“Herpeticum” is herpes simplex and is repeatedly being over-diagnosed. Real eczema herpeticum is a rare viral infection that can be exceptionally serious and often requires hospitalization when proved by culture. Physicians seeing what they believe to be blisters often mistakenly diagnose “herpeticum.” Usually these “blisters” go away by themselves within a few days. The blisters are actually the product of the oozing of fluid from the open blood vessels caused by the steroids, not an infection.