People with shingles typically develop a red rash and blisters.
Learn more about shingles and eczema, including symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatment options.
Read on to learn more about the differences between shingles and eczema.
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What Is Eczema?
Atopic dermatitis is especially common among infants and young children.
Some people continue to have eczema flare-upstimes when symptoms get worsethroughout their lifetime.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand and © Dr. Richard Ashtonwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
During times of remission, eczema symptoms clear up.
Potential eczema complications include:
How Common Is Eczema?
Around 10.1% of people in the United States have at least one kind of eczema.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet New Zealand and Dr. Richard Ashtonwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
What Is Shingles?
Shingles is a skin condition triggered by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, which also causeschickenpox.
Anyone who has ever had chickenpox can get shingles.
However, older and immunocompromised people are especially at risk.
A typical case of shingles lasts around two to four weeks.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022.
Symptoms
The main symptom associated with both shingles and eczema is askin rash.
In babies and children, eczema rashes typically appear on the face, scalp, or joints.
Eczema
Eczema is not contagious, meaning that you cant get it from anyone else.
Eczema has no known cause, but researchers believe that environment and genetics both play a role.
Though the cause of eczema is currently unknown, many different factors may trigger an eczema flare.
Common eczema triggers include:
Shingles
Shingles itself is not contagious.
Most people get it because they had chickenpox earlier in life.
If someone covers their shingles rash, they are unlikely to spread VZV.
Risk Factors
Anyone can get eczema or shingles.
However, some factors may put you more at risk of developing one or both skin conditions.
Eczema affects people of all ages and genders.
In some cases, eczema runs in families.
In some cases, they may need to perform additional tests.
If its unclear whether you have eczema, a skin biopsy can help.
By examining a small sample of your skin with a microscope, your dermatologist can confirm your eczema diagnosis.
Usually, a physical examination of your shingles rash will be enough to confirm a shingles diagnosis.
In rare instances, however, some people with herpes zoster dont develop a rash.
Meanwhile, some immunocompromised people develop a rash that looks more like chickenpox than the typical shingles outbreak.
Treatment
Eczema and shingles cant be cured.
Most eczema medications are applied directly to the skin to reduce inflammation and prevent flare-ups.
Meanwhile, soothing home remedies like oatmeal baths,calamine lotion, and warm compresses can help with itching.
Prevention
Shingles is a vaccine-preventable disease.
Meanwhile, eczema is primarily prevented by avoiding common triggers.
To prevent eczema flare-ups, its important to identify and avoid your triggers.
Most side effects of the shingles vaccine are mild.
For most people, these symptoms go away on their own in a few days.
However, there are several important differences between the two conditions.
Shingles can also cause flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and chills.
Eczema is achronic conditionwith symptoms that come and go, while shingles is triggered by a virus.
Finally, shingles is a vaccine-preventable condition, while eczema can only be prevented by avoiding triggers.
If you think you may have eczema or shingles, talk to your healthcare provider about available treatment options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eczema isnt contagious.Shingles is typically not contagious either.
Most people develop shingles because of a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus.
Shingles rashes are typically painful rather than itchy.
However, itchy skin is sometimes an early symptom of shingles.
Shingles can sometimes be confused with other conditions that cause a rash.
Conditions that arecommonly mistaken for shinglesinclude eczema, psoriasis, measles, and chickenpox.
Allergic reactions to heat, insect bites, poison ivy, fragrances, and chemicals can also cause rashes.
Most people with eczema develop the condition during infancy or childhood.
However, some people suddenly develop eczema as adults.
Stress, illness, allergens, and the weather may suddenly trigger an eczema flare-up.
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