Like shingles, scabies causes a skin rash.However, shingles is vaccine-preventable and not contagious.
Learn more about shingles and scabies, including symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention.
Overview
Shingles and scabies are both skin conditions that cause an itchy rash.
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However, they have different symptoms, causes, risk factors, and approaches to treatment and prevention.
What Is Shingles?
Shingles is a painful rash due to a reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox.
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What Is Scabies?
Scabies is an itchy skin rash triggered by infestation with theSarcoptes scabieimite.
It spreads through skin-to-skin contact.
Scabies is especially common in tropical climates and crowded configs, such as nursing homes and childcare facilities.
In extreme cases, scabies can lead to bacterial skin infections and kidney problems.
Older, disabled, and/or immunocompromised people have a significantly higher risk of getting crusted scabies.
Prevalence of Scabies
Estimates suggest that around 130 million people around the world are affected by scabies.
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Heres what to expect if you get either scabies or shingles.
Several days later, a red rash will appear in the painful patch, followed byblisters.
The fluid-filled blisters then scab over and form a crust within about seven to 10 days.
Othershingles symptomsmay include:
From start to finish, most cases of shingles last about two to four weeks.
Scabies
Scabies symptoms typically appearabout four to eight weeks after exposure.
The most prominent symptom of scabies is a pimple-like rash.
You may also notice small blisters and scale-like patches on the skin.
Learn more about how the two conditions are transmitted and who is more at risk of developing them.
If youve ever had chickenpox, it’s possible for you to get shingles later in life.
Most people only get shingles one time, but some people get it more than once.
The virus can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with the fluid from shingles blisters.
If you’ve had chickenpox, you won’t get shingles by contact with someone who has shingles.
Scabies is transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact, especially if its prolonged.
Anyone can get scabies.
People who frequently travel to areas of the world where scabies is more common also have an increased risk.
Your medical history can also provide clues about your risk factors for shingles.
Rarely, immunocompromised people may have herpes zoster without a typical rash.
Burrow marks are often a telltale sign of scabies.
Prevention
Shingles and related complications can be prevented through vaccination.
Meanwhile, scabies can only be prevented by avoiding direct contact with people who have it.
For most people,Shingrixis safe and effective.
Vacuum your floors and clean your furniture thoroughly.
Scabies is a condition that also causes an itchy skin rash.
It is due to infestation with a small mite.
Scabies is highly contagious.
Its 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.
There is no vaccine for scabies.
Shingles cant be cured, but antiviral medications may clear up your symptoms faster.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Scabies is a highly contagious condition.
Shingles often goes away by itself within several weeks.
However, untreated shingles may lead to complications like long-term nerve pain or, more rarely, vision loss.
Scabies typically needs to be treated with prescription medication.
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.
A shingles rash is often more painful than the rashes resulting from other conditions.
Shingles rashes also often appear in a band across only one side of the face or body.
Shingles can sometimes cause additional symptoms like fever, nausea, headache, and chills.
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