When is shingles not infectious?

Shingles is not considered infectious once the rash has crusted over and all the blisters have dried up. This typically occurs about 7 to 10 days after the rash first appears. Until that point, the virus can be transmitted to individuals who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine, as they can contract chickenpox from shingles. It’s important to keep the rash covered to minimize the risk of spreading the virus until it is no longer active.