What’s this rash?

[FluffyPinkSocks]

Anyone have/had similar? Have checked with pharmacist, they said it could be an allergy or perhaps a spider bite. It came up overnight, sorry the photos aren’t great. It’s on my shoulder blade. No pain or discomfort, not itchy but let’s just say I’m aware of it.

Could be shingles?
Is it just the one patch?

That was my first thought too

Could be fungal - it's itchy, it's circular, it's clear in the centre but getting wider. Easy to spread by rubbing a towel over damp skin. Try some antifungal cream.

Looks and smell like, Ringworm IMHO

FYI - I'm not medically qualified but very aware of most things!!!

I also thought ringworm - fungal, from the circular formation. If it was me and I had canesten cream, I would definitely start applying it. It wouldn't do any harm, but if the rash started changing from the treatment (flattening/ getting paler or darker) I'd be pretty convinced that it was fungal.

Looks like ringworm. Put some anti fungal cream on it.

It really looks like shingles OP. Is it painful? Are you run down?

Could be a mild case of shingles

Looks like shingles to me. You can get anti viral meds, Acyclovir, from the pharmacy now I believe but you have to start within 5 days.

Thanks all. It’s still there this morning. I’ve got some Aciclovir so I’ll put that on now until I can get to a chemist later. I’ve taken antihistamines the past 2 days and it hasn’t made any difference. I have been run down the last few months, I have low white blood cells so dr put me on vit D and folic acid for a few months to see if they boost them.

I usually got for a bit of trial and error with things like this. Try some hydrocortisone in case it's eczema, try some canesten in case it's fungal, try some anthasan if it's itchy etc. If it's shingles it will go blistery quite quickly.

I don't think it's shingles, as that would usually follow a line (ie a nerve) and not be circular. Also, it would be incredibly painful?

It does look like early shingles before the rash turns redder

It can also be cold sores (I get them on my shoulder) and the rash starts like this before the actual cold sores come out

If you've been feeling run down it's likely to be one of them! Getting anti virals early will make a difference to both if it is them

I’ve had shingles multiple times. It has nearly always appeared like that and has never followed a line. The pain can do but that rash hasn’t with me.

I’ve had that twice - last summer and last month. Both times on my torso overnight. Lumpy rash that was itchy if scratched but otherwise was unaware. I didn’t go to pharmacy and presumed bites. Faded gradually.

I ended up putting Bactroban on it, it’s bloody itchy now! I’ll got hydrocortisone from the chemist later when it opens. Going to take more Zirtek now to tide me over.

An urgent care centre would probably prescribe oral aciclovir, topical is not enough for shingles

looks just like how my discoid eczema started, nurse told me it was ringworm, it wasnt

You've probably already been to the chemist's now, but if not, you can ask the pharmacist to look at the rash as they are usually pretty good at diagnosing them.

Just curious, how large is the rash? I'm assuming it's quite small, which is why I would treat as ringworm initially.

Update…. It’s shingles, just got my tablets so hopefully it won’t spread. Still not sore so that’s good. I feel generally worn out anyway so it’s not unusual. Thanks all.

Thanks for coming back, glad you were seen so quickly. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

@blackfuchsia apologies as I'm wrong.

My mistake, I've only seen shingles on a band/line on one side of someone's back/torso

@FluffyPinkSocks hopefully won't become painful and disappears quickly.

Nothing to apologise for! It’s thankfully just a mild version, so hopefully it won’t be too much of a problem. Thank you!

No apology needed!

Aw bless you hope you are better soon. I've had shingles before and felt crap!