Shingles on the face: What you need to know

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Shingles on the face can cause different complications depending on where the rash appears on a person's face.

1. Shingles and shingles on the face

Shingles (zoster) is a common infection caused by the herpes virus. The same virus causes chickenpox, and people can only get shingles after they have had chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. It may not work, but if reactivated, causes shingles. Shingles is a common rash that appears on one side of the chest and back, on the side of the face, and around the eyes. Shingles on the face can be painful and has long-term side effects. There is practically no cure for shingles, but early treatment can reduce serious complications.
Shingles causes a red rash that forms a band on one side of the body or face. The rash appears anywhere on the body, but is most commonly on the face. This condition can spread from the ear to the nose and forehead. It can also spread around one eye causing redness and swelling in the eye and surrounding areas. A shingles rash sometimes develops in the mouth.
The first symptom many people feel is a tingling, burning sensation before the first red bumps appear. The rash begins when the blisters contain fluid or damage. Some people have scattered clusters of blisters or people have multiple burns that look like they've been burned. The blisters eventually burst, ooze, and crust over. After a few days, the scabs begin to fall off.
Other symptoms of shingles are: itching, pain, fatigue, headache, fever.

2. Complications of facial shingles

Shingles on the face can cause different complications depending on where the rash appears on the face.
Shingles around the eyes Shingles around the eyes is a serious medical condition. The virus can affect all parts of the outer and inner eye, including the cornea and the nerve cells that respond to light. Symptoms of the disease include: redness, puffiness, swelling, infection, vision problems... Shingles in or around the eyes can lead to permanent blindness.
Shingles in the ear Shingles near or in the ear can cause infection. This can lead to hearing problems, balance problems, facial weakness, etc. Sometimes, these symptoms persist long after the rash clears, or even become permanent.

Shingles in the mouth If a shingles rash develops in the mouth, it will be painful and make it difficult to eat and drink, and it will change the person's taste. One of the most common complications of shingles is postherpetic neuralgia. This condition causes pain at the site of the rash, even after it has healed. It can last for weeks, months or years. A bacterial infection on the rash can result in permanent scarring. Shingles can affect the brain, spinal cord and blood vessels, but is very rare.

3. How is shingles diagnosed and treated?

When you suspect you have shingles on your face, visit your doctor for timely diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor will diagnose a shingles rash by performing a look at the rash. The doctor may also scrape the rash off the patient's skin and take the sample to a lab for examination under a microscope.
This result is especially important for your doctor to seek treatment if you have a compromised immune system. Early treatment will help patients avoid dangerous complications.
One of the treatments for shingles is the use of antiviral drugs, anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, especially for shingles on the face or eyes, over-the-counter or prescription pain relievers
At the same time, the patient should Keep the skin clean and cool to reduce the risk of infection. Most people only have shingles once, but it can recur. This is more likely to happen if you have a weak immune system. If you don't have any major complications, symptoms should clear up in a few weeks with some lasting effects.
To prevent the spread of shingles, avoid contact with other people who have not had chickenpox or had the chickenpox vaccine. Avoid letting the blisters break open, as it is highly contagious. Try not to touch, rub, or scratch the blisters; Wash hands thoroughly and often.
Avoid contact with people who have never had chickenpox or had the chickenpox vaccine, especially: pregnant women, infants, people with HIV, people taking immunosuppressive drugs or chemotherapy , organ transplant recipient

4. Prevention

To prevent facial shingles, children should be vaccinated against chickenpox regularly, which greatly reduces the chance of getting infected with the chickenpox virus.

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Reference source: Healthline.com; Mayoclinic.org