Could The Blisters On The Back Of The Head And Neck Be Due Shingles?

I went to the doctor with 4 or 5 large boil type things on the back of my head and neck around my ear. They are very painful. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic because he thinks it is a staph infection. However, a friend of mine told me her husband had very similar symptoms and it turned out to be shingles -- which took a long time to recover completely from. Is there a way to tell the difference without having it biopsied?