Shingles & cold sores

Pain and a band of blisters on one side of the body are typical of shingles. Cold sores are small blisters that keep returning to the lips. Try to come in within 3 days of the blisters appearing.

Usual layers: Epidermis to dermis
Care: Covered by National Health Insurance (NHI) · no appointment, seen in check-in order
Condition: 09 / 12

Today’s hours Directions

Select a dot to open a lens on the skin layers at that spot.Select a numbered dot or a place in the list to open a lens on the skin layers at that spot. Shingles follows a nerve, forming a band on one side of the chest, back, abdomen, or face. Cold sores appear along the edge of the lips and under the nose.

What brings people in

One side of my body tingled and hurt, and then a line of blisters appeared
It stings even when my clothes brush against it
Small blisters keep appearing in the same spot on my lip

Cream-toned consultation room with a skin cross-section model on a round oak table, cream chairs around it, and a wine-colored panel on one wall — Consultation room · where we ask about causes and daily habitsFictional space made with AI

Why it happens

Shingles comes from the chickenpox virus, which hides in the nerves after a childhood infection and becomes active again when immunity drops with age, fatigue, or illness.
Cold sores come from the herpes simplex virus, which stays in the nerves and flares again with fatigue, colds, sunlight, or menstruation.

Usual layersEpidermis to dermis

A virus travels down a nerve and forms blisters in the epidermis. Pain can come before the blisters. Layer thicknesses in this model are adjusted for clarity. In real skin, the dermis is more than ten times thicker than the epidermis.

Examination and tests

In most cases, the shape and location of the blisters are enough to make the diagnosis.
If it is hard to tell, we test for the virus.

Treatment

InsuranceBoth the examination and medication are covered by NHI.

Antiviral medication
Ideally, start taking it within 3 days of the blisters appearing. Pain can come first, so if one side hurts for no clear reason and blisters then appear, come in quickly.
Pain relief
Painkillers and nerve pain medicine ease the pain, and if it still hurts after the blisters heal, we continue treatment.
Wound care
We clean the blisters and scabs and apply ointment to keep them from getting infected.

Treatment is decided after the examination. How much it helps, and how quickly, varies from person to person.

What to do at home

Do not pop the blisters, and keep them clean and covered.
Until the blisters dry, stay away from children who have not had chickenpox, pregnant women, and people with weakened immunity.
Sleep well and rest. Take the medicine for the full number of days.
If you get cold sores often, tell us as soon as one starts to come up.

Come in soon if

Shingles appears around the eye, on the forehead, or on the tip of the nose (you may also need an eye examination)
Blisters form around the ear, and one side of the face droops or your hearing dulls
Blisters spread across the body, or you take medicine that lowers immunity
You have a fever and red swelling that spreads quickly

During clinic hours, simply come in; no appointment is needed. Questions: +82-2-0123-4567

Common questions

Can my shingles spread to other people?

Shingles itself does not pass from person to person, but the virus in the blisters can give chickenpox to someone who has never had it. Take care until the blisters have dried.

My blisters have healed, but it still hurts.

This is called postherpetic neuralgia, nerve pain that stays after shingles, and it is more common with age. We continue pain medicine, and if it lasts, we also point you to a pain clinic.

Is there a vaccine I can get?

Yes. The suggested age and number of doses differ by vaccine, so we talk it over at your visit, along with your overall health.