But it may be due to lowered immunity to infections as you grow older.
But, not everyone who's had chickenpox will develop shingles.
After you recover from chickenpox, the virus enters your nervous system and lies dormant for years.Įventually, it may reactivate and travel along nerve pathways to your skin - producing shingles. Anyone who's had chickenpox may develop shingles. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus - the same virus that causes chickenpox. The shingles rash is associated with an inflammation of nerves beneath the skin. You or someone in your family has a weakened immune system (due to cancer, medications or chronic illness).You're 60 or older, because age significantly increases your risk of complications.If left untreated, this infection can lead to permanent eye damage. When to see a doctorĬontact your doctor promptly if you suspect shingles, but especially in the following situations: Sometimes the shingles rash occurs around one eye or on one side of the neck or face. Most commonly, the shingles rash develops as a stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or right side of your torso.
Some people experience shingles pain without ever developing the rash. Depending on the location of the pain, it can sometimes be mistaken for a symptom of problems affecting the heart, lungs or kidneys. Pain is usually the first symptom of shingles.