how do I know when pityriasis rosea is healing?

I am at the end of my second week of PR. About three weeks ago I developed a herald patch on my back which I out down to eczema. One week later I had what looked like insect bites on my stomach. I put it down to my washing power and re-washed all my clothes. Two days later the itching was so intense I went to my doctor who diagnosed it as PR straight away. She perceived menthol cream and told me to take antihisthimines. It has now spread to my chest, back, neck, ears, groin, upper arms and legs and a few patches on my lower arms. I have had no change in my diet prior to PR. I find no cream seems to help dry the rash out but is redder and more aggressive than ever. I hope it goes soon. I feel like no one understands. I haven't been out other than work and am covering up. I don't think I can't stand this for 8 weeks :(. If anyone could tell me what it starts to look like when it's healing?

Week 2-3 of PR, I had my Harold spot by my belly button. I was prescribed antihistamines and have used lavender oil recently. The only good thing about this is that it ISN'T contagious. It so ugly I want to hide, I wish there was a 100% cure. Might try a tanning bed since I live in Canada and its getting cold outside. Something I should share is that I was sick and drank a lot of fluids the days before I began breaking out in PR.

Hi guys. Just a note to sat if you have this condition sun sun sun. I had it for 3weeks before I knew what it was. I tries everything before. Fungas/antibacterial/ steroid. Nothng worked until I reqd an article on treatment tested with UV. It is the only proved treatment with 15patents at various stages of PR all showing recovery within 5-7 treatments. I did and hour each side a day and within a week it was almost fully gone. It can be scary when you read 6weeks by honestly after 1 I was fine so if you have his then go outside or to the tanning salon. I s the only proven cure.
Thanks for all help. I found this site usefull

Spray calamine lotion has been a life-saver with this condition. Had it now for a month and am finally thinking it has stopped spreading. The original patches are starting to scale, dry out and fade. All the new ones are still getting redder, larger, etc.

On week 4 of the rash. First week was the large herald patch on my back and second week till now it's spread to my whole back, chest, stomach, upper legs, and upper arms. Completely coated in this rash. The original head and shoulders shampoo has really helped with the itch. Make sure you take luke warm or cool showers. Hot showers made my rash more itchy, red, and worse. Aveeno excema cream and hydrocortizone 10 cream combined and really helped the itch. Getting outside in the natural sunlight has helped the rash to peel and get less red. In week 4 I've had the rash spread to my wrists and up my neck, behind my ears, and in my neck hairline. I pray this goes away soon. It's been horrible to wear long sleeves and try and cover my neck, arms, legs, etc. Love people at work asking what's going on with my skin. I haven't tried tanning in a bed because I have such fair skin and I've read getting burned makes it worse. I've also had success using coconut oil for the itch.

I recently recovered from Pytiriasis Rosea. But when I was first diagnoses I wasn’t sure of what to expect. So I went online and found a few forums like this one which gave some answers and reassurance that I wasn’t alone going through this. However, I found it confusing to hear all different kind of treatments being used from head and shoulders to UV therapy etc and it didn’t really give me a clue of what to expect. So I thought I share my experience with PR with you....

Week 1: It started with the typical herald patch on my stomach which I thought was just a little spot caused by the trouser button.

Week 2: About a week later small red spots appeared on my lower neck and upper chest. This was just before my holiday and I put it down to stress. I though sun would do the rash good and so I went in the sun as I normally did. Over the next 7 days the spots increased in size and spread all over my chest, stomach, back and under arms. They were just red but without being itchy or flaky. I used a barrier Cream, like SUDO Cream, to sooth and dry the spots.

Week 3: The spots on chest and stomach seem to be drying out and starting to go flaky in an annoying dandruff sort of way. At the same time the red spots have now also spread from my upper arm to my lower arms and I have to cover up (it’s height of summer!) Also the skin on my neck and face has become extremely dry – looking like the skin of a 90 year old! (but luckily not effected by spots) I am wondering how long will this go on!! (CRY)

Week 4: I am now at the point where I am trying to wash the flaky dandruff off my body with head and shoulders followed by a thick layer of Sudo cream to sooth the skin. At the same time I am moisturizing my face and neck every few hours -tit’s SO dry! Towards the end of the week I notice the rash of red spots is slowly and lightly spreading to my groin area and upper legs but luckily not too severe.

Week 5: The flaking of the skin on my upper body is beginning to fade – I am now using E45 Moisturizer cream. My face and neck feel less dry.

Week 6: The chest area where the rash started is beginning to look less blotchy and the flaking on arms and legs becomes less and less. I just keep moisturizing everywhere.

Week 7: I feel normal again. The only trace I can see are some lighter patches on my chest and arms where the initial red spots where exposed to the sun.

As to WHY....
I read that some of you mentioned a change in diet just before you were diagnosed with PR. Thinking about it - I made a conscious effort to drink a LOT of water since I was hardly drinking ANY before. Then throughout the 7 weeks I really noticed How little if any I sweat and didn’t have to wash my hair half as often as I normally do – like the body drying out and not letting any moisture to the surface. Could this be a result of over-watering the body in the first place, like a shock? It would be interesting to hear if any of you have similar experiences.
K