Question:
This is my first post, hi everyone. :D

I have had herpes for 15+ years and have earned to cope with it very well. Sometimes I even forget I have it (when I'm lucky and go for a long time between outbreaks). My recurrences have always been in the genital area. I have been married with the same partner for 15 years.

But now I am very worried. I have a sudden rash in a new remote area which I am pretty sure is herpes - two areas on my upper chest and two at the nape of my neck. Is it possible for herpes to "jump" to another part of the body like this, so long after inital infection? What gives? I am devastated - at least before it was in a private area that no one saw.

Any information at all would be appreciated. I have read conflicting stuff online as to whether this type of spreading is even possible.

Answer:
It doesn't sound like it could be herpes simplex (the one that gets the oral and genital regions).

Based on the locations and your age, it's probably herpes zoster (also known as shingles, and is the same virus that causes chickenpox). Go to the doc, there's drugs out there to treat it.