Ed Sheeran says he had shingles and is recovering

Ed Sheeran has told fans he has spent the past month battling shingles, describing the illness as something he “wouldn’t recommend” as he shared a personal update on social media.

The 35-year-old pop star also revealed he has shaved his head, saying the change was meant to “signify a fresh start”.

The singer, behind chart hits including Lego House and Thinking Out Loud, shared the update in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

In a carousel of images posted to his 48.7 million followers, Sheeran offered a glimpse into his recent life, with the opening image showcasing his new haircut.

Alongside the photos, Sheeran said he had been dealing with shingles, an infection that can cause a painful rash.

He said: “I’ve had shingles for the last month, wouldn’t recommend it, but on the mend now.”

The condition can bring symptoms including a tingling sensation on the skin, headaches and a general feeling of being unwell.

Sheeran also used the post to share his excitement about returning to South America for more performances, saying it had been “too long” as he listed forthcoming Loop tour dates in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico and Chile.

He said the tour resumes next month after his recent string of shows in Australia and New Zealand, adding that he “can’t wait to get back cracking on that”.

The singer also told followers he had “finally” watched the final series of the Netflix drama Stranger Things, which reached its long-awaited conclusion earlier this year.

The post included photos of Sheeran playing guitar and listening to music, as well as a shot of his Netflix screen showing him catching up on the sci-fi hit starring Millie Bobby Brown.

Sheeran also pointed fans toward Barbara Kingsolver’s bestselling novel Demon Copperhead, calling it “brilliant”, and said a break from the road has sparked a new interest in collecting vinyl records.

The update drew a wave of responses from fans and fellow artists, including singer Myles Smith, who joked about Sheeran’s new look by writing: “Need a skin fade bruv.”

Source: Press Association