shingles is contagious and can be spread from an affected person to babies children or adults who have not had chickenpox. but instead of developing shingles these people develop chickenpox. once they have had chickenpox people cannot catch shingles (or contract the virus) from someone else. once infected however people have the potential to develop shingles later in life. shingles is contagious to people who have not previously had chickenpox as long as there are new blisters forming and old blisters healing. similar to chickenpox the time prior to healing or crusting of the blisters is the contagious stage of shingles. once all of the blisters are crusted over the virus can no longer be spread and the contagious period is over.
is shingles contagious?