WHAT IS THIS?

[xtremevti]

what do you think this may be and how soon should i act on it? as you can see, its about 5 bumps in a secluded area, one being red in color. it is located on my rear-end and it does itch on a moderate level.  today is monday the 16th and i just noticed it around 6:30ish p.m.  im thinking it may be a spider bite but not quite sure.  i dont have the funds available at the moment since urgent care wants 50 bucks just to look at you.  i figure i can get some 'online-advice'.. thank you for all input and i will be monitoring it for the next couple days and see what it does..

[maatson]

Fairly certain it is herpes zoster.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
It can be insect bite, hives or an allergic reaction. If it is present on the trunk and there is significant pain then herpes zoster should be ruled out. Do not use any cosmetic products at the sites. You can apply some calamine lotion at the rash as it will help in soothing the skin and wear cotton clothes.  You can take some OTC oral antihistamine medications like Benadryl or Claritin and see if it helps.

For mild-moderate symptoms a weak steroid may be used (e.g. hydrocortisone as dermacort), whilst more severe cases require a higher-potency steroid (e.g. clobetasol propionate, fluocinonide). But they are available under prescription and should be taken only after consulting a dermatologist.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.