Shingles itself is not contagious and will not spread from person to person, but the virus that causes the infection (varicella-zoster virus) could potentially be spread to another person during the active rash and blistering phase if that person has never had chickenpox or been vaccinated against the virus previously. Most people have either had chickenpox at some point or have been vaccinated against the virus (typically sometime during their childhood). However, if you have no immunity against the virus and you interact with someone who has active blistering and a rash from shingles, the virus can be transmitted to you, causing you to get chickenpox, rather than shingles. Once you have had chickenpox; you may develop shingles at some point in the future. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Brooklyn NYC, Queens NY, East Harlem NYC, Manhattan NY, Coney Island NYC, Midwood NY, Nostrand NYC, Ridgewood NY, Metropolitan NYC, Staten Island, Greenwich Village NY, and surrounding areas.