Shingles is more common than many people realise – and recognising the early signs matters. According to researchers at the University of Bristol, around 30% of people will develop shingles at some point in their lives, yet 'many people have a limited understanding of the disease until they face it …
Shingles is more common than many people realise – and recognising the early signs matters.
According to researchers at the University of Bristol, around 30% of people will develop shingles at some point in their lives, yet 'many people have a limited understanding of the disease until they face it themselves'.
In a study involving people who had developed shingles, researchers found that while public awareness campaigns around vaccination helped some recognise the condition early, many did not initially realise their rash could be shingles.
And with women found to have 38% higher odds of developing shingles, it's worth knowing the symptoms, risk factors and treatment window.
What is shingles?
'Shingles is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which remains dormant in your nerves for years after the initial infection – it's not a new infection caught from someone else,' explains Dr Penny Sheehan, a GP at Medical Express Clinic.
'When something lowers your immune defences, the virus can reactivate, usually causing a painful, blistering rash on one side of the body in a stripe-like pattern.'
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Your risk increases with age, but Dr Sheehan says other factors can include stress, illness and anything that suppresses the immune system, such as chemotherapy, steroids, autoimmune conditions or HIV.
Although age is a major risk factor, shingles can affect younger adults too. One 2019 study found that in the US, incidence among adults aged roughly 35 to 55 continued to rise between 1998 and 2016, while increases among older adults slowed.
Can you catch shingles?
You can't 'catch' shingles from someone else in the usual sense.
However, Dr Sheehan explains that 'a person with shingles can pass the virus to someone who has never had chickenpox if they come into direct contact with open blisters'.
That person could then develop chickenpox, rather than shingles.
Why are women more likely to develop shingles?
'We see this [increased likelihood] consistently in the data, but we do not have one clear explanation,' says Dr Sheehan.
Possible reasons, she adds, include:
- Women are more likely to develop autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, which can increase shingles risk
- Hormonal changes around menopause may influence immune function
- Women may be more likely to seek medical help when something hurts, meaning cases are identified more often
Dr Sheehan also advises taking recovery seriously if you're training hard and feeling run down.
'Marathon runners and overtrained athletes can experience a short-lived dip in immune function after very demanding sessions, and there have been case reports of shingles following heavy training blocks.'
Symptoms of shingles women should know
'The classic presentation is burning or tingling pain on one side of the body, followed within a few days by a red, blistering rash in the same area,' says Dr Sheehan.
'However, it can begin more subtly, with symptoms such as headache, fatigue, flu-like feelings or sharp pain before any rash appears.'
It's especially important to act quickly if you think the eye may be involved.
'Watch for pain on one side of the face, eye pain, redness or blurred vision. These symptoms can indicate shingles affecting the eye – which can be very serious – and require urgent assessment. A rash on the tip of the nose can also be a warning sign of eye involvement.'
Some people also experience pain that continues after the rash has cleared.
'This is known as post-herpetic neuralgia, and it's one reason to seek medical advice and begin treatment as soon as possible if you have any concerns,' says Dr Sheehan.
Why early treatment matters
The sooner shingles is identified, the better the chances of limiting its severity and complications.
'Antiviral tablets work best when started within 72 hours of the rash appearing – they can shorten the illness, reduce its severity and lower the risk of complications, including long-term nerve pain and eye damage,' says Dr Sheehan.
'If you wait a week because you hope it will pass, you may miss the most effective treatment window.'
'Don't ignore a one-sided rash or unexplained burning pain,' she adds.
A same-day medical review is appropriate for suspected shingles, particularly within the first 72 hours. Prompt help is also important if you're immunosuppressed or pregnant, if the rash is widespread, or if the pain is severe and difficult to control.
How to reduce your risk of shingles
'The most effective step is vaccination,' says Dr Sheehan.
On the NHS, the Shingrix vaccine is offered to adults turning 65, people aged 70–79 and severely immunosuppressed people aged 18 and over.
Beyond vaccination, Dr Sheehan recommends:
- Managing stress where possible
- Getting enough sleep
- Managing chronic health conditions
- Avoiding overtraining when you're run down
'But you cannot eliminate the risk entirely,' she says. 'Around one in three people will develop shingles during their lifetime, but vaccination is the measure that can meaningfully reduce those odds.'
The key thing she wants women to know?
'Shingles is not only an older person's condition – it can also affect women in their 30s and 40s; often at times when life is busy, sleep is poor or the immune system is under strain because of stress or other health conditions.'
'Know the early signs, act quickly and check your vaccination status. Shingles can be miserable, but prompt treatment and prevention can make a genuine difference.'
Hannah Bradfield is a Senior Health and Fitness Writer for Women's Health UK. An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Hannah graduated from Loughborough University with a BA in English and Sport Science and an MA in Media and Cultural Analysis. She has been covering sports, health and fitness for the last five years and has created content for outlets including BBC Sport, BBC Sounds, Runner's World and Stylist. She especially enjoys interviewing those working within the community to improve access to sport, exercise and wellness. Hannah is a 2024 John Schofield Trust Fellow and was also named a 2022 Rising Star in Journalism by The Printing Charity. A keen runner, Hannah was firmly a sprinter growing up (also dabbling in long jump) but has since transitioned to longer-distance running. While 10K is her favoured race distance, she loves running or volunteering at parkrun every Saturday, followed, of course, by pastries. She's always looking for fun new runs and races to do and brunch spots to try.
