boy - good question. i guess i'm not sure. this is what i've been told by different vets:

It's a staph infection
Could be a thyroid problem
It's sebhoreea (i never spell that right)
Might be allergies

The steroids and antibiotics work until the treatment is over and within a week or so - everything is back. Argghh! I think shingles tend to be pretty painful - at least in humans - but he doesn't seem to have pain, just the itchies.

oh well, i'm willing to look at anything!