Can you have shingles without a rash?

According to Go Ask Alice, it is possible but rare to suffer from shingles without having the characteristic rash. The Mayo Clinic states that pain and burning symptoms usually begin several days before any visible skin rash appears.

Shingles results from the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you had chickenpox as a child, you may develop shingles later on in life, according to WebMD. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors do not know why shingles develop in some patients and not others. It is thought that people with overall weaker immune systems are more susceptible. The Mayo Clinic indicates that immune systems weaken with age, which is why so many older adults are diagnosed with shingles.