Tingling shingles.

So I was at RITM yesterday, and it's confirmed that I have Herpes Zoster or 'Shingles'.

Herpes Zoster is caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. After talking to doctors and doing my own research, I learned that after chicken pox is healed, the virus is never fully eliminated from the body. It hides in nerve cells and enters a latent state, and only reactivates when the person is immunocompromised, such as when taking immune suppressants, going through psychological stress, or when having immune system disorders like HIV.

Since the virus is the same as chicken pox, it is contagious to those who never had chicken pox before, or to those whose immune systems are compromised (if you have shingles, stay away from children, pregnant women, elderly persons, or any persons with weak immune system.) Shingles cannot be transferred to persons with a healthy immune sytem who already have had chicken pox before.

According to doctors, it takes 2-3 weeks for shingle blisters to heal. But the pain could remain for up to six months.

Wikipedia - Herpes Zoster