Shingles guide

Shingles treatment online in Virginia and West Virginia

This guide is for early, localized shingles that started within the last few days, not for a rash near the eye, facial weakness, widespread illness, or shingles in someone with a weakened immune system.

Start online

Start a $59 online review for Shingles (herpes zoster).

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus that causes a painful, usually one-sided band of blisters. Antiviral medicine works best when started within about 72 hours of the rash appearing, which makes fast online care useful for a clear, early, localized case. A rash near or around the eye, new facial weakness, widespread disease, or shingles in someone immunocompromised needs in-person care.

If treatment is appropriate, your physician can send a non-controlled prescription to your pharmacy and provide portal instructions for the next step.

Start this visit See response times

Quick facts

You must be physically located in Virginia or West Virginia at the time of request.
Starts at $59
No insurance needed
No app download
Physician review around the clock
Non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy when appropriate
A work or school note can be included when medically appropriate
Response times apply 24/7, every day

Common symptoms

A painful, burning, or tingling one-sided band of rash
Grouped small blisters on red skin
Pain, itch, or tingling that started before the rash
Usually on the chest, back, abdomen, or one side of the face

May fit online care

Adults & children 4+ (with a parent or legal guardian)
A painful one-sided rash that started within the last 72 hours
No rash near the eye or on the tip of the nose
No facial weakness, ear, or vision symptoms
Able to send a clear photo

Look for another care setting

Rash near or around the eye or on the tip of the nose
Facial drooping, ear pain, or hearing or balance changes
A widespread rash or feeling severely ill
A weakened immune system
Rash that started more than 72 hours ago with no new blisters

What to have ready

A clear, well-lit photo of the rash
When the pain and the rash first started
Where on the body it is and whether it is one-sided
Medication allergies and current medications, and whether you could be pregnant

What happens next

Standard

$59

Within 6 hours

Priority

$99

Within 3 hours

Rush

$149

Within 1 hour

Start the request on the website, answer a few questions to check that this visit fits you, and choose how fast you want an answer (the response window). If your concern still fits this service, a physician reviews it and sends you a secure update after you sign in. When appropriate, non-controlled prescriptions can be sent to your pharmacy, and a basic work or school note can be included at physician discretion.

Your physician

Every visit is personally reviewed by Ankur Fadia, MD. He is board-certified, has extra training in heart care (a cardiology fellowship), and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, a medical honor society. He is licensed in Virginia and West Virginia, and your care is never handed off to someone else.

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Why does it matter how fast I start treatment?

Antiviral medicine for shingles (medicine that fights the virus) works best when started within about 72 hours of the rash appearing. Starting early can shorten the outbreak and may lower the risk of lingering nerve pain (nerve pain that lasts a long time). That is why quick online care can help for an early, clear case.

When can shingles not be treated online?

A rash near the eye or on the tip of the nose, new weakness in the face or ear symptoms, a widespread rash (over a large area), or shingles in someone with a weakened immune system needs in-person care, because of the risk to the eye, the nerves, or the whole body.

Is shingles contagious?

You cannot give someone shingles, but the fluid in the blisters can cause chickenpox in a person who has never had chickenpox or the vaccine. Keep the rash covered until it crusts over.

Other conditions we treat

Not quite what you have? Here are other conditions we treat.

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