Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about shingles and eczema, including symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatment options.
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Though shingles and eczema are both skin conditions that cause rashes and swelling, they have different underlying causes, triggers, and risk factors. Read on to learn more about the differences between shingles and eczema.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a non-contagious, long-lasting skin condition that causes rashes, swelling, itching, and irritation.The most common kind of eczema is calledatopic dermatitis, and sometimes the terms are interchangeable.
Atopic dermatitis is especially common among infants and young children. Some people continue to have eczema flare-ups—times when symptoms get worse—throughout their lifetime. During times of remission, eczema symptoms clear up.
In addition to skin-related symptoms like inflammation, dryness, bleeding, oozing, and weeping, eczema flares can sometimes lead to complications. Potential eczema complications include:
How Common Is Eczema?Around 10.1% of people in the United States have at least one kind of eczema.
How Common Is Eczema?
Around 10.1% of people in the United States have at least one kind of eczema.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand and © Dr. Richard Ashtonwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
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?
Some people experience complications from shingles, such aspostherpetic neuralgia (PHN)—a type of severe, long-term nerve pain. Other possible shingles complications include:
Prevalence of ShinglesAbout one in three people in the U.S. will develop shingles during their lifetime.
Prevalence of Shingles
About one in three people in the U.S. will develop shingles during their lifetime.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZ www.dermnetnz.org 2022.
The main symptom associated with both shingles and eczema is askin rash.
People with shingles tend to first notice burning, tingling, and/or itching in a certain area of the skin. After a few days, a red rash will appear, usually in a solid band or stripe across only one side of the body or face. The rash will then develop into fluid-filled blisters, which typically scab over and form a crust in about seven to 10 days.
Some people with shingles may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as:
Meanwhile, everyone experiences different eczema symptoms. The main symptoms of atopic dermatitis include:
Eczema patches often show up on or around the neck, hands, feet, ankles, eyes, elbow creases, or knees. In babies and children, eczema rashes typically appear on the face, scalp, or joints.
Here’s an overview of the main differences betweenshingles symptomsandeczema symptoms:
Eczema
Eczema is not contagious, meaning that you can’t 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.
However, people with a shingles rash can spread the varicella zoster virus to people who haven’t had chickenpox in the past and haven’t beenvaccinated against chickenpox. You can get it from someone with shingles if you come into direct contact with the fluid from their open blisters.
If someone covers their shingles rash, they are unlikely to spread VZV.
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. However, it is somewhat more common among infants and children than adults, and among girls and women rather than boys and men.
In some cases, eczema runs in families. Many people with atopic dermatitis also experience other medical problems, such as:
Anyone who has had chickenpox in the past can get herpes zoster. However, the following risk factors make it more likely that you will develop shingles:
Women are slightly more likely to develop shingles than men.Children can develop shingles, but it is much more common in older adults.
Most healthcare providers will be able to diagnose you with eczema or shingles with a physical examination and information about your medical history. In some cases, they may need to perform additional tests.
To diagnose you with eczema, adermatologistwill perform a physical examination of your skin and ask you about your symptoms. They may also ask questions about your medical history, such as any history of allergies or other skin conditions in your family.
If it’s 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 don’t develop a rash. Meanwhile, some immunocompromised people develop a rash that looks more like chickenpox than the typical shingles outbreak. In these cases, your healthcare provider can confirm whether you have shingles with blood tests, swabs of the fluid from your blisters, and/or askin biopsy.
Eczema and shingles can’t be cured. However, they can be effectively managed with various treatments, including over-the-counter (OTC) medications, home remedies, and prescription drugs.
Managing eczema symptoms commonly calls for one or more of the following treatments:
In severe cases, your dermatologist may suggestphototherapy(light therapy) or systemic treatments, which target the immune system. Systemic drugs for severe atopic dermatitis include:
When prescribed less than 72 hours after the onset of shingles, the followingantiviral medicationsmay be helpful in reducing the length and severity of the illness:
OTC pain medications, such asnonsteroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), may work to relieve shingles-related pain. Meanwhile, soothing home remedies like oatmeal baths,calamine lotion, and warm compresses can help with itching.
To prevent eczema flare-ups, it’s important to identify and avoid your triggers. Here are a few things you can do to address common eczema triggers:
Gentle at-home skin care, such as taking baths and applying moisturizer consistently, can also help to manage eczema symptoms.There is some evidence that certain supplements—such asprobioticsandomega-3 fatty acids—may work to prevent eczema flare-ups.
