Am I at Risk of a Shingles Infection?
Skin ConditionsShingles

Are You at Risk of Shingles?

Are You at Risk of Shingles?
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Published on May 1, 2026
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Shingles is a painful, blistering rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus (also called herpes zoster), the same virus that causes chickenpox. It affects about 1 in 3 people in their lifetime.

After people recover from chickenpox, the virus lives dormant in the body’s nerves, and the virus can reactivate later in life to cause shingles, says Emily Hoffman, MD, an infectious disease specialist at New York University Langone Health in New York City.

“This typically presents as a burning or tingling pain followed by a stripe of blisters on one side of the body or face,” she says.

 “While many cases resolve without issues, shingles can lead to significant complications, most commonly postherpetic neuralgia, which is nerve pain persisting for months or even years after the rash heals.” Other long-term effects may include vision changes, hearing problems, and skin infection, she says.

Because of that, it’s helpful to know if you may be in a high-risk group, plus what you can do to reduce your chances of developing shingles.

Who’s at Risk of Shingles?

While anyone who’s had chickenpox can develop shingles, some groups of people are considered at higher risk due to other factors. Here’s who may be more likely to develop this condition.

Older Adults

Although young people are increasingly getting diagnosed with shingles, the highest-risk group is adults ages 50 and older, particularly those 60 and above, says Dr. Hoffman.

“The older you are, the higher the chance of shingles and of complications like long-lasting nerve pain,” she says. “Risk is even greater in older adults who also have weakened immune systems.”

Age is a top factor because the chickenpox vaccine wasn’t approved for use in the United States until 1995. Before that, chickenpox used to be very common, with more than four million cases annually.

That means that those born before routine vaccination are much more likely to have gotten chickenpox at some point and have it living dormant in their system as a result. In fact, more than 99 percent of Americans born before 1980 have had chickenpox, even if they don’t remember it.

Immunocompromised People

When the immune system is weakened in some way, that makes it more difficult to keep the dormant virus under control, says David Cutler, MD, a family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Because of that, any illness or condition that affects the immune system could put you at higher risk of shingles if you’ve had chickenpox in the past.

“HIV patients, cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy are at highest risk of developing shingles,” he says.

 Other diseases associated with an increased risk of shingles are autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, plus chronic conditions like diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular conditions, Dr. Cutler says.
Immunosuppressant medications are currently used for a range of conditions, and include corticosteroids (steroids), biologics, janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and others, he says. Even if you’re only on one for a short time, it could cause the once-dormant virus to reactivate.

People Under a Lot of Stress

Experiencing a high degree of physical or emotional stress can have a negative effect on the immune system, enough that it can become compromised, says Saira Shahab, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Episcopal Health Services in Far Rockaway, New York.

“Chronic illness or constantly being in high-stress situations can temporarily weaken immune defenses,” she says.

Although these individuals may not be as at risk of shingles as those with autoimmune diseases or on immunosuppressant medications, experiencing ongoing or traumatic stress can still be a risk factor for developing shingles, she says.

How to Prevent Shingles

Focusing on prevention is key for keeping shingles dormant, especially if you’re in a high-risk group. Hoffman says that the best strategies involve maintaining a healthy immune system through quality sleep, healthy eating, management of chronic conditions, and regular physical activity.

Most important, she says, is to get vaccinated with the recombinant zoster vaccine (Shingrix), which is a two-dose vaccine series that’s been shown to be more than 90 percent effective at preventing shingles, long-term nerve pain, and other complications in adults over age 50. It’s also recommended for immunocompromised adults ages 19 and over.

Even if you’ve been vaccinated, it’s important to seek early treatment if you suspect you have shingles, she says. That’s because antiviral medications started within 72 hours of the rash’s appearance can reduce illness duration, severity, and risk of complications. Reducing how long shingles active is also important for reducing the risk of infecting others with the varicella-zoster virus.

“Keep in mind that even though shingles is far less contagious than chickenpox, it can still be transmitted,” Cutler says. “Patients with shingles are potentially infectious from the time tiny blisters appear until all have completely healed.”

If you have questions or concerns about your risk level, or whether a new rash is shingles, talk with your health provider sooner rather than later.

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EDITORIAL SOURCES
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Resources
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  3. Shingles: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. August 20, 2022.
  4. Cohen R et al. Age-Specific Risk of Herpes Zoster in Adults Aged ≥ 18 With Comorbid Conditions. Clinical Infectious Diseases. March 27, 2026.
  5. News and Views — Varicella After 25 Years of Chickenpox Vaccine: Test Yourself. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. June 21, 2023.
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  7. Xia J et al. Drug-Induced Herpes Zoster: A Pharmacovigilance Analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reports From 2004 to 2024. Frontiers in Pharmacology. March 25, 2025.
  8. Schmidt SAJ et al. Perceived Psychological Stress and Risk of Herpes Zoster. British Journal of Dermatology. July 1, 2021.
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