearing problems, pneumonia and brain inflammation.some people get shingles long-term neuralgia Known as postherpetic neuralgia, it can limit daily activities for years. Some people even die from complications of shingles. But for most people, the shingles blisters usually scab over in about a week and fully heal within two to four weeks.

Who gets shingles?

The varicella virus causes chickenpox and shingles. Even after you recover from chickenpox, the virus remains in the nerves in your body. Most of the time, a virus is dormant — meaning it’s there, but not causing trouble. However, the virus may reactivate and cause symptoms that are more severe than the first time.

If you have had chickenpox, you will get shingles. Almost everyone born before 1980 gets chickenpox, even if they don’t remember being sick.If you get the chickenpox vaccine, you can still get shingles, but your risk is much lower Worse than chicken pox.

Your risk of developing shingles increases as you get older, but young people can get the uncomfortable disease too. If your immune system is weakened by cancer, cancer treatment, immunosuppressant drugs, or HIV infection, you are at higher risk for shingles and its complications. Stress, too much sunlight, and steroid medicines can also cause the chickenpox virus to revive and cause shingles.

You cannot get shingles from someone with the rash. However, if you have never had chickenpox or have not had the chickenpox vaccine, you can get chickenpox from someone with shingles. Pregnant women, infants, and people with weakened immune systems should avoid contact with anyone with an active shingles rash, especially if they have not had chickenpox or been vaccinated against chickenpox.

To prevent spreading the varicella virus, people with shingles should:

• cover the rash
• avoid contact with the rash
• wash your hands frequently

What are the treatments for shingles?

To help ensure a quick and complete recovery, it’s best to see your doctor within three days of developing the rash if you think you may have shingles. Taking antiviral medicines (such as acyclovir or valacyclovir) can help symptoms improve more quickly. Pain-relieving medications — such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen — can help you feel more comfortable during recovery.

These self-care steps can also help relieve pain and discomfort from shingles:

• wear loose clothes
• apply a cool, damp washcloth to the rash
• Soak in colloidal oatmeal or soothe skin with calamine lotion
• avoid stress
• get enough rest
• eat nutritious food
• distract yourself with television, music, or relaxing hobbies
• walking, stretching, yoga, or other gentle exercise

How to prevent shingles?

The best way to prevent shingles is to Get the shingles vaccine as soon as you are eligible. The vaccine consists of two doses, two to six months apart. Recommended for everyone over the age of 50 and for those 19 or older with a weakened immune system. The currently available shingles vaccine — Shingrix — is 97 percent effective in adults ages 50 to 69 and 91 percent effective in adults over 70. Even in people with weakened immune systems, effectiveness is usually more than 70%. Seven years on, the level of protection remains high.

Even if you have had shingles in the past, you can still get vaccinated. If you are vaccinated against chickenpox, your risk of getting shingles may be reduced, but you are still at risk and should get the Shingrix vaccine when eligible. Your doctor can recommend when to get the vaccine based on your medical condition and other risk factors.

While getting vaccinated can reduce your risk of shingles, it’s not 100 percent effective. So, keep an eye out for these symptoms, especially if you’re in a high-risk group. If you have shingles, follow your doctor’s instructions to minimize complications and help you recover.