What department should I go to for shingles?

Written by Cui Lin Jing
Dermatology
Updated on May 28, 2025
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Herpes zoster should be treated in dermatology, and patients should visit the dermatology department. Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is an acute vesicular skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is particularly common in the spring and autumn seasons. It mostly affects adults and is even more prevalent among the elderly. Before the rash appears, there may be varying degrees of prodromal symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite. Neuralgia is a characteristic of the disease, and pain can occur before or after the eruption of the rash. The rash follows the distribution of cutaneous nerves, with the most common areas being the intercostal nerves, cervical nerves, trigeminal nerves, and sacral nerves. The rash is usually unilateral and does not typically cross the midline of the body. The duration of herpes zoster is about two to four weeks for recovery, and generally, it does not recur after healing. However, some elderly and frail patients may suffer from chronic pain as a sequelae, so timely medical consultation is important.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Can I eat chicken with herpes zoster?

People with shingles can eat chicken. Shingles is a contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, often occurring in patients with low immunity. The onset of shingles is not directly related to diet. After contracting shingles, it is recommended to rest and eat protein-rich foods such as chicken to enhance the body's resistance, which is beneficial for the recovery of the disease. This provides the necessary nutrients to complement the medical treatment of shingles.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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What is shingles called

Shingles is a form of chickenpox caused by the herpes zoster virus infection. It has many colloquial names, such as waist-bound fire rash, serpent sores, dragon around the waist, spider sores, and several others related to serpentine and fiery descriptions, all of which are folk names for shingles. Shingles occur due to the reactivation of the virus that lies dormant in the body. This virus enters through the respiratory tract mucosa into the blood, causing the infection.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Does shingles leave scars?

After shingles heal, in most cases, there are no scars left. Shingles typically cause symptoms such as blisters or rashes on the skin, which are mostly located in the epidermal layer of the skin and do not infect below the dermis. Therefore, once these blisters heal, they only scab over on the epidermal layer. After the scab falls off, the original skin regrows without any scarring. However, if the patient is prone to scarring, they are generally left with scars.

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Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
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How long will shingles take to heal?

Shingles, which generally takes two to three weeks to heal, is a skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus infection. It usually occurs when the body’s immune system is weakened, manifesting as blisters along the path governed by skin nerves. The blisters are a self-limiting disease and can heal on their own, but some individuals may experience severe symptoms and significant pain, requiring treatment with medication under a doctor's guidance. If the person is young with strong physical health and resistance, recovery typically takes about two weeks. However, for elderly individuals with poorer health, weaker immune systems, and underlying diseases, recovery may take three weeks or longer.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Does shingles recur?

Shingles can recur. It is a disease mostly caused by the infection of the skin with the herpes zoster virus, and it is closely related to the body's resistance and immunity. The virus resides within the body, and the disease does not manifest when resistance and immunity are high. However, when the body's resistance and immunity are low, it can cause a recurrence of shingles, leading to corresponding clinical symptoms.