Herpes on the Body: What It Looks Like, Where It Comes From, and When to See a Doctor

Clustered blisters on the skin are a typical sign of herpes, but behind this word stand different viruses and different diseases. This article covers the types of herpes, the appearance of the rash, causes, and the signs that mean a doctor is needed.

What skin herpes is and which viruses cause it

Herpes is a group of viral diseases with characteristic eruptions of clustered blisters on the skin and mucous membranes. Eight types of herpesviruses occur in humans.

• Herpes simplex virus type 1 — the cause of blisters on the lips and around the mouth.
• Type 2 virus — the usual cause of genital herpes.
• Varicella-zoster virus (type 3) causes chickenpox and shingles.
• The role of types 6, 7, and 8 is not fully understood.

Herpes simplex is transmitted through direct contact and via household objects; HSV-1 mainly through oral contact, with saliva and the contents of blisters. Some people do not notice symptoms at all; in others, blisters appear near the site through which the virus entered the body, itch, hurt, and heal. Recurrences occur several times a year, becoming less frequent over time.

What herpes looks like on the body, arms, back, and legs

Herpes simplex consists of clustered blisters with clear contents on an inflamed base; they are preceded by itching and burning of the skin, sometimes chills and malaise.

Shingles begins with tingling or pain in a limited area of skin, headache, and malaise, and the rash appears a few days later; in rare cases the pain persists without eruptions. The spots and blisters lie on one side of the body — a rash on both the left and right sides at the same time is uncharacteristic of it. Most often the eruptions occur on the chest and abdomen, but they can be on the back, arms, legs, face, around the eyes, and on the genitals: the spots turn into itchy blisters that ooze, then dry out and become covered with crusts. On light skin the rash may be red; on dark skin it is harder to notice, and the pain may persist even after the eruptions disappear.

Herpes simplex and shingles: what the difference is

Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox: after chickenpox, it remains in the body and becomes active when immune defenses are weakened — due to stress, certain diseases, or treatments such as chemotherapy. The disease cannot be passed to another person, but a person with shingles can infect with chickenpox someone who has not had it and is not vaccinated: this is possible while the blisters are oozing. The rash heals within up to four weeks, and skin pain persists for weeks afterward.

Why the virus manifests: causes and triggering factors

Herpes simplex virus enters sensory nerve endings and integrates into the genetic apparatus of nerve cells: it cannot be eliminated, it remains for life. Recurrences are associated with exposure to cold and reduced body resistance, colds, hypovitaminosis, and sometimes overheating. For shingles, the key condition is weakened immunity; herpes is more severe in newborns and people with severely weakened immune systems. A vaccine against shingles exists.

How a doctor confirms the diagnosis

The doctor assesses the appearance of the rash and the location of the eruptions; if necessary, laboratory methods are used — viral culture of the blister contents (viral culture of the lesion) and a blood test for antibodies to herpes simplex virus. The extent of the eruptions, involvement of the eyes and nose, immune status, pregnancy, and breastfeeding are also taken into account: the urgency of care depends on this.

When a skin rash requires urgent examination

Examination should not be delayed if blisters have appeared on the eye or nose, vision has changed, a rash has occurred on the breast of a breastfeeding woman, and also if the person is pregnant, is 17 years old or younger, or has a severely weakened immune system. Complications of shingles include postherpetic neuralgia with pain lasting for months, infection of the rash, scars and skin discoloration, muscle weakness, vision problems, and the rare Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Skin herpes by itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. 103 or 112 — if, against the background of eruptions, there are signs of central nervous system involvement (herpetic meningitis, encephalitis) or the condition of a newborn or a person with a severely weakened immune system is severe.

This material is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation.

This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer