Shingles often begins with burning pain, tingling, sensitive skin, or fatigue before a painful rash appears. Many believe it only affects older adults, but anyone who has had chickenpox carries the dormant varicella-zoster virus, which can reactivate during stress, illness, or aging.
The rash usually appears on one side of the body along a nerve, and some people develop long-lasting nerve pain even after it heals. While shingles itself isn’t contagious, the virus can spread and cause chickenpox in unvaccinated people. Early treatment and vaccination can reduce the risk of severe symptoms and complications.
