sort of both depending on the stage of the infection. shingles will mostly present as painful blisters.
is shingles a single blister or a rash? . my dad has a single red painful sore in his ear. a pa asked if he had his zoster shot and now he is convinced he has shingles in his ear. there are no other sores no rash just pain at the site and in his jaw in front of the ear.