What is shingles?

Shingles is caused by a reactivation of chickenpox virus in the body, causing a painful blistering rash all over the body. Often those infected with shingles already have a compromised immune system either through an initial infection, stress or autoimmune disease.

The virus that causes shingles affects a nerve either near the eyes or along the middle of the abdomen, causing small blisters to form. These blisters are very painful and may burst and take some time to heal.

For anyone who is already unwell when they develop shingles, the pain may last for many months after the skin has healed, while the nerve recovers. The pain, described as sharp or burning, is very distressing and may start before the blisters can be seen.

Shop shingle treatment

What is the treatment for shingles?

Anyone who thinks they might have shingles must see their doctor immediately. Prompt antiviral treatment will reduce potential nerve damage and help to prevent the pain lasting for as long. Effective shingles treatments are available from your doctor and must be taken for the full course of treatment. You can call us and chat with one of our pharmacists who can help you establish whether you have shingles.

Contact our pharmacy

Get vaccinated for Shingles

It is recommended that everyone over the age of 50 receives a shingles vaccination. As we age the risk of reactivation of the chickenpox virus that many people had as children, decreases.

The shingles vaccine can help increase your immunity against the shingles virus and reduce the severity of shingles symptoms if you do become infected. In New Zealand the shingles vaccine (Zostavax) is free at age 65. It is recommended to receive two doses 2-6 months apart.

if you are immunosuppressed or immune deficient as the shingles vaccine may not be suitable for you. Chat with our community pharmacy team to see if the vaccine is suitable for you and explore any alternative options.

Book a shingles vaccination

How long can shingles last?

Once shingles has been diagnosed it is important to start taking pain relieving medicine straight away. Up to half of the people over 50 who develop shingles still live with the pain for up to a year after the visible signs of the shingles infection have gone.

You can talk to your community pharmacy team to see what long term support you can access if you are living with the pain of a shingles infection. Many pain relief medications are not recommended to take on a long term basis and can cause other health issues if used incorrectly.

There are specific post-viral pain relieving creams that are available at our pharmacy. These may help to relieve most of the pain, allowing you to ‘top up’ with oral medicines as needed.

Book a vaccination

Advice and support

As recommended by the Ministry of Health NZ, if you have shingles you much avoid contact with the following high risk groups until the rash has developed crusts:

• Pregnant women who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine
• Premature or low birth weight infants; and
• People with weakened immune systems, such as people receiving immunosuppressive medications or undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients and people living with HIV.

Our team is always available to talk to you about effective treatment and management of shingles symptoms. We can advise you with other products you may not have tried to help make your recovery from shingles easier.

Book a vaccination