Worried that I might have shingles in my eye

On Saturday, 1/16/10, I had a small shingles rash (it had white blisters) under my chin for a while (I’m pretty sure it wasn’t herpes, because I’ve never had herpes on my chin, but I’ve had shingles under my chin before). It started a couple of days before 1/16/10. Last Friday, 1/22/09, it didn’t itch and it seemed to be crusted up and there was no more red rash area, and I was taking a shower and I rubbed my fingers on the shingles area and later I rubbed my eyes with the same fingers. Is it possible that I infected my eyes with shingles? Or there is no way that the shingles was contagious anymore? Could some virus still have been on the skin or did the immune system kill all of the virus particles?

Thanks

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Autoinoculation of shingles rash is not known and shingles is contagious only to persons who have never had chicken pox. You cannot transmit shingles just by touching the skin because it attacks only a particular dermatome only.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.