How can you tell the difference between shingles and other skin rashes?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Shingles is a viral skin rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster). It typically appears as a painful, blistering band or stripe on one side of the body or face, often accompanied by burning, tingling, or itching. Other common rashes—such as eczema, hives, or contact dermatitis—usually appear on both sides of the body, vary in shape, and are rarely painful in the same way.

Because shingles can lead to complications like long-term nerve pain if left untreated, identifying it early matters. If you're unsure whether your rash is shingles or something else, taking a free, instant, online symptom check can help you understand your symptoms and decide on the right next steps—whether that's home care or seeing a doctor promptly for antiviral treatment.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/20/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn if rash could be shingles Discover likely causes of your skin rash See if symptoms need urgent care Find OTC relief for skin rash Find a doctor for skin rashes Understand home remedies for skin rash Find out if it’s shingles

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Explanation

Shingles is a specific type of skin rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. According to the medical literature, shingles usually presents as a painful rash that appears in a band-like pattern on one side of the body. This is because the virus affects the nerves in that area.

Other skin rashes, such as those caused by infections like chickenpox or monkeypox, can look different. For example, chickenpox usually causes itchy red spots all over the body, while monkeypox can cause pus-filled bumps.

To help tell the difference, you can look for these signs:

Location: Shingles often appears on one side of the body.
Pain: Shingles can be painful, unlike many other rashes.
Pattern: Shingles often forms a band-like pattern.

If you are unsure about a rash, you can use Ubie's free symptom checker to help identify your symptoms and determine whether you should consult a healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis.

(References)

Rasizadeh R, Shamekh A, Shiri Aghbash P, & Bannazadeh Baghi H. (2023). Comparison of human monkeypox, chickenpox and smallpox. Current medical research and opinion, 37025009.
Morris-Jones R. (2021). Cutaneous manifestations of infections: an update for .... Clinical medicine (London, England), 34001567.
Beards G, Graham C, & Pillay D. (1998). Investigation of vesicular rashes for HSV and VZV by PCR. Journal of medical virology, 9515761.

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