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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 Seek urgent medical advice if you develop shingles around your eyes.5

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Hearing impairment

Although uncommon, 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

While the shingles rash usually heals completely in most patients, permanent scarring and pigmentation changes can occur uncommonly which can affect appearance and self-esteem.1,6

*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

Don’t take the chance on shingles and its potential complications – talk to your healthcare professional for more information6

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Don’t let shingles put your life on hold

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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, which 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.

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. HSE advice on shingles Shingles: symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatments - HSE.ie last accessed August 2025.
  6. 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.