Before the rash starts, you may develop a burning sensation, itchiness, or tingling on one side of the body, often on the trunk. You may also develop:

•a headache

•sensitivity to light

•general fatigue

When the rash starts, you may notice pink or red blotchy patches on one side of your body along nerve pathways.

These are not contagious yet, but fluid-filled blisters like chickenpox soon develop, possibly accompanied by itching. In most cases, the blisters appear over a localized area, but widespread blistering is possible.

Blisters usually appear on the face and torso but can occur elsewhere. In rare cases, there’s no rash.

Once a rash starts, it’s important to consult your doctor within 3 days. In the first 3 days, they can prescribe an antiviral, which can help speed up recovery and lower symptom severity.

The varicella-zoster virus causes shingles. If you had chickenpox as a child or got the chickenpox vaccine, you can develop shingles at some point in your life. However, you have a lower risk of developing shingles if you’ve received the vaccine.

The exact reason why the virus resurfaces is still not fully understood. But as you age and your defense against the virus decreases, you may become more susceptible. The chance of developing shingles and related complications increases drastically at age 50 years.