Hello, You had a tattoo and have developed bumps and pimples spreading all around it. It is itchy and now painful. You have been exposed to a friend who has shingles. You are suggested to get it clinically examined by a health care provider. Your health care provider will take a tissue sample or culture of the blisters to send to the lab. You will be thereby treated accordingly. As such there s no cure for shingles but early treatment with prescription antiviral drugs may speed healing and lower your risk of complications. If your tests are positive then you will be treated with Acyclovir (Zovirax) or Famciclovir, etc. Other factors that may cause such symptoms are contact dermatitis, allergy, etc. Capsaicin topical patch (Qutenza) may be helpful. Numbing agents, such as lidocaine, in the form of a cream are also helpful. You can take acetaminophen one SOS when required to get rid of pain. Taking antihistamine may help. Applying ointment hydrocortisone on the area affected will reduce itching. If symptoms persist then your treating doctor may prescribe injections including corticosteroids and local anesthetics for relieve. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Nupur K., General & Family Physician