Ali Bennett Reveals She Has Shingles at 36 and Shares Her Symptoms

pregnant woman in yellow flower dress holding her belly

If you were following Ali Bennett’s Instagram towards the end of July, you might have noticed her concealing her left eye. On July 29th, she shared the reason behind it. In an Instagram update, the former reality star announced her shingles diagnosis, stating, “Well—I have shingles—at 36 years old.”

The “well” likely reflects the disbelief many feel when diagnosed with shingles, often considered an affliction of older adults typically impacting those aged 50 and above. Many, including myself at age 29, experience a mix of embarrassment and a sense of betrayal from our own bodies upon receiving such news.

However, it turns out shingles can affect younger individuals as well. Bennett’s post prompted numerous messages from others in her age group who had also battled shingles. She decided to continue sharing her experience, emphasizing that early detection is crucial for reducing the severity and duration of the illness.

Understanding Shingles

Shingles is caused by the same virus that leads to chickenpox, lying dormant in the body until it re-emerges. The condition usually manifests as a painful, red rash on one side of the body, often appearing near the eye (as in Bennett’s case), the abdomen, chest, or back. Accompanying symptoms may include mild fever, fatigue, and general malaise, but the most prominent issue is the pain, which Bennett described as feeling like “electricity underneath my skin.”

In a follow-up post, she elaborated on her experience, saying, “It’s pure agony… with mine being on my face and scalp it’s just shooting pain through my brain.”

The Role of Stress

Stress appears to be a contributing factor to the increasing number of shingles cases among younger people. A 2016 study in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases indicated that the incidence of shingles has been rising across all age groups for over six decades, having more than quadrupled among those under 50.

While the exact reasons for this increase remain unclear, stress may play a significant role, according to Dr. Wilbur Chen, an infectious disease physician. Bennett mentioned that she initially kept her diagnosis private to avoid additional stress while healing, stating, “In fact, stress is likely the reason I got #shingles.”

Importance of Early Treatment

It’s a common misconception that shingles will resolve on its own. Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander warns that anyone who notices a shingles rash—especially older adults—should seek medical attention immediately. Early treatment with antiviral medications can reduce the duration and severity of shingles, and minimize the risk of serious complications, including long-term pain known as postherpetic neuralgia, which affects 10-18 percent of patients and can persist for months or even years.

Bennett acted swiftly when she sensed something was off and was grateful for her doctor’s early intervention. “I am soooo grateful that she diagnosed me early and got me on the proper medication,” she shared. “So early that it was a day before I even had a tiny little pimple-like spot on my face… and days before I had multiple spots that caused swelling and blurred vision in my eye.”

Vaccination and Awareness

There is a vaccine available, recommended by the CDC for most individuals over 60, regardless of whether they had chickenpox as children. Dr. Oaklander confirms that the vaccine reduces the risk of developing shingles by about 50% and can lessen the severity of any rashes that do occur.

Bennett shared her story to raise awareness about shingles in younger individuals and is encouraging others to share their experiences for support.

Probable Search Queries

Summary: Ali Bennett recently shared her shingles diagnosis at 36, shedding light on a condition often associated with older adults. She emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment while discussing the role of stress in her experience. Bennett hopes to raise awareness and encourage others to share their stories for mutual support.

Keyphrase: shingles at a young age

Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]