Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewSymptomsCausesHow to Identify EachTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
Symptoms
Causes
How to Identify Each
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Like shingles, scabies causes a skin rash.However, shingles is vaccine-preventable and not contagious. It can also sometimes lead to more serious medical complications.Meanwhile, there is no vaccine for scabies, which is highly contagious.
Learn more about shingles and scabies, including symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention.
Shingles and scabies are both skin conditions that cause an itchy rash. However, they have different symptoms, causes, risk factors, and approaches to treatment and prevention.
What Is Shingles?
The most common complication of shingles ispostherpetic neuralgia(PHN), which causes long-term nerve pain in the area of the original rash. People over 50 have a higher risk of developing PHN and other shingles complications, such as:
Prevalence of ShinglesAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will develop shingles at some point during their lifetime.
Prevalence of Shingles
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 3 people in the U.S. will develop shingles at some point during their lifetime.
Ideation90 / Getty Images
What Is Scabies?
If left untreated, scabies-related itching can cause severe discomfort and insomnia (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep). In extreme cases, scabies can lead to bacterial skin infections and kidney problems.
Prevalence of Scabies
List of Neglected Tropical Diseases
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.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 Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Although both conditions cause a rash, the signs and symptoms of shingles and scabies are different. Here’s what to expect if you get either scabies or shingles.
Shingles
Othershingles symptomsmay include:
From start to finish, most cases of shingles last about two to four weeks.
Scabies
Scabies symptoms typically appear about four to eight weeks after exposure. However, if you’ve had scabies in the past, you might develop symptoms earlier, such as in one to four days.
The most prominent symptom of scabies is a pimple-like rash. You may also notice small blisters and scale-like patches on the skin.
Otherscabies symptomsinclude:
If you’ve ever had chickenpox, you can get shingles later in life. Most people only get shingles one time, but some people get it more than once.
Certain risk factors may increase your chance of getting shingles, including:
Varicella zoster virus, which reactivates in shingles, is contagious. If you’re not vaccinated against chickenpox and haven’t ever had chickenpox, you can get chickenpox from someone with chickenpox or someone with an active shingles rash.
Scabies is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact, especially if it’s prolonged. After someone has been infested with scabies mites, their sexual partners and any people who live in the same household have a high risk of getting scabies.Sometimes, sharing personal items such as bedding, furniture, or towels can spread scabies.
Anyone can get scabies. However, scabies is more likely to spread in crowded spaces, such as:
Children, older adults, and people with large families have a higher chance of getting scabies. People who frequently travel to areas of the world where scabies is more common also have an increased risk.
If you develop a skin rash, you may wonder whether it’s scabies, shingles, or something else. But there are a few ways to tell the difference between the two conditions:
Shingles Diagnosis
If you currently have ashingles rash, most healthcare providers will be able to diagnose you with herpes zoster after a physical examination. Your medical history can also provide clues about your risk factors for shingles.
Rarely, immunocompromised people may have herpes zoster without a typical rash. In these cases, samples from your rash or blisters can be scraped and sent to a laboratory to confirm the diagnosis.
Scabies Diagnosis
Usually, scabies can be diagnosed with a physical examination and a review of your medical history. Burrow marks are often a telltale sign of scabies.
Shingles and scabies can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, home remedies, and prescription medications.
There’s technically no “cure” for shingles.However, the followingantiviral medicationscan help to cut down on the length of your illness and reduce your chance of developing PHN:
Antiviral medications are most effective in treating shingles if they’re prescribed less than 72 hours after your rash first appears.
Other treatments that can help soothe shingles symptoms may include:
Scabies is typically treated with topical creams and lotions called scabicides. All members of your household, as well as anyone you’ve had recent close contact with (such as sexual partners), should be treated for scabies.
Examples of scabicides include:
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe other medications, such asantihistaminesor steroid creams, to control itching.Home remedies for scabies-related itching include cool baths and calamine lotion.
Shingles and shingles-related complications, such as PHN, can be prevented with Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine, or RZV). The CDC recommends that adults 50 years and over and immunocompromised adults 19 years and over get two doses of the shingles vaccine.
For most people,Shingrixis safe and effective. In fact, Shingrix is over 90% effective in preventing shingles among older adults and 68% to 91% effective in preventing shingles among people with suppressed immune systems.
Common side effects of Shingrix typically include:
Most side effects from theshingles vaccinego away on their own within a few days.Seek immediate medical help if your side effects persist or get worse.
The only way to prevent scabies is to avoidskin-to-skin contactwith people and items (especially bedding) that have been infested with scabies mites. If you think you’ve been exposed to scabies, you and all of yourclose contactsshould be treated right away.
To avoid spreading scabies, thoroughly machine-wash and dry your clothing and/or bedding from the last several days before you were exposed. Vacuum your floors and clean your furniture thoroughly. Because scabies mites can only live on their own for about two to three days, you can usually resume normal activity after you’ve been treated.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderBecause scabies is so contagious, it’s important to seek a diagnosis and treatment right away.Talk to your healthcare provider immediately if you experience scabies symptoms (such as an itchy rash or thin burrow marks across your skin) or if someone close to you has been diagnosed with scabies.Your healthcare provider can advise you on how to treat your symptoms and avoid spreading the condition.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Because scabies is so contagious, it’s important to seek a diagnosis and treatment right away.Talk to your healthcare provider immediately if you experience scabies symptoms (such as an itchy rash or thin burrow marks across your skin) or if someone close to you has been diagnosed with scabies.Your healthcare provider can advise you on how to treat your symptoms and avoid spreading the condition.
Because scabies is so contagious, it’s important to seek a diagnosis and treatment right away.
