Can Sunburn Cause Shingles?
Shingles and Sunburns Shingles is a viral infection that results in a painful rash of blisters, which typically affects one side of the body. The virus that causes shingles is varicella zoster, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Once an individual has had chickenpox, the varicella zoster virus remains dormant in the central nervous system with no visible side effects. However, if something causes the virus to become active again, it results in shingles. One such cause that has been linked to shingles is a sunburn. Shingles Causes The exact mechanisms behind what triggers shingles is still a subject of debate. However, it is generally agreed that any form of skin trauma, including sunburn, is a potential cause for a shingles outbreak. Traditional burns or other injuries to the skin are other types of skin trauma related to shingles. Beyond skin trauma, emotional stress and factors that result in a weakened immune system (such as cancer or immunosuppressant medications) are other pot
