Third time I've had shingles...and I'm 21.

Ooooooops, I almost forgot!

Google Lysine Arginine diet, as eating a diet high in Lysine, and avoiding Arginine high foods helps reduce the intensity of pain, for me, but not the frequency.

Some people take Lysine supplements, but know that Lysine supplements can damage your liver and kidneys.

Merry Juliana

Don't worry, you're not alone. I'm 22 and on my 7th shingles outbreak. It's awful, and I worry myself sick about it. But I feel a little better after reading everyone's comments on here and realizing I'm not the only one.

Replying to vent my current frustrations!

I'm 23 years old and have had shingles out breaks at least 10 times in the last 2 years. It's driving me incredibly insane. I first went to Urgent Care when I was 17, thinking I had sat in some poison oak or something, the rash being along my buttock and lower back. He quickly told no that is shingles. I hadnt heard of it before and he explained the chicken pox thing, the science of it, and that he has seen it more recently in younger people under alot of stress, comprising my immune system. It was the worst outbreak but since then I've gotten patches between my shoulders and this patch on my nose bridge many many times. It's to the point where I have a permanent scar that darkens in color each time, and permanent sensitivity and pain if I ever touch that part of the skin. It's so close to my eye, I get scared of blindness. I just don't know what to do! I'm a natural worry wort. I have come a long way in managing my stress but obviously this current outbreak says otherwise. Last year I had the patch on my nose almost monthly (I was going through some things) but i hadn't had it since the summer months last year and I was doing so well! I guess I'll go see about the vaccine. I really hope it can help, this patch on my face is always so embarrassing... To have Shingles so many times is freaking me out.

I have had Shingles on and off since my twenties. What I have found with my research is that people will start getting shingles younger and younger due to not being exposed to it regularly since less and less children will be having chickenpox, due to the vaccine. Anyone that has had chickenpox can get shingles. The last time I got shingles my niece had, had the vaccine the same day that I saw her, the next day I woke up with shingles. 

I'm sorry to hear this. I know what you are going through. I'm 17 years old starting my senior year and this is my third time having shingles in 4 years. They started my freshman year. I almost missed my first week of school.  They have a vaccine out for shingles but you can't get it until you are in your 40's I believe. I have tried to get it. There really isn't all that much you can do.  You are definitely not an exception that will be having it all your life. I never even had the chicken pox and I've gotten shingles 3 times. 

OMG! I finally found someone with the exact same problem as me! My first shingles outbreak happened when I was 21 and came out on the back of my left thigh. I was working with my partner in cabaret shows, travelling in the far East, and it seemed that while I was continually working every night for 6month stints, my shingles outbreaks would never end and sometimes I'd have a second outbreak on the back of my thigh in one week but an inch away from the first one. It  would heal after a few days and then break out again.It seems that working on stage had me on a certain stress level which prompted the attacks. Not to mention that my partner was always jealous,demanding and overbearing, which was another reason for my nervous state and breakouts. After returning home from tour, I'd always heal for a few months and the shingles would only come after a heavy night out etc.   Many years down the track now and I'm not with the same partner any more but also staying celibate and caring for my parents. I'm only having breakouts every 6 months but revealing to you that. I'm one of those long time sufferers that contradicts the doctors explanations. Every year the shingles slowly moved a centimeter each year up my leg to my butt, where right now, I'm sitting in bed with a painful itching outbreak on my tailbone and butt cheek. It never ends!!  Always getting infected as well. So tired of it. Doctors are no help at all. I might venture down to my doctor and try the vaccine one day, but don't know how much that will help someone like me.  I really hope you don't have the level of suffering and years of problems like I have. I'd like to know how you go after the vaccine. 

Thank-you for sharing your problem and all the best for your shingles free future. ?? Cheers

Krystal 😉

You are not alone! For me the sun and stress is a major trigger. Wear your sun screen!