Impetigo vs. Shingles — What's the Difference?

Impetigo is a bacterial infection that involves the superficial skin. The most common presentation is yellowish crusts on the face, arms, or legs.

Shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster, is a viral disease characterized by a painful skin rash with blisters in a localized area. Typically the rash occurs in a single, wide stripe either on the left or right side of the body or face.

A contagious skin infection, usually of children, that is caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria and is marked by superficial pustules and thick yellow crusts, commonly on the face.

Herpes zoster, caused by Human herpes virus 3, in genus Varicellovirus.

(pathology) A contagious bacterial skin disease forming pustules and yellow crusty sores, chiefly on the face and hands. It is common in children and infection is often through cuts or insect bites.

A kind of herpes (Herpes zoster) which spreads half way around the body like a girdle, and is usually attended with violent neuralgic pain.

A cutaneous, pustular eruption, not attended with fever; usually, a kind of eczema with pustulation.

Eruptions along a nerve path often accompanied by severe neuralgia

A very contagious infection of the skin; common in children; localized redness develops into small blisters that gradually crust and erode