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Suspect that you have shingles? -- select category -- Acne Aging Skin Allergies Baby Skin Care Cold Sores Cosmetics Dry Skin Eczema First Aid Fungal Infections General Health General Skin Care Hair Care Nail Care Psoriasis Rosacea Shaving Shingles Skin Cancer Skin Cleansing Skin Rashes Sun Care Sweating Warts See your doctor right away. Shingles (post-herpetic neuralgia) is a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus (varicella-zoster virus), the same virus that causes chickenpox. In healthy younger individuals, the chickenpox virus remains in a dormant state, but as we age and our immune systems become weaker, the virus becomes active again in about 1 in 5 people. One of the first signs of shingles is burning pain or sensitive skin on one side of the body in a band (following the path of a nerve). Other sensations can include tingling, itching and intense pain. Several days after, a red blistering rash commonly develops that can leave permanent scarring. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Early diagnosis combined with antiviral therapy can limit the severity of the pain and accompanying symptoms.