What Do Shingles Blisters Look Like

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Get the Facts

Herpes Zoster (Shingles)

What Is Shingles? Shingles is a very painful disease caused by the same herpes virus that causes chicken pox (varicella zoster virus). Like other herpes viruses, the varicella-zoster virus has an initial infectious stage, (chicken pox) followed by a dormant stage. Then, with no warning, the virus becomes active again. About 20% of people who have had chicken pox will eventually develop shingles. This reactivation of the virus is most likely to...

Ask the Experts

Do all shingles rashes blister?

My shingles rash remained flat on my stomach and back. It's been more than 5 weeks now, and my rash never blistered?!...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

How do you know it was shingles? That is also a very long time for the rash to still be present. What is your CD4 count?... Read more »

Recurrence of Shingles

Dr. Joseph, Have you ever seen a case of Shingles lasted more than 1 month?! if yes in HIVer what about others who are HIV negative? Why do they keep having Shingles? my cousin is getting Shingles all the time and he is HIV negative, we don't...

Response from Joseph McGowan, M.D., F.A.C.P.

North Shore University Hospital

Shingles lasting over one month would be very unusual. First thing would be to confirm that it is indeed shingles which can be done by obtaining a viral culture or (if not available) a scraping to look for the effect of the virus on the skin cells... Read more »

shingles

Can you tell me what shingles are? I hear of many HIV men that get them , but do not know what they are. I have herpes on the top part of my left buttock,but not inside. I seem to get breakouts every two weeks. Sometimes I get huge.very painful...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

The condition that you describe doesn't sound like shingles (Herpes Zoster) which usually looks like blisters that occur in a band-like fashion (and generally don't recur). Folliculitis, furunculosis, and other skin conditions are more... Read more »

Recently stopped meds(2 weeks ago), starting to get "things", ie:(shingles, thrush, etc.)

I recently stopped meds due to, too many side effects. However, I am scared now because of the fact that I have had a breakout of shingles(w/ great dibilitating pain), on my left buttocks. I have had shingles at least 11 x's during my 20 yrs...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Dear Dave in Rochester, In general, I wouldn't necessarily tie the discontinuation of your HIV medications with the onset of shingles-- not an absolute, but it be less usual.On the other hand, discontinuation of your preventive acyclovir can... Read more »

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Shingles = HIV?

Posted by grcboy30, 5 Replies

Hi there.
I had chicken pox at 5 years old so can develop shingles. I haven't been to the doctor yet but have what I am pretty sure is shingles on the side of my chest (a pink rash which is itchy with bumps). I am terrified of HIV. I am only 30... Read more »

shingles?

Posted by Anonymous, 1 Reply

can you get shingles in roof of mouth? I had a big like blisteron the roof of my mouth but it was like a water blister like when you get burned and then I popped and it hurts like crazy! Then I broke out with genital herpes I got this years ago and... Read more »

shingles

Posted by butchcat

I had shingles afew years back, and occaisionally I'll get one or two "mini" blisters in the same area...also with some numbness or tingling. Has anyone out there had the same experience? Wondering if this is just long-term side effects or something... Read more »

blister on big toe

Posted by worriedbutwell, 1 Reply

hi everyone, thanks for reading this.

about two months ago, a blister formed on the top of my left big toe. i quickly popped it and a clear liquid released. however, it hasn't healed yet and looks like a big mosquito bite. doesn't hurt or... Read more »

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