Burning rash

[SchoolRunEscapee]

Hi everyone, just wondered if people might have some ideas before we consult a pharmacist.

About 5 days ago a spot appeared on husbands back, he often gets them on his back but this was particularly itchy. We thought it might be bite or normal spot as that's what it looked like, but since then it has gradually spread.

Its a mixture of a kind of rough sandpaper rash and lumpy spots, looks a little like a shingles rash but on his back. It has started to spread on his arm and chest now and on his chest he has a particularly big spot which we thought could be the herald spot associated with some rashes, but it doesn't quite look like the examples on Google.

He has recently been taking amino acid tablets (less than recommended dose) he wondered if it could be an allergy, though I'm not sure as he has stopped for 3 days and rash continues.

He says it burns and itches terribly. Any ideas would be appreciated

It won't let me post picture.

Is it on one side of body? It could be shingles as it can appear anywhere on the body

My sil is a week into having covid and yesterday she told us she is covered in a burning itchy rash, it started on her chest and then back and now all over. could it be covid?

Chickenpox?

Thanks so much for the replies it is more or less on one side of the body, so could be shingles. He did a rapid test for covid and that was clear. My dad had shingles years ago and it did remind me of the rash but we kind of didn't think of it as my dads was all on his face and so we thought it most commonly presented like that. Also he is 34 and from what I've heard shingles is uncommon in younger people but might be wrong.

Sounds like shingles. Send the photo to the GP, they'll know what it is and if it is shingles, prescribe the antiviral tablets.

I had my first attack of shingles at 35.

I’ve had it 3 times since then!

My ds had shingles age 3. It was round the side of his body under his arm. He still has faint scars from it.

Shingles can appear along the line of any nerve in the body and is often found on the torso. Anyone who has had chicken pox in the past can get shingles.

Thanks so much everyone, pharmacist said he is almost certain its shingles and he need antiviral tablets, just waiting for gp econsultation now...which could be up until 6:30 tomorrow. The receptionist asked if he wanted shingles vaccine and then asked if I knew the name of the tablets🤔

Shingles vaccine isn't usually available to people under about 70 years old.

Yes @dementedpixie I thought that, and I was doubtful you would take the vaccine when you had the disease. One thing I forgot to ask pharmacist was how to take all 5 doses today. Husband is supposed to take 5 tablets a day spaced evenly throughout the day, but by the time we got the medicene it was about 3...should he wake at night to take the remaining tablets?