Shingles Contagious - Yes Or No?

Are shingles contagious? Yes and no. What is meant by that? You must read on to fully understand.
Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, Herpes zoster. After an individual has chicken pox, this virus lives near the nerves and is never fully cleared from the body. Certain circumstances, such as emotional stress, immune deficiency (such as from AIDs or chemotherapy), anyone taking immunosuppressive drugs, or with cancer, can reactivate the virus causing shingles. In most cases however, the cause for the reactivation of the virus is never found.

Shingles are contagious in certain circumstances. Shingles can be spread from the infected person to children or adults who have never had chickenpox. But, instead of developing shingles, the people who have not had chickenpox will develop chickenpox. Once these people have had chickenpox, they too have the potential to contract shingles later on in their lifetime.
Shingles are contagious when there are new blisters forming and old blisters healing. Once all the blisters have crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread.
Once a person has had chickenpox, they are no longer susceptible to another person who has shingles, in other words, they cannot catch the virus from someone else who is broken out with shingles blisters, whether they are crusted over or not.
Herpes Zoster affects some one million people a year, and usually appears after the age of 50, but can break out in adults of all ages. The virus remains dormant in nerve root cells, but may become active at anytime. Any person who has had chickenpox in childhood is at risk for shingles.
Some of the symptoms of shingles are blisters, painful rashes, and a feeling of burning pain. Skin can become very sensitive and painful to the touch. Topical products containing Emu Oil help ease the pain and itching as well as aiding in drying up the blisters.