Brief Answer:
About your wife's rash:

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Is it possible for you to upload a few digital photos so that I can have a better look? You can do this by clicking on the "upload reports" button - usually on the right side of the original page where you posted your question.

It's hard to know exactly what is going on without seeing it because there are many causes for rashes. It can be a contact dermatitis from something she was in contact with or allergic to. It can be a fungal skin infection such as Ring Worm (not actually caused by a worm!) if it is an irregularly shaped pink area with more normal appearing skin in the center. Treatment for this is an over the counter anti fungal cream. But as you suggested, it can also be shingles.

Shingles (which I have had unfortunately) often starts with feeling somewhat fluish (body aches, low grade fever and feeling "off") but not always. Some people just get the eruptions as their first sign of it. And it is quite painful - not so much itchy. It usually is seen in just 1 dermatome - in other words one area of skin on one side of the body. It is a blistering type of rash. When it occurs, it is best to get on an antiviral medication right away because it lessens the pain, but more importantly, greatly decreases the chance of post-herpetic neuralgia which is continued pain even after the rash is gone. Best to start oral antiviral medicine within 72 hours.

But as your wife's rash is more of an itchy rash than a painful rash, the chances of it being Shingles is less.

If you can send some good quality photos, I'll see if I can tell from them what is going on.

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Brief Answer:
Not Shingles.

Detailed Answer:
Then it is definitely not Shingles. And also less likely to be a skin fungal infection.

Most likely it is from either something that she contacted (which would explain the itching hands too) or from something she ingested (in which case you can expect it to come out in other places too).

If it is quite itchy, she can consider taking Zyrtec 10 mg (or generic is cetirizine). This dose can be doubled if the itching gets severe, but start with 10 mg. It can be sedating but not usually as sedating as Benadryl. This is sold without prescription at drug stores. It will work for calming down itching throughout her body.

If the rashes are small, she can also use a topical steroid cream. Drugstores sell a low dose of these without prescription.

If there is any chance it could be poison ivy or poison oak (such as exposure during yard work), and if the itching is quite severe (or if it is very severe anyway), then she might need something stronger, for which you need to go in to see a doctor so she/he can see the rash in person.

I hope this information helps.

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