Columbia News

News of actor Harrison Ford withdrawing from the 2025 Oscars due to shingles has brought attention to this common condition. Shingles, which stems from the chickenpox virus, can affect adults long after their initial recovery. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three Americans will experience shingles during their lifetime.

Susan Rasmussen, a family nurse practitioner at Moberly Rural Health Clinic, explained that "shingles cause a blistering rash most often on either side of the torso." She noted that while the rash lasts two to four weeks, some individuals may continue to feel pain afterward.

Adults over 50 are more susceptible to shingles, though younger people who have had chickenpox can also develop it. Other risk factors include diseases like HIV/AIDS, undergoing radiation or chemotherapy, and certain medications.

The initial symptom is pain, which might be confused with other conditions depending on its location. A rash usually follows the pain but isn't always present. Other symptoms include burning sensations, sensitivity to touch, blisters, itching, fever, headache, light sensitivity, and fatigue.

Rasmussen advises seeing a healthcare provider if you have symptoms of shingles—especially if they involve eye pain or rash—or if you are over 70 or have a weakened immune system. Shingles is contagious; those without prior chickenpox exposure could contract chickenpox through direct contact with a shingles rash.

"There is no cure for shingles," Rasmussen stated. However, prescription drugs can hasten recovery and lower complication risks. She added that those aged 60 or older who have had chickenpox should consider vaccination against shingles.

Complications can arise without proper treatment; eye-related shingles may lead to infections and vision loss. Nerve damage causing persistent pain is another potential issue. Untreated blisters could become infected as well.