Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesComplicationsDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Symptoms

Causes

Complications

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prognosis

Frequently Asked Questions

You can developshingleson the face. The rash looks like a group of small blisters or lesions that can itch, burn, or tingle. With treatment, the lesions and pain should subside in 3 to 5 weeks.

Shingles on the face can lead to severe complications. While the rash is typically limited to one side of your face, it can extend to your ear, eye, mouth, or scalp. This can result in vision problems, hearing loss, facial weakness, hair loss, and lingering nerve pain.

If you develop shingles on the face, see your healthcare provider right away. Prompt treatment with antiviral medications can reduce the severity of the rash and prevent serious complications.

This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoLauraag / Getty Images

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.

A person with shingles on the face (ophthalmic herpes zoster)

Lauraag / Getty Images

This article discusses shingles on the face, including symptoms and possible complications. It also explains how to treat shingles on the face and at-home remedies to ease the pain.

Signs andsymptoms of shinglesare usually seen on one side of the face. Common symptoms in the affected area of the face might include:

Symptoms you may feel generally include:

Shingles on the face can sometimes cause weakness on one side,causing the face to appear droopy.

Symptoms can appear in different areas of the face, including around the eyes or over the eyelid, near the ear andfacial nerve, at the mouth, on the scalp, and at the forehead:

Researchers don’t know exactly what causes shingles. But they speculate it may have to do with the body’s lowered immunity as people get older.Shingles is also more common in people who areimmunosuppressed(have weakened immune systems).

There is no research explaining why shingles might affect the face, or why it affects some people’s faces and not those of others.

Shingles on the face may cause complications depending on where the rash and blisters appear.

Eye Problems

Ophthalmic herpes zoster can be a very serious condition. Shingles can affect any of the parts of the outer and inner eye.This might include thecornea(the transparent part of the eye covering the front part) and nerve cells that respond to light.

Swelling of the cornea from shingles can be so severe it leads to permanent scarring.

Shingles can also cause increased eye pressure and swelling that might eventually lead to glaucoma—an eye condition that causes damage to theoptic nerve. In rare cases, shingles of the eye can lead to permanent vision loss.

Hearing Loss and Facial Weakness

Complications of herpes zoster oticus and Ramsay Hunt syndrome might includehearing lossand facial weakness. For most people, these are temporary symptoms, but it is possible for the damage to become permanent, especially if shingles is left untreated.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome accounts for up to 12% of facial paralysis.In some cases, it has a worse outcome thanBell’s palsy—a condition that causes temporary weakness in the muscles of the face.

Postherpetic Neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia(PHN) is a painful condition that results when shingles damages nerves. Because of the damage, the nerves will continue to send pain signals to the brain. Up to 20% of people with shingles will develop this complication.

Oral Nerve Damage

Scalp Pain and Hair Loss

Shingles of the scalp can lead to PHN pain in the areas of the scalp where the rash was, and long after the skin has cleared. It can also cause hair loss from scratching or combing too hard during a shingles attack, leading to a condition called cicatricial alopecia or scarring alopecia.

Hair loss occurs when the shingles rash destroys hair follicle cells responsible for new hair growth. With these cells damaged, the hair loss is permanent.

Other Complications

Shingles is associated with other complications, though much more rare. These can includepneumonia,encephalitis(brain inflammation),bacterial infections, andstroke. Left untreated, these complications can be life threatening or fatal.

When Should You See a Healthcare Provider for Shingles?If you experience persistent pain or a widespread itchy rash on the body or face, you should reach out to your healthcare provider. The National Institute of Aging recommends that you see your healthcare provider no later than three days after the rash or skin pain has appeared.Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to reducing your risk for complications, helping you to heal quicker and reduce the potential for scarring.

When Should You See a Healthcare Provider for Shingles?

If you experience persistent pain or a widespread itchy rash on the body or face, you should reach out to your healthcare provider. The National Institute of Aging recommends that you see your healthcare provider no later than three days after the rash or skin pain has appeared.Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to reducing your risk for complications, helping you to heal quicker and reduce the potential for scarring.

If you experience persistent pain or a widespread itchy rash on the body or face, you should reach out to your healthcare provider. The National Institute of Aging recommends that you see your healthcare provider no later than three days after the rash or skin pain has appeared.

Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to reducing your risk for complications, helping you to heal quicker and reduce the potential for scarring.

If you have symptoms of shingles, especially on your face, it is vital to see your healthcare provider right away. A diagnosis of shingles can be made with a physical exam. Your healthcare provider might take a sample of the skin or fluid from a blister for testing.

Your healthcare provider will also ask about other symptoms you might be experiencing, such as fever, chills, headache, and fatigue.

If you have a shingles rash or blisters in or around the eyes, you should see anophthalmologist.They can examine your eyes and treat eye symptoms before they worsen and lead to permanent eye damage.

Early diagnosis and treatment are vital to avoid serious complications. This is especially important for people who have weak or compromised immune systems.

Treatment for shinglesis the same regardless of where the rash appears on the body. Prompt treatment with medications and self-care is necessary to speed up your recovery and reduce the risk for complications.

Medication

Medicinal treatment for shingles includes antiviral drugs, steroids, and pain medicines.

At-Home Care

There are ways to relieve pain and itching, as well as soothe a shingles rash and blisters. At-home treatments to try include:

Home Remedies for Shingles

For most people, the rash and pain of shingles will heal within three to five weeks, and there will not be any scarring from the blisters.However, shingles can be serious and life threatening for older adults and immunosuppressed people.

Shingles can be a very painful condition. The best way to improve your outlook is with early diagnosis and early treatment.

Another option is prevention. Ask your healthcare provider about the shingles vaccine. It can be given as a two-dose injection in the upper arm.

A Word From Verywell

Shingles can be a very painful condition, especially if it is left untreated. On the face, it can cause a visible rash and blisters, which can lead to discomfort and embarrassment. Fortunately, for most people, shingles is a temporary condition that will go away with time.

If you think you have shingles, you should reach out to your healthcare provider right away. Proper treatment can prevent scarring to the face and long-term or life-threatening complications.

No, it is not possible to get rid of shingles scars. However, laser treatment has been used to reduce the visibility of a scar. A healthcare provider will need to be contacted to perform this procedure.Alternatively, you can use a concealer, medicated cream, or gel to lessen scar visibility. It may be wise to ask a healthcare provider for their opinion on the most effective solution.

There may be over-the-counter eye drops for shingles. However, it is best to visit a healthcare provider for shingles treatment of any kind. If shingles affects your eyes, you may be prescribed corticosteroid eye drops. In some cases, pupil dilating eye drops can accompany a steroid drop to reduce pain.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three American adults will develop shingles during their lifetime.

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18 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.National Institute on Aging.5 things you need to know about shingles.National Institute on Aging.Shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of shingles (herpes zoster).Mount Sinai.Shingles.Barshak M. Harvard Medical School.Shingles of the Eye Can Cause Lasting Vision Impairment.Tran KD, Falcone MM, Choi DS, et al.Epidemiology of herpes zoster ophthalmicus: recurrence and chronicity.Ophthalmology. 2016;123(7):1469-1475. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.03.005Gao H, Xu J, Cheng S, Chen J.Case of auricular herpes zoster associated with contralateral facial paralysis.J Dermatol. 2016;43(1):110-1. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.13144National Organization of Rare Disorders.Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.Hagiya H, Nakagami F, Isomura E.Oral shingles.BMJ Case ReportsCP. 2018;11:e228383. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228383Monsanto RD, Bittencourt AG, Bobato Neto NJ, et al.Treatment and prognosis of facial palsy on Ramsay Hunt syndrome: results based on a review of the literature. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;20(4):394-400. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1584267Forbes HJ, Bhaskaran K, Thomas SL, et al.Quantification of risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia in herpes zoster patients: a cohort study.Neurology. 2016;87(1):94-102. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002808Francis M, Subramanian K, Sankari SL, et. al.Herpes zoster with post herpetic neuralgia involving the right maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve: a case report and review of literature.J Clin Diagn Res. 2017;11(1):ZD40-ZD42. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/22590.9237Hayderi LE, Nikkels-Tassoudji N, Nikkels AF.Hair loss after varicella zoster virus infection.Case Rep Dermatol. 2013;5(1):43-47. doi:10.1159/000348648American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: Diagnosis and Treatment.Han Y, Zhang J, Chen N, He L, Zhou M, Zhu C.Corticosteroids for preventing postherpetic neuralgia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(3):CD005582. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005582.pub4American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 Things to Know Before Having Laser Treatment for Your Scar.All About Vision.Eye Shingles: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles facts and stats.