Talk to your healthcare provider immediately if you experience scabies symptoms (such as an itchy rash or thin burrow marks across your skin) or if someone close to you has been diagnosed with scabies.Your healthcare provider can advise you on how to treat your symptoms and avoid spreading the condition.
Summary
A shingles rash can transmit chickenpox to those who have not had it or been vaccinated against it, You must first have chickenpox to develop shingles later in life. Scabies is highly contagious. It’s especially common in overcrowded areas, such as residential care homes and day cares.
Older and immunocompromised people are particularly likely to get shingles and experience complications afterward. To prevent shingles, the CDC recommends that all people 50 and over andimmunocompromisedpeople 19 and over receive the shingles vaccine. There is no vaccine for scabies.
Shingles can’t be cured, but antiviral medications may clear up your symptoms faster. If you or someone you know is exposed to scabies, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment with topical scabicides that can kill the mites.
A Word From Verywell
Skin conditions like shingles and scabies can be uncomfortable and alarming. Talk to your healthcare provider right away if you notice any signs of a rash.
Scabies typically needs to be treated with prescription medication. If you don’t treat scabies, you can continue to spread the condition to others.
Shingles can sometimes (although rarely)be mistaken for other conditionsthat cause a rash. Common skin conditions associated with rashes include eczema, psoriasis, and impetigo. Insect bites, direct contact with chemicals and dyes, and poison ivy can also cause rashes.
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24 Sources
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.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies frequently asked questions.MedlinePlus.Scabies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination: what everyone should know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - prevention and control.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How shingles spreads.Johnson RW, Alvarez-Pasquin MJ, Bijl M, et al.Herpes zoster epidemiology, management, and disease and economic burden in Europe: a multidisciplinary perspective.Ther Adv Vaccines. 2015;3(4):109-120. doi:10.1177/2051013615599151Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Complications of shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shingles (herpes zoster).El-Moamly AA.Scabies as a part of the World Health Organization roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030: what we know and what we need to do for global control.Trop Med Health. 2021;49(1):64. doi:10.1186/s41182-021-00348-6Motswaledi HM.Clinical diagnosis and treatment of scabies, a neglected tropical disease.S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2021;63(1):e1-e6. doi:10.4102/safp.v63i1.5224National Institute on Aging.Shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of shingles (herpes zoster).MedlinePlus.Shingles.Kawai K, Yawn BP.Risk factors for herpes zoster: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Open Forum Infect Dis. 2017;4(Suppl 1):S313–S314. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofx163.733Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - epidemiology & risk factors.Sara J, Haji Y, Gebretsadik A.Scabies outbreak investigation and risk factors in East Badewacho District, Southern Ethiopia: unmatched case control study.Dermatol Res Pract. 2018;2018:7276938. doi:10.1155/2018/7276938National Health Service.Shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Herpes zoster diagnosis, testing, lab methods.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treating shingles (herpes zoster).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_16American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: diagnosis and treatment.Maltz F, Fidler B.Shingrix: a new herpes zoster vaccine.P T. 2019;44(7):406-433.National Health Service.Scabies.
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.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies frequently asked questions.MedlinePlus.Scabies.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination: what everyone should know.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - prevention and control.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How shingles spreads.Johnson RW, Alvarez-Pasquin MJ, Bijl M, et al.Herpes zoster epidemiology, management, and disease and economic burden in Europe: a multidisciplinary perspective.Ther Adv Vaccines. 2015;3(4):109-120. doi:10.1177/2051013615599151Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Complications of shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shingles (herpes zoster).El-Moamly AA.Scabies as a part of the World Health Organization roadmap for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030: what we know and what we need to do for global control.Trop Med Health. 2021;49(1):64. doi:10.1186/s41182-021-00348-6Motswaledi HM.Clinical diagnosis and treatment of scabies, a neglected tropical disease.S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2021;63(1):e1-e6. doi:10.4102/safp.v63i1.5224National Institute on Aging.Shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of shingles (herpes zoster).MedlinePlus.Shingles.Kawai K, Yawn BP.Risk factors for herpes zoster: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Open Forum Infect Dis. 2017;4(Suppl 1):S313–S314. doi:10.1093/ofid/ofx163.733Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - epidemiology & risk factors.Sara J, Haji Y, Gebretsadik A.Scabies outbreak investigation and risk factors in East Badewacho District, Southern Ethiopia: unmatched case control study.Dermatol Res Pract. 2018;2018:7276938. doi:10.1155/2018/7276938National Health Service.Shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Herpes zoster diagnosis, testing, lab methods.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - diagnosis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treating shingles (herpes zoster).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_16American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: diagnosis and treatment.Maltz F, Fidler B.Shingrix: a new herpes zoster vaccine.P T. 2019;44(7):406-433.National Health Service.Scabies.
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MedlinePlus.Scabies.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles vaccination: what everyone should know.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - prevention and control.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How shingles spreads.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Complications of shingles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About shingles (herpes zoster).
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Signs and symptoms of shingles (herpes zoster).
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - epidemiology & risk factors.
Sara J, Haji Y, Gebretsadik A.Scabies outbreak investigation and risk factors in East Badewacho District, Southern Ethiopia: unmatched case control study.Dermatol Res Pract. 2018;2018:7276938. doi:10.1155/2018/7276938
National Health Service.Shingles.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Herpes zoster diagnosis, testing, lab methods.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Scabies - diagnosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Treating shingles (herpes zoster).
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
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Scabies: diagnosis and treatment.
Maltz F, Fidler B.Shingrix: a new herpes zoster vaccine.P T. 2019;44(7):406-433.
National Health Service.Scabies.
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