Shingles on face?

Can you have shingles with no pain? A few days ago a red itchy lump appeared in the middle of an eyebrow. I thought I might have an infected follicle or something and kept bathing it with warm water and antiseptic. It went down then came back up, then another joined it, then two more itchy lumps appeared above on the forehead and a small pimply blister is developing below the eye.

I'm late 60s so a prime candidate I suppose.  I normally have a very clear skin and am not using any new products that might cause an allergic reaction.

Will try to get to the doctor tomorrow if they don't magically disappear though you have to be poorly to be seen on the same day and I feel fine and a bit of a fraud! I'm just a bit concerned about them coming up on my face.

Otherwise no other ill effects though i was very tired a week or two ago which is probably not related.

I don't think it is scabies as I haven't any of those lines you are supposed to get.

Yes you can have shingles with no pain. Shingles vary from person to person and in various degrees. I was not so lucky, and have reoccurring shingles. I have received most information from this site as most doctors are not specialist in this field and seem to have limited knowledge. No you are not a fraud. You are trying g to get informed. Also no one would want you to suffer as some if us has, especially on your face which can be very serious. Whether it's shingles or not frankincense oil is very good for healing. Hope this helped and good luck. G

Chris it sure sounds like shingles and they are close to your eye. Run do not walk to the doctor. Try to get in with an Opthalmologist also. You are not overreacting I have had these bad boys twice and I fight them off all the time with the meds. It's better to get to the doctor and be wrong than not to go and be right. I promise you you can have serious eye problems and just because you don't hurt now does not mean you won't hurt later. Diane. 

Hi Chris,

As Shingles does not read the textbooks, it is difficult to state with certainty what is going on.

It could be an allergic reaction to a hat, perhaps. It doesn't have to be a new product to experience an allergic reaction.

Could the itchy bumps that come and go be hives?

Regarding Herpes Zoster-Shingles, usually, itching and/or pain precedes the rash by a few days. The vesicle-blisters then occur in waves over a period of five days. The pain, usually a burning, lancinating, electrical pain, often becomes excruciating, especially on the face and head within the first two weeks. If it is Herpes Zoster-Shingles, you need to start on Antivirals ASAP, as the Antivirals will help stop the varicella virus from replicating.

Ask for Famciclovir or Valcyclovir. They are more efficacious than the older Acyclovir.

You also need to have excellent pain control.

It is probably too early to know if you have Shingles currently.

If you develop a headache or photophobia, or a scratchy eye, seek medical help ASAP.

Please let me know how you are doing.

I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

Chris,

In any case, see your Physician immediately for a diagnosis. If the bumps or lesions are still there, it certainly could be Shingles. It needs to be diagnosed and treated.

Best Wishes

Merry Juliana

Hi everyone..Merry Juliana we where on a thread a few months back regarding reoccurrence shingles for me..MAJOR breakthrough...After extensive tcell subseg and immhnoglobulin test...I was diagnosed with Hypogammaglobulinemia...Low genetic white blood cell count and never knew until 52 years old...so there u have jt..there truly was a Reason...ty Dana

Hi Dana,  I’m wondering if your doctor is able to help you with your immune deficiency now that it’s been isolated?  I am recovering from oral shingles and am a 6-year breast cancer survivor.  I had 6 rounds of chemo during my bc treatment, and I feel certain that it permanently affected my immune system, although I haven’t checked into that yet.  I plan to do that once I am completely well, and am hoping that if it is determined that I do have an immune deficiency, there is something that can be done to prevent future debilitating illnesses.  I’ve had several over the course of the past 6 years, shingles by far being THE WORST.  Prior to bc, I was so healthy that I didn’t even have a primary care physician.  This is so frustrating!