For millions worldwide, herpes zoster pain does not end when the rash fades. Postherpetic neuralgia can last for years or even a lifetime, devastating quality of life. Now, a comprehensive review led by Professor Bifa Fan from China\u2013Japan Friendship Hospital has mapped the full cascade of mechanisms driving this persistent pain, providing definitive support for earlier, more aggressive treatment.<\/p>\n
The study reveals that the varicella-zoster virus inflicts lasting damage to nerves and the brain: injured fibers become hyper-excitable due to abnormal ion channels, while the spinal cord and brain develop “central sensitization”-amplifying pain signals indefinitely. The authors link each mechanism to existing targeted therapies and emphasize that acute pain and PHN are a single continuous disease process, a principle now enshrined in the 2025 guidelines.<\/p>\n
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Too many patients wait for pain to resolve on its own, missing the critical window to stop it from becoming chronic. This guideline update is a game-changer that will spare countless patients from years of unnecessary suffering.”<\/p>\n
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Professor Bifa Fan, China\u2013Japan Friendship Hospital<\/p>\n
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The work titled “Research Progress on Zoster-Associated Pain and Its Pain Mechanisms”\u00a0was published in Skin\u00a0on April 21, 2026.<\/p>\n
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