Both the chickenpox and shingles are caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The difference is that chickenpox is the infection you get with a first exposure to the virus, and shingles is the infection you get when something reactivates the dormant virus. The rash also looks different. Chickenpox blisters can be found throughout the entire body. Shingles tends to be clustered in one area of the body, usually on the trunk or face.