How Long Are You Contagious With Shingles?

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. People with shingles can develop groups of painful, fluid-filled blisters anywhere on their body. But the blisters usually appear along the rib cage.

After a chickenpox illness, the varicella-zoster virus can live quietly in the body for decades. Sometimes, the virus can “wake up” (reactivate), and that’s when it causes shingles. 

If someone in your home has shingles, here’s what you need to know about how long shingles is contagious. 

Is shingles contagious?

Yes, if you have shingles rash with fluid-filled blisters, it’s contagious. These blisters carry the varicella-zoster virus, which you can spread to someone else. This virus can cause chickenpox in people who never had chickenpox or didn't receive the varicella vaccine. It can also lead to shingles for that person in the future.

Only the fluid-filled blisters are contagious. And you stop being contagious once those blisters scab over. 

It’s important to note that you can’t spread shingles from person to person. In other words, you can’t catch shingles from someone who has shingles.

How long is a person with shingles contagious?

Shingles is only contagious until the blisters dry out and scab over. This usually takes about 7 to 10 days. It can take weeks for the rash to completely heal. But once the blisters are crusted over, it’s no longer contagious.

Keep in mind that you may feel sick before the rash appears. Many people have symptoms for several days, such as fever, headache, and fatigue. There may be pain, tingling, or burning in the skin where the rash will develop. But none of these things are contagious. Until fluid-filled blisters appear, you can’t spread the varicella-zoster virus to others.

Who is at highest risk of getting shingles?

First, remember that a person with shingles can’t pass the shingles rash to another person. But they can spread the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who isn’t immune to the virus. This includes:

• Babies and young children who haven’t been vaccinated against chickenpox yet

• Adults who never got chickenpox in childhood and weren’t vaccinated

• Anyone with a weakened immune system

If these groups of people come into contact with the varicella-zoster virus, they can develop chickenpox. Although most people completely recover from chickenpox, serious complications can develop in infants, those who are pregnant, and people who have a weakened immune system.

Anyone who develops chickenpox is at risk for developing shingles later in life. 

How is shingles transmitted?

To get the varicella-zoster virus from a person with shingles, your skin has to come in direct contact with fluid from the blistering shingles rash. As long as a person with shingles keeps their rash covered, they can’t transmit the varicella-zoster virus.

In rare cases, a person with shingles can spread the virus more easily — through respiratory droplets or the air. This only happens in disseminated shingles, a severe form of shingles.

Disseminated shingles cause a much more widespread rash that looks similar to chickenpox. People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for developing disseminated shingles.

How can you prevent the spread of shingles?

The best way to prevent spreading shingles is to avoid getting it in the first place. Shingrix is a highly effective vaccine that’s recommended for everyone age 50 and older. It’s a 2-dose series that’s more than 90% effective at preventing shingles.

If you have shingles, you can take steps to protect other people from coming in contact with the varicella-zoster virus:

• Keep your rash covered. The varicella-zoster virus lives in the fluid inside the shingles blisters. So you can prevent spreading it by making sure people don’t accidentally touch the blisters. If you can’t cover the rash, make sure to stay away from anyone who’s at higher risk of getting varicella zoster until your rash heals. 

• Talk with a healthcare professional about starting an antiviral medication. You can shorten how long you’re contagious by taking an antiviral medication within 72 hours after the rash appears. 

• Stay away from people at high risk of illness from varicella zoster. People at higher risk for severe varicella-zoster illness include pregnant women, babies and young children, and older adults. Also at higher risk are people with compromised immune systems and those who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine.

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Written by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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