Shingles & Cold Sores

What are Shingles and Cold Sores? Understanding the Varicella Zoster Virus

Shingles is a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox, and it can lead to a painful rash with sensitivity, redness, fluid-filled blisters, and itching. While shingles and cold sores are different viruses, they can be thought of as cousins, since they both belong to the same viral subfamily.

If you may have shingles or cold sores, or you are looking for dermatology care in El Campo, TX, this overview explains how the two conditions differ, the symptoms and causes to watch for, treatment options, common questions, who may be a good candidate for care, and when to contact Dr. Erwin for an assessment. Because shingles often affects people who had chickenpox earlier in life and can cause significant discomfort, prompt evaluation and treatment may help speed healing and reduce symptoms.

Shingles

Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, a herpes virus in the herpes virus family. After chickenpox, the shingles virus stays inactive in nerve cells near the spinal cord and brain until the virus reactivates years later; this is not the same virus that causes cold sores. A person with shingles can pass the varicella-zoster virus to anyone who is not immune to chickenpox.

Most adults born before 1980 had chickenpox, and most adults who had it can develop shingles; the risk of shingles rises with age, especially after 50, and is a higher risk for healthy adults with weakened immune systems, people with weakened immune function, stress, or other risk factors that affect the immune system.

Shingles affects nerves and often starts with a burning or tingling sensation, a tingling sensation, or shooting pain before the rash appears. Common signs of shingles usually affect a small area of the body and include:

• Sensitivity to touch.
• Pain, numbness, burning, or tingling.
• A red rash that begins a few days following the pain and is usually a painful rash on one side of the body.
• Small fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over.
• Itching.

Other symptoms can occur, and some people may have pain even if no rash appears. Some people may also experience a fever, headache, fatigue, and sensitivity to light with their shingles. About 1 million people get shingles each year in the U.S.

Cold Sores

Cold sores, which are infectious blisters on the mouth or lips, are caused by herpes simplex virus 1 and/or 2. They are often grouped together in patches and may break over time, leading to a scab. Cold sores usually heal in about 2-3 weeks without leaving a scar. They are spread by close contact with another person, such as kissing. They are contagious even if you do not see the sores.

Common signs of a cold sore include:

• Itching and tingling around the lips.
• Fluid-filled blisters that erupt along the border of the lips.
• Small blisters that burst, leaving an open sore that oozes and crusts over.

Some patients may also experience:

• Fever
• Painful gums
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Swollen lymph nodes

Treatment Options for Shingles and Cold Sores

There is a selection of treatment options for both shingles and cold sores to relieve your symptoms and get you back to your everyday routine as quickly as possible. These include:

Shingles Treatment

There is no cure for shingles, but early treatment with antiviral medicines such as acyclovir, famciclovir, or valacyclovir works best within 72 hours after the rash appears and can help speed healing. Calamine lotion may help relieve itching. Shingles can also cause severe pain for some, so your doctor may also prescribe medications to help with discomfort, such as gabapentin, amitriptyline, or others.

Postherpetic neuralgia is a common complication and can become one of the long-term complications, lasting for months or years; about 10% of people have pain for many months, and 2% have pain longer than one year.

Blisters usually crust over in 7 to 10 days, and the rash often clears in 2 to 4 weeks, though the full illness can last a few weeks. Most people only get shingles once in their lifetime, though it is possible to get it more than once. Serious complications are rare but can include pneumonia or brain inflammation.

Cold Sore Treatment

Cold sores usually clear up without treatment within 2-4 weeks. However, some prescription antiviral medications such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, famciclovir, and penciclovir can help to speed up the healing process. For severe cold sore infections, some antiviral drugs can be given as an injection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ideal Candidates for Shingles and Cold Sores Treatment

Anyone who thinks they may have shingles or a cold sore, or wants diagnosis or prevention options, can benefit from treatment. The Shingrix vaccine is the recombinant zoster vaccine recommended to prevent shingles in healthy adults 50 and older and in immunocompromised adults over 19. It is given in two doses, 2 to 6 months apart, and reduces the risk by over 90%. The best way to determine if you are a candidate for treatment is through an assessment with Dr. Erwin. Contact our office today to schedule your appointment.

Contact Us Today

If you are experiencing the signs or symptoms of shingles or a cold sore, do not hesitate to contact our office promptly by calling 979-543-9933, as early evaluation by a health care provider can help guide treatment. We will be more than happy to help you schedule your initial appointment with Dr. Erwin, which is your first step toward treatment.