An itchy rash that has red spots then raised rash on chest to shoulder and back?

Answer 1

If the symptoms include patches with oozing or weeping blisters that itch continuously it may be poison ivy which is a skin rash that can be treated by rubbing alcohol to dry the weeping blisters and applying calamine lotion or benedryl cream to the skin as well as taking benedryl tablets. if the symptoms become more severe see a doctor they usually can prescribe prednesone over a step down dosage period of about 2 weeks to clear the rash.

Answer 2

If this rash is on only one side of the body, it is likely to be "shingles".

Shingles is the common name for a condition called Herpes Zoster, which is a re-activation of the virus that causes chickenpox (Varicella Zoster Virus).

When a person gets chickenpox, the illness will eventually subside. But the virus that causes chickenpox will remain in the body forever. It lives in a sort of suspended animation in the knots of nerves just outside the spinal cord called the dorsal root ganglia.

Under certain circumstances (another illness that weakens the immune system or excessive ultraviolet light exposure), this virus springs back to life. It travels down (usually) a single nerve root and causes a red, itchy (and eventually painful) rash in a single dermatome (the part of the skin that single nerve root supplies.

Treatments for Zoster ("shingles") include anti-viral medications like acyclovir or valacyclovir. Elderly people who are more at risk for zoster might try and decrease their risk by taking the vaccine called Zostavax.