Shingles is a painful condition, and a Shingles outbreak can occur to you at any time, if you've had chickenpox in the past. Learn more about this debilitating illness, what you can do to prevent a Shingles outbreak and treatments for easing the pain and discomfort of a Shingles outbreak.

Is Shingles Contagious?

If you have Shingles, you may be wondering if Shingles is contagious, and whether people near you can become infected with Shingles just by spending time with you. Since Shingles outbreaks are caused by residual amounts of the VZV chickenpox virus that were already dormant in your body and are now becoming active again, someone can't "catch" Shingles just by coming into contact with you when you are having an active outbreak of Shingles. However, be aware that Shingles blisters contain the chickenpox virus and so anyone who has not had chickenpox yet and has not been vaccinated against chickenpox, can be infected with the chickenpox virus by coming in contact with you during your Shingles outbreak. Also be aware that a chickenpox outbreak in an adult is much more severe than in a child. So to avoid spreading the chickenpox virus, during a Shingles outbreak you should avoid coming into contact with anyone (especially adults) who has not had chickenpox and has not been vaccinated for chickenpox.

More Shingles Topics and Information: Does The Shingles Vaccine Work? How Do You Catch Shingles? How Did I Get Shingles? I Think I Have Shingles What Are The Shingles Symptoms?