Warts are not shingles. Warts are a viral skin disease caused by human papillomavirus infection of the skin and mucous membranes, which can spread by self-inoculation and is contagious. There is an incubation period of one to three months, and the virus is usually present in the spinal cells, which can lead to cell proliferation and the formation of wart-like damage. Herpes zoster is an acute infectious skin disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. It is self-healing, but if left untreated, it can be accompanied by significant neuralgia, which can persist long after the rash has completely healed. The difference between warts and shingles is that warts are not easily cured because they are infected with human papillomatosis, and the lesions appear in different forms, which are clearly raised on the surface of the skin. Herpes zoster is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus infection that results in reddish blisters that are usually easier to treat. When a patient is unsure whether it is warts or shingles, he or she should go to the hospital for an examination to clarify the diagnosis and treatment under the guidance of a doctor.