The following groups are recommended to get two doses ofShingrix(the recombinant zoster vaccine, or RZV) to prevent shingles:
Theshingles vaccineeffectively prevents herpes zoster and related complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia. Research suggests that Shingrix is over 97% effective in adults ages 50–69, over 91% effective in adults ages 70 and older, and 68–91% effective in immunocompromised adults.
Most side effects of the shingles vaccine are mild. Commonly reported Shingrix side effects include pain and swelling at the site of injection, as well as muscle pain, fatigue, fever, shivering, and nausea. For most people, these symptoms go away on their own in a few days.
Summary
Because both shingles and eczema are skin conditions that cause a rash and swelling, they are sometimes mistaken for each other. However, there are several important differences between the two conditions. Eczema rashes are often itchy and can appear anywhere on the body, while shingles rashes are painful and typically appear on only one side of the face or body.
A Word From Verywell
Skin conditions are common, but they can sometimes be uncomfortable or even scary. If you think you may have eczema or shingles, talk to your healthcare provider about available treatment options.
Frequently Asked QuestionsEczema isn’t contagious.Shingles is typically not contagious either. Most people develop shingles because of a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. However, if you’ve never had chickenpox, you can get VZV from someone if you have direct contact with the fluid from their shingles rash.Shingles rashes are typically painful rather than itchy. However, itchy skin is sometimes an early symptom of shingles. Some people experience itching, burning, or tingling sensations in the area where their shingles rash will eventually develop.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.
Eczema isn’t contagious.Shingles is typically not contagious either. Most people develop shingles because of a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. However, if you’ve never had chickenpox, you can get VZV from someone if you have direct contact with the fluid from their shingles rash.
Shingles rashes are typically painful rather than itchy. However, itchy skin is sometimes an early symptom of shingles. Some people experience itching, burning, or tingling sensations in the area where their shingles rash will eventually develop.
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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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Shingles.MedlinePlus.Eczema.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Atopic dermatitis.National Eczema Association.Eczema stats.National Institute on Aging.Shingles.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster) signs & symptoms.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster).National Eczema Association.What is eczema?National Health Service.Atopic eczema—causes.Tamagawa-Mineoka R, Katoh N.Atopic dermatitis: identification and management of complicating factors.Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(8):2671. doi:10.3390/ijms21082671Marra F, Parhar K, Huang B, Vadlamudi N.Risk factors for herpes zoster infection: a meta-analysis.Open Forum Infect Dis. 2020;7(1):ofaa005. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofaa005Nemours KidsHealth.Shingles (for parents).American Academy of Dermatology Association.Eczema types: atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment.U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles (herpes zoster) diagnosis & testing.Lee JH, Son SW, Cho SH.A comprehensive review of the treatment of atopic eczema.Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2016;8(3):181-90. doi:10.4168/aair.2016.8.3.181Koshy E, Mengting L, Kumar H, Jianbo W.Epidemiology, treatment and prevention of herpes zoster: a comprehensive review.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2018;84(3):251-262. doi:10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_1021_16American Academy of Dermatology Association.How can I find eczema triggers on my child’s body?American Academy of Dermatology Association.How can I find indoor eczema triggers?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Atopic dermatitis: self-care.Williams HC, Chalmers J.Prevention of atopic dermatitis.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(12):adv00166. doi:10.2340/00015555-3516U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What everyone should know about the shingles vaccine (Shingrix).Maltz F, Fidler B.Shingrix: a new herpes zoster vaccine.P T. 2019;44(7):406-433. PMID: 31258310; PMCID: PMC6590925.MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.National Health Service.Atopic eczema.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Koshy E, Mengting L, Kumar H, Jianbo W.Epidemiology, treatment and prevention of herpes zoster: a comprehensive review.Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2018;84(3):251-262. doi:10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_1021_16
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American Academy of Dermatology Association.How can I find indoor eczema triggers?
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Williams HC, Chalmers J.Prevention of atopic dermatitis.Acta Derm Venereol. 2020;100(12):adv00166. doi:10.2340/00015555-3516
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What everyone should know about the shingles vaccine (Shingrix).
Maltz F, Fidler B.Shingrix: a new herpes zoster vaccine.P T. 2019;44(7):406-433. PMID: 31258310; PMCID: PMC6590925.
MedlinePlus.Rash evaluation.
National Health Service.Atopic eczema.
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