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.

National Institute on Aging.5 things you need to know about shingles.National Institute on Aging.Shingles.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of shingles (herpes zoster).Mount Sinai.Shingles.Barshak M. Harvard Medical School.Shingles of the Eye Can Cause Lasting Vision Impairment.Tran KD, Falcone MM, Choi DS, et al.Epidemiology of herpes zoster ophthalmicus: recurrence and chronicity.Ophthalmology. 2016;123(7):1469-1475. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.03.005Gao H, Xu J, Cheng S, Chen J.Case of auricular herpes zoster associated with contralateral facial paralysis.J Dermatol. 2016;43(1):110-1. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.13144National Organization of Rare Disorders.Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.Hagiya H, Nakagami F, Isomura E.Oral shingles.BMJ Case ReportsCP. 2018;11:e228383. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228383Monsanto RD, Bittencourt AG, Bobato Neto NJ, et al.Treatment and prognosis of facial palsy on Ramsay Hunt syndrome: results based on a review of the literature. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;20(4):394-400. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1584267Forbes HJ, Bhaskaran K, Thomas SL, et al.Quantification of risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia in herpes zoster patients: a cohort study.Neurology. 2016;87(1):94-102. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002808Francis M, Subramanian K, Sankari SL, et. al.Herpes zoster with post herpetic neuralgia involving the right maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve: a case report and review of literature.J Clin Diagn Res. 2017;11(1):ZD40-ZD42. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/22590.9237Hayderi LE, Nikkels-Tassoudji N, Nikkels AF.Hair loss after varicella zoster virus infection.Case Rep Dermatol. 2013;5(1):43-47. doi:10.1159/000348648American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: Diagnosis and Treatment.Han Y, Zhang J, Chen N, He L, Zhou M, Zhu C.Corticosteroids for preventing postherpetic neuralgia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(3):CD005582. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005582.pub4American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 Things to Know Before Having Laser Treatment for Your Scar.All About Vision.Eye Shingles: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles facts and stats.

National Institute on Aging.5 things you need to know about shingles.

National Institute on Aging.Shingles.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Clinical overview of shingles (herpes zoster).

Mount Sinai.Shingles.

Barshak M. Harvard Medical School.Shingles of the Eye Can Cause Lasting Vision Impairment.

Tran KD, Falcone MM, Choi DS, et al.Epidemiology of herpes zoster ophthalmicus: recurrence and chronicity.Ophthalmology. 2016;123(7):1469-1475. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.03.005

Gao H, Xu J, Cheng S, Chen J.Case of auricular herpes zoster associated with contralateral facial paralysis.J Dermatol. 2016;43(1):110-1. doi:10.1111/1346-8138.13144

National Organization of Rare Disorders.Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.

Hagiya H, Nakagami F, Isomura E.Oral shingles.BMJ Case ReportsCP. 2018;11:e228383. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-228383

Monsanto RD, Bittencourt AG, Bobato Neto NJ, et al.Treatment and prognosis of facial palsy on Ramsay Hunt syndrome: results based on a review of the literature. Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2016;20(4):394-400. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1584267

Forbes HJ, Bhaskaran K, Thomas SL, et al.Quantification of risk factors for postherpetic neuralgia in herpes zoster patients: a cohort study.Neurology. 2016;87(1):94-102. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000002808

Francis M, Subramanian K, Sankari SL, et. al.Herpes zoster with post herpetic neuralgia involving the right maxillary branch of trigeminal nerve: a case report and review of literature.J Clin Diagn Res. 2017;11(1):ZD40-ZD42. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2017/22590.9237

Hayderi LE, Nikkels-Tassoudji N, Nikkels AF.Hair loss after varicella zoster virus infection.Case Rep Dermatol. 2013;5(1):43-47. doi:10.1159/000348648

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Shingles: Diagnosis and Treatment.

Han Y, Zhang J, Chen N, He L, Zhou M, Zhu C.Corticosteroids for preventing postherpetic neuralgia.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(3):CD005582. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005582.pub4

American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 Things to Know Before Having Laser Treatment for Your Scar.

All About Vision.Eye Shingles: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Shingles facts and stats.

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