Can herpes on the lips be shingles?
Disease description:
This morning when I woke up, I found a few small blisters near my mouth. I suspected it might be shingles, but my doctor said it was cold sores. Can cold sores be caused by the shingles virus?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xiaoyan
Herpes on the lips is not shingles. Although both conditions are caused by viral infections, they result from different types of viruses and therefore are not the same disease. Herpes on the lips is primarily caused by infection with the herpes simplex virus. It commonly occurs around the lips, forming small blisters, and may be accompanied by pain and infection. Shingles, on the other hand, is an acute vesicular skin disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Its symptoms include a band-like distribution of rashes on one side of the body, often accompanied by severe nerve pain. Therefore, herpes on the lips and shingles differ in their causes, symptoms, and treatment approaches, and patients should receive diagnosis and treatment according to their specific conditions.
