Eamonn Holmes has warned his fans about the dangers of a "painful" infection he suffered from which left him feeling like he was in a "horror movie".
The ex-Sky News and This Morning presenter, who is now hosting a show on GB News, posted on both Twitter and Instagram about the hazards of shingles.
Eamonn said doctors had warned him the illness could even have left him blind, if he did not handle it correctly, The Mirror reports.
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What is shingles?
Shingles is a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox (varicella zoster) virus.
The first signs of shingles could be a tingling or painful feeling in an area of skin, or a headache or feeling generally unwell, according to the NHS website.
The NHS adds: "Usually you get the shingles rash on your chest and tummy, but it can appear anywhere on your body including on your face, eyes and genitals.
"The rash appears as blotches on your skin, on one side of your body only. A rash on both the left and right of your body is unlikely to be shingles."
Patients suspecting they have shingles can call 111 for advice. The NHS suggests taking paracetamol for the pain and keeping the rash clean and dry, while wearing loose fitting clothing.
Using a cool compress - wrapping frozen vegetables in a cloth and holding it to the rash - could help give relief to the symptoms a few times a day.
Eamonn's shingles warning
In the sponsored Instagram post, Eamonn wrote on Tuesday (March 1): "Having had shingles, I know how painful and exhausting it can be. That's why I am supporting #ShinglesAwarenessWeek with @gsk and @intfedageing. To find out more about the condition, speak to your pharmacist, nurse or doctor or visit www.understandingshingles.co.uk. Funded by GSK."
Some fans mistakenly thought Eamonn is currently suffering from the illness and left warm wishes for him in comments under his social media posts.
John Barrowman was one of those to comment, adding his voice to Eamonn's bid for awareness. He urged people to get their shingles vaccination.
Eamonn previously told The Mirror having shingles was like being in a "horror movie", with doctors warning him he could go blind if he touched his eyes and spread the rash there.
He also described the experience as "painful and exhausting".
"There isn't a camera filter in the world that could have made me look better," Eamonn said, explaining why the condition forced him to take a long break from TV work when he had it in 2018.
In October 2021 the presenter shared how he was still suffering the after effects three years after having shingles.
He still had help from a physio every day, he admitted.
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