Herpes zoster pain can persist long after the rash disappears, according to a review led by Professor Bifa Fan from China–Japan Friendship Hospital published on June 26. The research highlights that postherpetic neuralgia may last for years or even a lifetime, significantly affecting quality of life.
The study maps out the mechanisms behind this persistent pain, showing that the varicella-zoster virus inflicts lasting damage to nerves and the brain. Injured nerve fibers become hyper-excitable due to abnormal ion channels, while both the spinal cord and brain develop 'central sensitization,' which amplifies pain signals indefinitely.
The authors connect each identified mechanism to existing targeted therapies. They emphasize that acute pain and postherpetic neuralgia are part of a single continuous disease process—a concept now included in the 2025 guidelines.
The review is titled "Research Progress on Zoster-Associated Pain and Its Pain Mechanisms" and was published in Skin on April 21, 2026.
Fan's team said their findings provide definitive support for earlier and more aggressive treatment approaches for herpes zoster-related pain.
