Understanding shingles

Understanding shingles

General Healthcare

  5 Minutes

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is more than just a skin rash; it’s a painful reminder of a childhood illness that can resurface later in life. This viral infection is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus responsible for chickenpox.
After you have had chickenpox, the virus doesn’t leave your body; instead, it lies dormant in your nervous system. For reasons not fully understood, it can reactivate years later, leading to shingles. The result is a painful rash that typically appears as a band of blisters on one side of the body, commonly around the torso or face.

What does shingles look and feel like?

The shingles rash usually begins with a burning or tingling sensation in a specific area, followed by the appearance of red patches. Within a few days, these patches develop into fluid-filled blisters that can be quite painful. The blisters often burst and crust over, typically healing within two to four weeks. The rash usually follows a dermatomal pattern, meaning it appears along the pathway of a single nerve, often resembling a stripe or belt-like formation. While it most commonly affects the torso, shingles can also appear on the face, neck, or other areas of the body. In rare cases, it can cause widespread rashes that resemble chickenpox.

Other common symptoms include:

  • Burning or tingling sensation in the affected area before the rash appears.
  • Sensitivity to touch and itching.
  • Fever, headache, and fatigue.
  • Chills and upset stomach.

While most cases of shingles resolve within 2-4 weeks, some people may experience complications. The most common complication is post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). PHN occurs when the damaged nerves continue to send pain signals to the brain, even after the rash has cleared. This causes severe, debilitating pain that can last for months or even years after the initial shingles outbreak.

If the shingles rash appears on the face, it can lead to eye pain, redness, swelling, sensitivity to light, blurred vision and temporary or permanent vision loss.

In rare cases, shingles can lead to neurological complications, such as Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which causes facial paralysis and hearing loss; Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or Myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord).

What causes shingles to reactivate?

What causes shingles to reactivate?

Shingles can affect anyone who has had chickenpox, but certain people are more susceptible. The exact reasons why the varicella-zoster virus reawakens are still not entirely clear. Several factors are, however, believed to contribute to this reactivation:

Age: The risk of developing shingles increases significantly with age. Most cases occur in people over 50, as the immune system tends to weaken over time.
Weakened immune system: Conditions that compromise the immune system, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, or autoimmune diseases, can trigger the virus to reactivate. Treatments like chemotherapy or long-term use of immunosuppressive medications can increase the chances of a flare-up.
Illness: Any illness that puts stress on the body can trigger an outbreak of shingles. This includes infections, chronic diseases, or even a simple cold.
Gender: Some studies suggest that women may have a slightly higher risk of developing shingles compared to men.
Family history: A family history of shingles may also increase a person’s risk.

The role of stress, trauma, and illness

High levels of physical or emotional stress can weaken the immune response, making it easier for the virus to reactivate. Significant life events, such as the loss of a loved one or major surgery, can also serve as triggers.

Trauma, whether physical or emotional, can also play a role in triggering shingles. For example, an injury to the skin or a major life change can set off the reactivation of the virus. Illnesses that compromise the immune system, such as cancer or diabetes, can also increase the likelihood of developing shingles. The body’s defences are lowered, making it easier for the virus to emerge from its dormant state.

How to prevent and treat shingles naturally

Strengthening your immune system is a vital part of preventing shingles from flaring up. To support your immune system we recommend:

A.Vogel Echinaforce 120tabs A.Vogel Echinaforce: Echinaforce is backed by numerous clinical and scientific studies which show it helps strengthen the immune system. The Echinaforce Forte variant is a three times concentrated variant of Echinaforce, which makes it ideal for people who need a little extra immune support. People in this group include those who are stressed, sleep deprived, the elderly, athletes and smokers.
Bio-Strath Bio-Strath: More than just a supplement for exam time, this 100% natural supplement contains 61 of the 100 nutrients your body needs daily to function at its best (vitamins, amino acids, building substances, minerals and trace elements). Bio-Strath strengthens and supports the immune system, reduces fatigue and stress and helps to increase vitality.

If you are looking for signs that your immune system is weak, we recommend reading this article. In this article, we explore six signs that your immune system needs support and give six ways to strengthen your immune function.

If you are suffering from shingles, we recommend seeing a homeopathic doctor. They can give potent homeopathic remedies to address the problem in the acute phase.

You can further support your recovery with these products:

Pegasus anti-virabac 200c Pegasus anti-virabac 200c: A homeopathic antibiotic for use in viral and bacterial infections, best used at the earliest stage of infection. Pegasus anti-virabac 200c is safe for use in penicillin-allergic individuals.
THRESHHold® Real MSM GEL 100ml THRESHHold Real MSM Gel: A topical treatment to help with the pain and discomfort of shingles. To assist with the temporary relief of pain, swelling, redness, discomfort and reduced mobility of soft tissue and joints.
THRESHHold® Tablets THRESHHold Real MSM Tablets: High doses of THRESHHold tabs will help clear the inflammation in nerves caused by the virus, whether in the early stages of shingles or if the pain has been present for months.
A.Vogel St John’s Tissue Oil 100ml A.Vogel St John’s Tissue Oil: A topical herbal tissue oil containing extracts of St John’s Wort to moisturise, protect, soften and restore skin. St John’s Wort is traditionally used to treat conditions resulting from injury and nerve inflammation, which cause hypersensitivity and pain.

Shingles is a painful condition that can significantly affect your quality of life, particularly for people with weakened immune systems. Understanding the triggers – such as stress, trauma, and illness – can help you take proactive measures to reduce your risk.

Did you know? If you suffering from shingles and have blisters, you must avoid contact with people who have not had chickenpox. Shingles and chickenpox are caused by the same virus, which means a person who has not had chickenpox could catch it from someone with shingles!

References and additional reading:

  1. About shingles (herpes zoster) (no date) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/about/index.html
  2. Post-herpetic neuralgia (no date) NHS choices. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/post-herpetic-neuralgia/
  3. Ramsay Hunt Syndrome: Symptoms, causes, and recovery (no date) Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/ramsay-hunt-syndrome
  4. Shingles (2023) healthdirect. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/shingles
  5. Shingles (no date) Mayo Clinic. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/shingles/symptoms-causes/syc-20353054
  6. Shingles: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention (no date) Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/shingles

  Listen to the podcast here: Shingles