To introduce the similarities and differences in the differential treatment of varicella and herpes zoster with classical prescriptions. It is considered that both of them are common skin diseases caused by varicella-zoster virus(VZV) infection. For varicella, the treatment is focused on dispelling pathogenic factors by syndrome differentiation concentrated on the three yang meridians of the Taiyang, Yangming and Shaoyang in the six meridians, and gypsum associated prescriptions can be used. For herpes zoster, attention is paid to strengthening the healthy qi by syndrome differentiation focused on the six meridians, deficiency and excess, and Chaihu(Radix Bupleuri) associated prescriptions can be applied.