Updated July 16, 2015.

Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.

Shingles is a painful and common skin disorder that affects over half a million Americans every year.  Shingles may cause head and face pain if it affects a large nerve that innervates the face, known as the trigeminal nerve. Let's learn more about shingles and how you can treat and prevent this painful skin condition.

What is Shingles?

Shingles is a painful rash that develops along a nerve line – called a dermatome.

The rash forms as a result of reactivation of the chickenpox virus – which normally lies dormant in our bodies.

Is Shingles the Same as Herpes?

No. The medical term for shingles is herpes zoster.  This has nothing to do with herpes – which is a sexually transmitted disease.

Who Gets Shingles?

Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. But it becomes more common as people age over 50 and is more common in people with a weak immune system – like people taking corticosteroids or people with lymphoma, leukemia, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

How Can Shingles Cause Head or Face Pain?

Shingles can affect you anywhere on your body. It affects the trigeminal ganglion in about 10-15% of cases – and this is what causes a person to have head or face pain. The medical term for this head pain is "painful trigeminal neuropathy attributed to herpes zoster."

What is the Trigeminal Ganglion?

The trigeminal ganglion is where cell bodies of the trigeminal nerve converge to provide sensation to the face, mouth, and head.

The trigeminal nerve consists of three major branches: ophthalmic (near the eye), maxillary (cheek-area), and mandibular (jaw-area). The branch of the trigeminal nerve  commonly affected by herpes zoster is the ophthalmic branch.

What Does Trigeminal Neuropathy Attributed to Herpes Zoster Feel Like?

People usually describe a burning, tingling, itching, stabbing, or aching feeling in the head or face – along the tract of the affected trigeminal branch. People also describe skin sensitivity to touch. Prior to developing the painful rash, some people have several days of malaise, headache, upset stomach fever, or chills.

What Does the Rash Look Like?

The rash starts off as red bumps that then turn into clear fluid-filled bumps, called vesicles. The vesicles scab within 7 to 10 days. The scabs fall out in about two to four weeks. Sometimes the rash can leave a scar.

How is Trigeminal Neuropathy Attributed to Herpes Zoster Treated?

Shingles  is treated with an antiviral prescribed by your doctor. If the rash is around or near your eye, than you will need to also urgently see an opthalmologist for an eye examination. Finally – in addition to an antiviral – your doctor may prescribe pain medication.

Is Shingles Contagious?

You cannot transmit shingles to another person. But, a person may develop chickenpox if they have never had chickenpox – or never had the vaccine – and come into contact with the rash, when the rash is at the blister or vesicle stage.

Shingles is not contagious prior to the rash forming or when the rash crusts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of transmitting chickenpox from a shingles rash is low if the rash is covered.

Can Shingles Be Prevented?

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the herpes zoster vaccine for adults 60 years or older. The vaccine helps to prevent shingles and postherpetic neuralgia.

Take Home Message

When shingles affects the trigeminal ganglion, it can cause a painful rash of the head and face. Please seek immediate medical attention if you think you have shingles. If you are aged 60 or older, please speak with your doctor about the shingles vaccine.

 

<sub>Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). About Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Retrieved June 24th 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Update on Recommendations for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccine. Retrieved June 25th, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6333a3.htm.

Gnann JW & Whitley RJ. Herpes Zoster. N Engl J Med 2002 Aug 1; 347:340-46.

Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society. "The International Classification of Headache Disorders: 3rd Edition (beta version)". Cephalalgia 2013;33(9):629-808.

Mounsey A, Matthew LG, Slawson DC. Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia: Prevention and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Sep 15;72(6):1075-1080.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). About Shingles (Herpes Zoster). Retrieved June 24th 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Update on Recommendations for Use of Herpes Zoster Vaccine. Retrieved June 25th, from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6333a3.htm.</sub>

 DISCLAIMER: The information in this site is for informational purposes only. It should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your doctor for advice, diagnosis, and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.