If you had chickenpox during childhood, you might assume you’re protected for life. However, there’s a hidden risk — the virus responsible for chickenpox can remain dormant in your body for years and later reactivate as shingles.

Unlike the mild rash from your youth, shingles often comes with severe pain and can lead to complications, especially when it affects the face or eyes.

1. What Is Shingles?

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral infection triggered by the reawakening of the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox.

Even after recovery from chickenpox, the virus doesn’t leave your body. Instead, it stays inactive in your nerve cells and may reactivate years later as shingles.

Shingles typically affects just one side of the body. Continues…