Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus goes dormant in your nerve cells. When the virus reactivates, it can travel along a nerve to the skin, causing shingles.
Shingles can occur years after you have had chickenpox. The risk of developing shingles increases as you get older. Other factors that can increase your risk of shingles include having a weakened immune system due to: chronic illness, cancer, stress, and taking certain medications.
In this article, we will discuss the causes of shingles, the risk factors, and the complications that can occur.
What Causes Shingles
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox.
- Reactivation of dormant virus
- Spreads through nerve pathways
- Risk increases with age
- Weakened immune system
- Certain medical conditions
- Stress
- Certain medications
Shingles can cause painful blisters and other complications. If you think you may have shingles, it's important to see a doctor right away.
Reactivation of dormant virus
The varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, can lie dormant in your nerve cells for many years after you recover from chickenpox. It is not entirely understood what causes the virus to reactivate, but several factors are thought to play a role, including:
- Aging: The risk of shingles increases as you get older. This is because your immune system weakens with age, making it less able to keep the virus in check.
- Weakened immune system: People with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop shingles. This includes people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or who are taking certain medications that suppress the immune system.
- Stress: Severe stress can also trigger a shingles outbreak.
- Certain medical conditions: Some medical conditions, such as lupus and diabetes, can increase your risk of shingles.
When the virus reactivates, it travels along the nerve fibers to the skin, where it causes a painful rash and blisters. Shingles can occur anywhere on the body, but it most commonly affects the torso, back, and face.
In most cases, shingles is a self-limited disease, meaning that it will eventually clear up on its own. However, it can be very painful and lead to complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia, which is a chronic pain condition that can last for months or even years after the shingles rash has healed.
If you think you may have shingles, it's important to see a doctor right away. Early treatment can help to reduce the severity of the rash and the risk of complications.
Spreads through nerve pathways
The varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles, is a neurotropic virus, meaning that it has a particular affinity for nerve tissue. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus can travel along the sensory nerves to the dorsal root ganglia, which are clusters of nerve cells located in the spinal cord. The virus can then remain dormant in these ganglia for many years.
When the virus reactivates, it travels back along the sensory nerves to the skin, where it causes a painful rash and blisters. The rash typically follows a dermatomal distribution, meaning that it affects the area of skin that is supplied by a single sensory nerve. This is why shingles often appears as a band or stripe of blisters on one side of the body.
The rash can be very painful, and it can also cause other symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, and fatigue. In some cases, shingles can also lead to complications, such as postherpetic neuralgia, which is a chronic pain condition that can last for months or even years after the shingles rash has healed.
There is no cure for shingles, but there are treatments that can help to reduce the severity of the rash and the risk of complications. If you think you may have shingles, it's important to see a doctor right away.
Shingles can be a serious condition, but it is important to remember that it is usually self-limited and will eventually clear up on its own. However, early treatment can help to reduce the severity of the rash and the risk of complications.
Risk increases with age
The risk of developing shingles increases as you get older. This is because your immune system weakens with age, making it less able to keep the varicella-zoster virus in check.
- 50 years and older: The risk of shingles starts to increase after age 50.
- 60 years and older: The risk of shingles is highest in people over the age of 60.
- 80 years and older: People over the age of 80 are at the highest risk of developing shingles.
- Weakened immune system: People with weakened immune systems, regardless of age, are also at increased risk of developing shingles. This includes people with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or who are taking certain medications that suppress the immune system.
If you are over the age of 50, it is important to talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. The shingles vaccine is safe and effective in preventing shingles and its complications. If you have already had shingles, you can still get the vaccine to help reduce your risk of getting shingles again.
Weakened immune system
A weakened immune system can increase your risk of developing shingles. This is because a weakened immune system is less able to keep the varicella-zoster virus in check.
- HIV/AIDS: People with HIV/AIDS have a weakened immune system, which makes them more likely to develop shingles.
- Cancer: People with cancer are also at increased risk of developing shingles. This is because cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can weaken the immune system.
- Medications: Certain medications, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, can also weaken the immune system and increase the risk of shingles.
- Other conditions: Other conditions that can weaken the immune system and increase the risk of shingles include lupus, diabetes, and kidney disease.
If you have a weakened immune system, it is important to talk to your doctor about getting the shingles vaccine. The shingles vaccine is safe and effective in preventing shingles and its complications. If you have already had shingles, you can still get the vaccine to help reduce your risk of getting shingles again.
Certain medical conditions
Certain medical conditions can increase your risk of developing shingles. These conditions include:
- HIV/AIDS: People with HIV/AIDS have a weakened immune system, which makes them more likely to develop shingles.
- Cancer: People with cancer are also at increased risk of developing shingles. This is because cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, can weaken the immune system.
- Lupus: Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation throughout the body, including in the skin. People with lupus are at increased risk of developing shingles because the inflammation can damage the nerves and make them more susceptible to infection by the varicella-zoster virus.
- Diabetes: People with diabetes are also at increased risk of developing shingles. This is because diabetes can damage the nerves and make them more susceptible to infection.
- Kidney disease: People with kidney disease are also at increased risk of developing shingles. This is because kidney disease can weaken the immune system and make it less able to fight off infection.
If you have any of these medical conditions, it is important to talk to your doctor about your risk of developing shingles and about getting the shingles vaccine. The shingles vaccine is safe and effective in preventing shingles and its complications.
It is also important to note that certain medications can also increase your risk of developing shingles. These medications include corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and certain chemotherapy drugs. If you are taking any of these medications, talk to your doctor about your risk of developing shingles and about getting the shingles vaccine.
Stress
Stress can be a trigger for shingles outbreaks. When you are stressed, your body produces hormones like cortisol, which can suppress the immune system. This can make it more difficult for your body to fight off the varicella-zoster virus, which can lead to a shingles outbreak.
- Major life events: Major life events, such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a job loss, can all trigger a shingles outbreak.
- Chronic stress: Chronic stress, such as dealing with a difficult job, financial problems, or relationship issues, can also trigger a shingles outbreak.
- Physical stress: Physical stress, such as surgery, an accident, or a serious illness, can also trigger a shingles outbreak.
- Emotional stress: Emotional stress, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can also trigger a shingles outbreak.
If you are experiencing stress, there are a number of things you can do to help manage your stress levels and reduce your risk of a shingles outbreak. These include:
- Getting regular exercise
- Eating a healthy diet
- Getting enough sleep
- Practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation
- Talking to a therapist or counselor about your stress
If you have a history of shingles, it is important to be aware of the things that can trigger an outbreak and to take steps to manage your stress levels.