Francine Jones, a 39-year-old healthcare assistant from Hereford, experienced shingles earlier this year. She describes the pain as a 'lightning strike' – stabbing sensations in her torso every 10 minutes. 'It was a really sharp, intense pain, as if someone was giving me an electric shock … it took my breath away,' she says. The condition began with a pricking sensation under her bra, followed by a band of blisters from her stomach to her back. The blisters burned 'like someone was putting an iron on me,' and she avoided underwear for weeks. Intense itching followed, lasting five weeks, disrupting her sleep. 'It was like something was crawling all over me all the time,' she recalls.
Rising cases in younger adults
Jones's experience reflects a broader trend: shingles is increasingly common among adults aged 30 to 49. A 2019 US study found that shingles cases in this age group more than doubled between 1998 and 2017, outpacing older cohorts. While older adults still have higher overall rates, the sharpest increase is among younger people. Experts suggest stress, depression, and weakened immunity may be contributing factors. A 2023 study in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that adults aged 30 to 39 with conditions like asthma, diabetes, depression, or chronic stress had a higher risk of shingles than immunocompetent adults aged 50 to 59.
Why women are more affected
Women are 56% more likely than men to develop shingles across most age groups, likely due to differences in immune function. Dr. Jennifer Moffat, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at SUNY Upstate Medical University, notes that millennial women face unique pressures: 'They’re trying to earn, to care for their families, maintain homes. They have parents, small children. There’s so much pressure on women.' She points to declining general health, poor diet, lack of sleep, and high stress as potential triggers. Jones experienced acute personal stress before her shingles and acknowledges the cost of living and long working hours as ongoing stressors. She also exercised excessively, sometimes doing two gym classes a day, which studies suggest may increase shingles risk.
Missed diagnoses and complications
Shingles often presents with pain and tingling before a rash appears, but in some cases, no rash develops. Consultant dermatologist Dr. Adil Sheraz says early diagnosis is critical: antivirals are most effective within 72 hours of symptom onset. However, younger patients may be overlooked. 'I have seen it missed many times,' he says. Delayed treatment can lead to postherpetic neuralgia, persistent nerve pain lasting over 90 days, which occurs in about 20% of patients. Hayley, 42, from north Wales, suffered corneal scarring after her shingles was misdiagnosed as an infected salivary gland and later allergic conjunctivitis. An optician finally referred her to hospital, where shingles was diagnosed almost two months later.
Prevention and vaccination
The shingles vaccine is currently offered to adults over 65 in the UK and over 50 in the US, and to immunocompromised individuals aged 18 and over. Dr. Moffat would welcome vaccination at a younger age, noting that 'shingles is terrible, it’s painful, it’s disfiguring.' For now, maintaining good health – managing stress, eating well, sleeping enough, and avoiding over-exercise – is the best prevention for younger people. Jones now listens to her body and takes rest days when pain returns. 'I try to listen to my body now,' she says, and she no longer pushes herself at the gym on Sunday mornings.
