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“Shingles? There were
these terrible blisters.
I really struggled to sleep.”*

Patient portrayal.

*Inspired by real patient stories. Shingles pain can last weeks or even months. Shingles symptoms may vary among patients.1

Don’t underestimate the complications of shingles1

You may recognise shingles as a painful, itchy, blistering rash that erupts on the torso. While this rash usually heals within 4 weeks, shingles can be excruciatingly painful, and you could experience complications that can result in pain for months or even years after the rash heals.1

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Long-term nerve pain

Postherpetic neuralgia is nerve pain that persists for months or years after the shingles rash has healed.1 It’s the most common complication associated with shingles.2

 

Patients have previously described this pain as ‘horrible’ or ‘excruciating’.1 This can impact your mental health, with 2 in 3 patients who developed this pain reporting anxiety and depression.3*

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Shingles on the face

Shingles typically presents as a rash on the torso.1 However, its presentation can be unpredictable and appear on the face, in up to 25% of patients.1,4 This can lead to eye complications and even vision loss in rare cases.1

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Hearing impairment

Sometimes shingles can affect the nerves in your face and cause the face to become paralysed. This can also impact your hearing and balance.1

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Skin damage

Scarring and pigmentation changes can be permanent and can affect appearance and self-esteem.1,5

*Results found in a Chinese study. 69.0% of patients with long-term nerve pain (PHN) had anxiety (n/N=456/661) and 65.8% had depression (n/N=435/661).3

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imageone imgOneMobile

“Shingles? I thought I was too young. I was wrong. The pain made me want to rip my skin off. I really struggled to sleep. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”*

*Inspired by real patient stories. Shingles pain can last weeks or even months.
Shingles symptoms may vary among patients.1

Patient portrayal.

imagetwo imgTwoMobile

“Shingles? It was the worst experience of my life. There were these terrible blisters. It felt like my skin was on fire. I thought I was too young for shingles.”*

*Inspired by real patient stories. Shingles symptoms may vary among patients.1

Patient portrayal.

imagethree imgThreeMobile

“Shingles? I’ve never felt pain like it, and I’ve had three kids. Most days I didn’t leave the house.”*

*Inspired by real patient stories. Shingles pain can last weeks or even months.
Shingles symptoms may vary among patients.1

Patient portrayal.

imageFour imgFourMobile

“Shingles? I thought it was for older people. It really slowed my life down."*

*Inspired by real patient stories. Shingles pain can last weeks or even months.
Shingles symptoms may vary among patients.1

Patient portrayal.

imageFive imgFiveMobile

“Shingles? I had no idea someone healthy like me could get it. It was the worst experience of my life."*

*Inspired by real patient stories. Shingles pain can last weeks or even months.
Shingles symptoms may vary among patients.1

Patient portrayal.

imageSix imgSixMobile

“Shingles? There were these terrible blisters. I really struggled to sleep."*

*Inspired by real patient stories. Shingles pain can last weeks or even months.
Shingles symptoms may vary among patients.1

Patient portrayal.

All images across the webpage are patient portrayals.

Any information provided on this website should be discussed with a healthcare professional and does not replace a healthcare professional's advice.

For more information or for medical advice, please consult a healthcare professional.

References
  1. Harpaz R, Ortega-Sanchez IR, Seward JF. Prevention of herpes zoster: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep. 2008;57(RR-5):1–30.
  2. Kawai K, Gebremeskel BG, Acosta CJ. Systematic review of incidence and complications of herpes zoster: towards a global perspective. BMJ Open. 2014;4(6):e004833.
  3. Du J, Sun G, Ma H, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of anxiety and depression in patients with postherpetic neuralgia: a retrospective study. Dermatology. 2021;237(6):891–895.
  4. Weinke T, Edte A, Schmitt S, Lukas K. Impact of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia on patients’ quality of life: a patient-reported outcomes survey. Z Gesundh Wiss. 2010;18:367–374.
  5. Xue Q, Ji J, Fan WG, et al. Conditions and factors that raise the risk of developing skin lesions after shingles. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:2869–2878.