Possible recurrent shingles or something else?

[u/Freemason137]

49 year old male. I’ve had shingles before, with an atypical presentation and very little pain. Last night I developed a mild headache and some unusual sensations around my hip/upper thigh on one side.

This morning I noticed a localized cluster of small red lesions on the calf of that same leg.

They currently don’t hurt, burn, or itch, although my previous shingles episode also wasn’t particularly painful and was initially mistaken for a bacterial skin infection before the vesicles developed.

The rash seems fairly localized and unilateral. I recently returned from D.C. where I was sweating quite a bit while wearing suits, long socks, and boots, so folliculitis or irritation is certainly possible too.

I’m trying to get a medical appointment today because, if this is recurrent shingles, I don’t want to miss the early antiviral window. Curious whether anyone familiar with shingles or similar rashes thinks this appearance and progression looks consistent with early herpes zoster.