Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral disease caused by an initial infection of the varicella zoster virus—which also causes chickenpox. After a childhood (usually) bout of chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in the nerve ganglia only to reappear much later in life as a shingles outbreak. There is an effective live vaccine for shingles, with more yet to go through clinical shingles trials for eventual FDA approval.

Shingles is characterized by a painful skin rash. This red rash is identified by pustules that eventually pop and then heal. The rash throbs painfully and can be accompanied by debilitating discomfort. The irritation only usually lasts for a week, but causes significant physical distress. To be sure, an episode of shingles impacts daily life and habits very negatively.

What makes a correct shingles diagnoses so difficult is, as a skin outbreak, it can resemble a number of simple skin infections, including herpes simplex. And by the time a visual diagnosis is made, the disease is already at its most painful. At this point, topical ointments and nerve blockers can be effective in relieving most discomfort.

Shingles affects those over age sixty disproportionately, but is a threat to anyone who has had chickenpox and suffers from a compromised immune system. If you think you are at risk for shingles, check with your healthcare professional to see if you might be a good candidate for the shingles vaccine.