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Eczema linked to 28% higher shingles risk in UK primary care analysis

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An analysis in JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft found that people with eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) face an elevated risk of developing shingles (or herpes zoster).

Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition, while shingles presents as a painful rash when the virus that causes chickenpox reactivates in the nervous system, particularly later in life or in immunosuppressed individuals.

When researchers analyzed 1997–2023 primary care information pertaining to 113,426,267 people listed in a UK database, they found that individuals with eczema had a 28% higher risk of developing shingles after adjusting for other influencing factors such as age, sex, comorbidities, cigarette smoking and alcohol use. Use of immunosuppressant medications had a minimal effect on shingles risk. Shingles risk also increased with the severity of eczema.

Mechanistically, an altered skin immune response in people with eczema may put them at risk of developing shingles.

“These findings may inform vaccination guidelines,” the authors wrote.

More information

Atopic dermatitis is associated with herpes zoster in adults: A matched cohort study using electronic health records data in England, JDDG Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft (2026). DOI: 10.1111/ddg.70329

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Sadie Harley

Sadie Harley

BSc Life Sciences & Ecology. Microbiology lab background with pharmaceutical news experience in oil, gas, and renewable industries.

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Alexander Pol

Alexander Pol

PhD nano-engineering from Delft University. Published researcher and journal reviewer. Brings scientific insight to content standards.

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Citation:
Eczema linked to 28% higher shingles risk in UK primary care analysis (2026, August 5)
retrieved 5 August 2026
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