Herpes simplex is a virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes. The main symptoms are clusters of infected blisters which most commonly form around the mouth or nose, on the vulva, vagina and cervix in women and on the penis in men. Shingles is a skin rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The virus responsible for these conditions is called the Varicella zoster virus. After an individual has chickenpox, this virus lives in the nervous system and is never cleared all the way from the body. Anyone that has had chickenpox is at risk for the development of shingles, although it occurs most commonly in people over the age of 60.

The herpes simplex virus can be transmitted from person to person through physical contact with the blisters. Then the virus remains in the nervous system but does not develop into blisters unless you are ill, undernourished, under stress or are exposed to extreme temperatures. Localized stress such as sunburn or friction can also trigger an outbreak.

The herpes virus that causes shingles and chickenpox is not the same as the herpes virus that causes genital herpes and herpes mouth sores. Shingles is medically termed Herpes zoster. Shingles is contagious. Shingles can be spread from an affected person to children or adults who have never had chickenpox. But usually instead of developing shingles, these people develop chickenpox. Once they have had chickenpox, people cannot catch shingles from someone else. Once infected, people have the potential to develop shingles later in life. Shingles is contagious to people that have not had chickenpox. As long as there are new blisters forming and old blisters healing it is contagious. Once all of the blisters are crusted over, the virus can no longer be spread.

Author Resource– Joseph Phillips – Health article author specializing in men’s health issues. The author currently writes for a U.S. online drugstore – http://www.viamedic.com

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