Early detection of shingles can lead to better treatment outcomes. The CDC states that the best time to start antiviral treatments for shingles is “as soon as possible after the rash appears.”
One challenge is that many conditions can cause rashes, and some rashes are not a big deal. In this video, learn how to recognize a shingles rash, according to Peter DeMarco, MD, Family Medicine Physician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Peter DeMarco, MD, is a primary care provider at Columbia Primary Care and is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Shingles symptoms and complications.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). About shingles (herpes zoster).
Nair, P. A., et al. (2023). Herpes zoster. StatPearls.
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