Shingles Timeline: How Long Each Stage Lasts and What to Expect

glamour.com:

, is a common viral infection that infects in the U.S. during their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It’s primarily a concern for those who had chickenpox as a child. “Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox,” explains , MD, medical director of infection prevention at the University of Washington Medical Center. “After we recover from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in nerve tissues and can reactivate later in life, often due to age-related or stress-related weakening of the immune system.” While shingles usually resolves in three to five weeks, complications of shingles can extend that recovery timeline—or even cause permanent health problems.

Here’s a general overview of the stages of a shingles outbreak.The first can include localized burning, tingling, twinging, or numb sensations on particular affected areas of skin.

Usually, this happens on just one side of the body. Your skin also may feel sensitive to the touch, or your eyes sensitive to light.