Shingles question

I'm really confused at the moment. I was exposed to Shingles by accident. My MIL had a small itchy spot on her back, by her kidneys, that showed up just as she was getting over a cold. I went over there but I didn't touch her and in fact I used hand sanitizer as I was leaving just to be on the safe side. The next day she couldn't take it anymore and went to the doctor where they diagnosed her with shingles.

about 5 days later, I developed a slight itchy rash on the front of my left shoulder. It's splotchy and about the size of a soft ball. It seems to get worse at night when I am trying to sleep. There are no blisters or postules; it's just very slightly blotchy. When I itch it, I get what feels like little needles poking me afterwards but the pokey feeling only lasts a short time and not every time I scratch (it's random).

I don't believe this is shingles but can they manifest themselves like what I described? I have been using Benedryl cream to stop the itching.

I don't believe it's an allergic reaction because it's localized. It's strictly on the front of my shoulder and slightly down my arm near the arm pit.

Any ideas?

I agree with AZYooper. It's possible to have a herpes infection anywhere on your body, though. But if there are no pustules then it doesn't sound like a herpes virus. It sounds like you have something fairly nasty, though. Call your regular doc!

Shingles usually starts near the spine and then wraps around to the front. I'm no expert, but it seems like the front of your shoulder would be a very unlikely spot for a shingles outbreak. I had shingles when I was 40 and 3 weeks post-partum and it started on my scapula and then wrapped under my arm and onto the side of my breast. Not fun. The main sensation from the beginning was painful nerve tingling and a mad itch. From there it just went to painful.

No new soap, no new laundry detergent, lotions, perfumes, deodorant - however this doesn't mean much because allergic reactions can occur at any given time. But I doubt this is an allergic reaction to an outside source as it is in ONLY in one spot.

I'm not really that concerned about it to tell the truth. I really do get random rashes for no apparent reason so whats another one?? It really doesn't hurt nor itch most of the time. But every now and then it will itchy like crazy and then stop for several hours. Itch really bad again, maybe have that sting and than disappear again.

But you also have a lower immune system, which can put you at a risk for catching it.

I would get it checked, just to make sure.