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I was diagnosed with pityriasis rosea almost 6 weeks ago. Apparently it takes 6-8 weeks to disappear, but I keep finding new spots every time I shower, new red spots seem to pop up. The first ones I got seem to keep changing. Does anyone know what these spots are meant to look like before they just disappear?
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I too have PR. It's been a few weeks (had the herald patch on my stomach for a week or so before the main rash came). my main areas affected are my torso, back, sides... but it has spread up my neck and on my shoulders with a few spots on my arms. It started to fade after 5 days of tanning with much of the spots flattening and going brownish... but some staying red, flaking, a few new ones, etc.
March 30, 2016 - 9:21amhow are you doing with yours? did you have the rash coming and going a few times? it confuses me when I think its fading...
head and shoulders, anti-itch pills (reactine), tanning all seem to help.
I really like this form since it has lots of info on it.
thanks!
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Mine all started off in January. It was hot because I live in Australia and I was at my friends house and she has very unclean pets. A couple of days after that there was this lumpy type spot that was about 2 cm in size and I jut thought it was a little heat rash so I left it. About 5 weeks later I was quite concerned about it so I showed my mum and she said that it was ringworm so we went to the chemist and got some anti-fungal cream. I had been using it for a few weeks and I saw no difference so today we went to the doctors to go and get it checked out and it turned out the be PR. And I am really scared someone please help me!!!
March 30, 2016 - 4:35amThis Comment
I totally understand your frustration and being so stressed out! I remember the first time I saw my “mother patch” I was really scared. My family also told me that I had ringworms. We even went out to by the anti-fungal cream (a really expensive brand) but then I started getting them all over my tummy. Every day I would wake up and find a new one. On an off day, I would find one or two on my thighs. I was really concerned. After two weeks of putting on cream and I wasn’t getting better, I decided to get checked out by a dermatologist. As soon as the doctor saw me, he diagnosed me with PR. He said that unfortunately there is nothing we can do that it will just disappear. The same way it started, it will just go. I started to Google what exactly PR was and a lot of people said it took about 8 weeks or so before it was all gone. I had them for a little over 6 months! I felt really embarrassed getting dressed in front of my husband because I didn’t want him to see me. My family would freak out when they would see me. I was very embarrassed. Then I found this website and found where someone said to put “coconut oil” and I sure did. And it worked!! I would smother myself twice a day with coconut oil – once in the morning and again right before bed. And nothing too expensive either. I found some for a $1.00 at my local supermarket. It’s not going to take it away in a week but it does help A LOT. I also live in Sunny Florida and I tried to get to the beach as much as I could. I know it sounds strange about getting some sun exposure on the PR but it also works. Obviously, don’t get burned. But for example, I went to the beach twice and would let the sun hit me for a little, then I would go in the shade and back at it.. getting sun needs to be moderate.. I know its easier said than done, but take it one day at a time – stressing isn’t going to help it get better. Good luck and all the best!
March 30, 2016 - 8:05amThis Comment
How are you doing today? How haw the "scars" healed? My PR (which I wrote about in the beginning of March) stopped spreading and started healing a couple of weeks ago, and even though the darker than my normal skin flat "scar patches" have faded, they are still clearly visible.
I was also really stressed out when a couple of doctors (and one dermatologist) didn't think my rash was caused by PR (supposedly it doesn't affect shins and calves). They suspected psoriasis guttata and pityriasis lichenoides and a skin biopsy was done. That ruled out psoriasis and didn't indicate lichenoides either. So phew, I guess this really was PR and that the scars will fade away in time.
Again, I would really appreciate if those of you who have fully healed, would tell how long it took for the marks to fully disappear.
March 24, 2016 - 11:47pmThis Comment
Ive had gutate psoriasis and i now have PR. I went to 3 drs and i figured it out on my own. Psoriasis is MUCH worse, as it hurts and cracks while it tries to heal, it's a nightmare. I've had PR for 8 weeks now. Just started using head and shoulders as a body wash (and it works FANTASTIC) and using diaper rash cream (40% zinc). Also started taking zinc supplements and vitamin D3. Read all this on another site. Will see if it helps. Apparently if you have darker skin, the marks are much more noticeable.....
May 26, 2016 - 5:41pmThis Comment
Hello - hows your PR going?
March 30, 2016 - 9:28amI'm about two weeks in and after 6 tanning sessions over the last 8 days most of the patches appear to be turning a brownish color with some staying red. some new bumps on my wrist. I have them on my torso (where it started and where my herald patch is), back, shoulders, neck and some on my arms. its really frustrating and stressful. Head and Shoulders seems to be helping.
the doctors told me 6 - 8 weeks so I'm expecting at least another few weeks of this but who knows...
appreciate anyone's feedback and comments since it helps to know others are dealing with this too.
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My doctor hasn't diagnosed me with PR yet. She only said it wasn't viral, prescribed an antihistamine and told me if it doesn't go away to see a Dermatologist. My symptoms are exactly like others that shared their experience. The Mother patch started on my back then 7 to 10 days later , A rash appeared on my chest, stomach, neck and shoulders.
I'm so embarrassed and just want to get past it. I don't think I need a. dermatologist to tell me but I would think my PCP could have told me
May 17, 2016 - 7:11pmThis Comment
My doctor hasn't diagnosed me with PR yet. She only said it wasn't viral, prescribed an antihistamine and told me if it doesn't go away to see a Dermatologist. My symptoms are exactly like others that shared their experience. The Mother patch started on my back then 7 to 10 days later , A rash appeared on my chest, stomach, neck and shoulders.
I'm so embarrassed and just want to get past it. I don't think I need a. dermatologist to tell me but I would thing my PCP would have
May 17, 2016 - 7:07pmThis Comment
I've now had this horrible condition for over two weeks. More and more spots keep appearing and many are getting larger. Some have become infected. How did I get it ? I was prescribed Crestor, a statin used to lower cholesterol. I also stopped smoking and started using a nicotine patch. Interestingly, there are no spots on the areas of my skin where I've been applying the nicotine replacement patch. My doctor assures me that the Crestor didn't cause this, however skin rashes are a reasonably common side effect of statins. Although I'm glad I've quit smoking, I suspect that my body experienced an extreme stress reaction, which, if this pityriasis rosea is a virus, probably means that my immune system was working overtime. I'm going to try the Head and Shoulders which people are recommending. Btw, I'm just over 60, supposedly not an age group that tends to catch this !
February 25, 2016 - 9:38pmThis Comment
I was covered from knees to chin, front and back in horrendous red patchy spots that itched terribly, Dr diagnosed pityriasis and that I had to wait it out, 6-8 weeks. I tried the head and shoulders, didn't work for me at all, was going mad with itching and how terrible I looked, had to be completely covered at all times, thankfully it was only a small patch on my face that could be concealed with make up. After 3 weeks and feeling desperate a friend suggested adding 2-3 drops of tea tree essential oil to since cream and rubbing it on the soles of my feet at night. The skin on your soles is the most absorbent part and as tea tree is anti viral it should help combat the virus that causes p.r. Within a week I started to see improvements (I also drastically cut down sugar and gluten to reduce inflammation) and after about 10 days it had mainly subsided. 4 weeks after the initial outbreak I now only have faded scars which are peeling and disappearing. Frankincense oil also can be used as well or instead of tea tree.
January 8, 2016 - 12:49pmThis Comment