02/07/2026
Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox.
After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays dormant in nerve cells and can reactivate years later as shingles.
Symptoms
Early signs (1–4 days before rash): burning, tingling, itching, or stabbing pain in a localized area
Rash: usually appears on one side of the body or face, often as a stripe or band
Blisters: fluid-filled, scab over in 7–10 days, clear in 2–4 weeks
Pain: can be severe, sometimes lasting long after rash heals (postherpetic neuralgia)
Other symptoms: fever, headache, fatigue
Risk factors
Age (most common after 50+)
Weakened immune system (HIV, cancer treatment, organ transplant, chronic illness)
Stress or trauma
If you get shingles after being vaccinated, the symptoms can be much milder.
The vaccine also helps reduce your risk of getting shingles.
You can get shingles more than once, so it's important to get vaccinated even if you've had shingles before.
The shingles vaccine is available on the NHS for:
people who turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023
people aged 70 to 79 who have not yet been vaccinated
people aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system
Go to www.wirraltravelclinic.co.uk to book a consultation.
