I have been applying salt water compresses to my mothers shingles rash.  What are the chances of getting shingles myself?   I had chickenpox in my childhood.  Should I get the shingles vaccine.    Will rinsing my hands in peroxide prevent the spread?
Hi, Shingles are basically reactivation of chickenpox virus, anyone who had chickenpox may develop shingles. Shingles are contagious but less so than the chickenpox, but It's important to note that the varicella virus (chickenpox virus) is contagious not the shingles. That means direct contact with shingles blisters, would cause chickenpox in someone who has never been infected with the virus or someone who never been vaccinated against chickenpox. In simple words shingle cause chickenpox in close contacts and shingles never cause shingles in close contacts. Coming to your case, since you had chickenpox in childhood you are immune to virus, and you never develop chickenpox virus, and you can safely take care of your mother. Since you have chickenpox in the childhood you may develop shingles in adulthood, and it can be prevented by vaccination. So it's better to take vaccine. Rinsing your hands will definitely decrease the chance of contamination to others, so you should maintain good hand hygiene by frequently washing both hands.Finally, one more thing, once the blisters scab, shingles are no longer contagious. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.