Does this look like shingles?

[SeaBlueSky]

When I described it to the GP on the phone, she said it sounds like shingles, but when I uploaded the pictures, she said “it doesn’t look typical for shingles”.

Has anyone had confirmed shingles that presented like this? I can’t think what on earth else would have caused blisters like that. The photos are of my upper arm.

Started yesterday. No intense pain but my upper arm feels sensitive like sunburn (very similar to how my buttock/thigh feels when I have an HSV outbreak). I had an aching neck on that side yesterday too, and a headache. Feeling generally rough but this is after a month of being ill, so I’m already really run down. There’s one big blister and the other (the heart shaped one) started as a cluster of tiny blisters which have merged into one. Pics taken 24 hrs apart.

I started Acyclovir yesterday as I had some in. I’m supposed to have a work thing later this week involving newborns, though, which I’ve already had to defer twice due to illness. They’re going to think I’m taking the piss if I postpone a third time.

No I would be inclined to try an antihistamine. Looks more like Urticaria.

Shingles are fairly distinctive and easily recognised.

No that doesn't look like shingles to me.

What on earth would cause blisters like that, though? My upper arms are covered at all times apart from in bed - they haven’t been in contact with anything that I could be e.g. allergic to, nor have I eaten/applied anything unusual. They don’t itch, but if I touch them they’re tender and if I touch the area, it’s sensitive.

Urticaria would be itchy though, surely? These aren’t itchy at all, just sore.

Shingles is usually a band around your waist, stomach, back and more blistery. It looks more like ringworm to me

Ringworm doesn't blister like that.

I don't think it looks like shingles either, but if you've started the antivirals, you might as well finish the course.

Shingles is only infectious to others by direct contact. As I said, I don't think it does look like shingles, but in case I'm wrong, I'll say that you could go to work with the lesions covered - something like a surgical dressing over them, then long sleeves. That would be absolutely fine from an infection pov.

(Ex GP with postgrad dermatology diploma)

Shingles can occur on arms or legs, by the way, but it is unusual. It doesn't form a band on the limbs - it follows the line of the affected nerve down the limb.

It's also quite common the face and it doesn't form a band there either!

(just a bit of gen info re shingles!)

When I had shingles I had one or two blisters and then literally a few hours later I had a whole row of them going from the middle of my chest around the back of my shoulder. They were bright red and really angry looking. They also hurt like hell, as though a needle was going into my nerves.

Sorry, but I disagree - the cluster of symptoms you are describing does sound like shingles - especially since you have recently been unwell and run down - it often strikes when your immune system is a bit low. The sensory disturbance and general malaise would fit with shingles - it is more common on the trunk or face but you can get a patch of it in any dermatome (patch of skin supplied by one branch of a sensory nerve). Stick with the antivirals, rest up and I hope you feel better soon. Shingles is horrid!

Cellulitis?

Thanks all. I’m pretty sure it’s shingles from the symptoms I’ve had today so I’ve rescheduled my thing on Thursday (just not willing to take the risk of infecting a vulnerable newborn) and will keep chugging down the acyclovir.