Skin Health Fungal, Bacterial & Viral Infections Shingles Can Other Rashes Be Mistaken for Shingles? By Sherry Christiansen Sherry Christiansen Sherry Christiansen is a medical writer with a healthcare background. She has worked in the hospital setting and collaborated on Alzheimer's research. Learn about our editorial process Published on June 14, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anju Goel, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Anju Goel, MD, MPH LinkedIn Anju Goel, MD, MPH, is a board-certified physician who specializes in public health, communicable disease, diabetes, and health policy. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Psoriasis Eczema Allergic Rash Ringworm Viral Infection Shingles is a viral infection that includes a painful rash. It is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox (the varicella-zoster virus), which had been dormant in the body. When the virus is reactivated, it often manifests as blisters typically found on the head and/or face. Other symptoms of shingles include flu-like symptoms, a fever, and severe fatigue (malaise), as well as a painful itchy rash.. pixfly / Getty Images Besides the vesicles (fluid-filled sacs) and discomfort that are the main symptoms of shingles, many people continue to have persistent pain after the rash heals—a condition called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The shingles rash has a very specific distribution, which makes it easy to clearly differentiate from other rashes. If you have a rash that suddenly occurs, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine if you have shingles because the treatment for shingles is very different from the treatment for other conditions that cause a rash. Below are other common rashes that would likely not be mistaken for shingles. Shingles Overview Shingles Rash The shingles rash is very distinct; therefore, it is unlikely it would be mistaken for any of the below rashes. If you suspect you have shingles, see your healthcare provider. Psoriasis Psoriasis is an immune disorder that lasts for a person’s entire lifetime. With psoriasis, an immune system problem causes skin changes. The symptoms involve an itchy, sometimes painful rash that is much different than the one caused by shingles. There are many subtypes of psoriasis; plaque psoriasis is the most common type, comprising 80% to 90% of all cases. A person with plaque psoriasis breaks out in a rash that most often starts as small red bumps; these eventually grow larger and form a scaly surface. A psoriasis rash progresses to red bumps and silvery-scaled patches, which are often seen on the knees, elbows, or scalp. A shingles rash is usually seen on one side of the torso, rib area, or face; it is rarely found on the knees, elbows, or scalp. Verywell Eczema Eczema is a chronic (long-term) skin condition that often starts during early childhood, or even during infancy. It can manifest at any time during a person's lifetime, however. An inflammation of the skin, eczema is associated with many different underlying triggers. Food allergies, asthma, and allergic rhinitis are linked with eczema. Symptoms of the condition include dry—or cracked—scaly skin with red patches or plaques. It is often difficult to differentiate between eczema and psoriasis, although the treatment for the two conditions is very similar and may even be the same in some instances. To help differentiate eczema from shingles, it's helpful to know that shingles may have fluid leakage and there are no plaques involved in a shingles breakout. Allergic Rash There are several types of allergic skin conditions/rashes, including: Hives (urticaria): Red, itchy welts that may be accompanied by dangerous swelling of the deep layers of the skin, called “angioedema” Contact dermatitis: Inflammation of the skin as a direct result of contact with an irritant One way to tell the difference between contact dermatitis and shingles is that shingles often appears as a strip or band of blisters that will not usually cross the body’s midline, as they appear on only one side of the body. Contact dermatitis will show up in the area that had contact with the irritant, which can be on any part of the body. It's fairly easy to differentiate between hives and shingles. Hives are barely raised, larger in circumference, and paler in color than shingles. A shingles rash involves a strip of small blisters, rather than wheals like in hives. Shingles also is not widespread; it usually manifests as a single strip or band of small blisters. Ringworm Ringworm is a type of fungus that can affect the skin on any part of the body (including the fingernails and the scalp). The symptoms of ringworm depend on where the fungus is located on the body. Generally, ringworm symptoms include: A scaly, ring-shaped rash, commonly found on the trunk, arms, legs, or buttocksA scaly or clear area inside the ringOverlapping ringsRed, scaly, cracked skinHair loss Viral Infection Measles is much more than just a rash, particularly in babies and small children. Measles can be very severe and even dangerous. Symptoms of measles include: A high feverCough, runny nose, and red, watery eyesTiny white spots (Koplik spots) that may be found inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms startA rash, involving flat, red spots around the hairline that spread to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feetSmall raised bumps appearing on top of the flat red spotsThe spots may join together as they spread throughout the body. The most obvious difference between a measles rash and a shingles rash is the location. Measles spreads to multiple places on the body, while shingles is usually found in one location. A Word From Verywell It is important to consult with a healthcare provider. If you do have shingles, early intervention is key to successful treatment as well as to the prevention of long-term complications. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cleveland Clinic. Itchy rash? How to tell if it's eczema or psoriasis. American Academy of Asthma & Immunology. Allergic skin conditions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms of ringworm infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles (rubeola).