When is Shingles Contagious?

When is Shingles Contagious?

A person can get chicken pox from a shingles patient if he has not had chickenpox before. Yes, you read it right. You cannot get shingles from getting direct contact to someone with shingles. The virus is transferred though direct contact. Do your best to steer clear of a shingles patient if he is still contagious. But when is shingles contagious? How do you know if the rashes have dried enough for them to be safe?

The shingles rash is very much contagious up until the point when all the blisters have dried up. However, you must understand that most adults and older children may be immune from it. Immunization may be acquired by being vaccinated or if already have had chicken pox before. If the blisters are covered with a bandage, the virus will not be transferred to another person. As it was said before, the virus is passed by direct contact. If the patient finds a way to cover the blisters, it’s ok for people to approach him or her even if the blisters haven’t dried up yet.

However, it is important to know that pregnant women should avoid people with shingles. This is especially true if the woman has not had chicken pox yet. If your immune system is not in tip-top shape, you should avoid people with this condition as well. Play safe. Take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from having this condition. If you are a patient, do not risk passing on the virus to others. Cover up the rashes and avoid having contact to others until you heal.

People who have had direct contact with shingles patients will catch chickenpox. Since it is caused by the same virus, you will not get it if you have had shingles before. If this is the case, you better get yourself vaccinated. Having chicken pox or shingles as an adult will lead to scarring. Your skin loses elasticity as you age. If you get blisters, they may not heal as fast or as well as children do.