What does a shingle rash look like?
A shingles rash starts as small red spots and pimples on one area of the skin. This rash almost always occurs on one side of the body and does not cross over to the other side. Within 12 to 24 hours, the red rash develops tiny clusters of blisters with clear fluid inside that sit on a red base. Within three to four days, the clear fluid inside these tiny blisters turns cloudy (pustules). These clusters of small blisters soon open up and become weepy and, finally, form a crusty layer (by approximately day seven to 10). These weeping blisters contain active virus, so the person with the rash should stay away from people who have not had chickenpox, or have not been vaccinated against chicken pox. The most common places on the body for rashes are on the mid to lower back and face or neck, although any part of the body can be affected.
