how do I know when pityriasis rosea is healing?

Hello- I have had this before and at first was diagnosed with ringworm. Finally I ended up on steriods (oral and cream) and saw results the very next day! If you want a quick fix going to a tanning bed also helps. I know tanning beds arent good for you but a couple of times and spots will go away a lot faster. - Personal experience. Now that my "outbreak" is over, i will spot one or two every once in a while when I am stressed. Kinda weird...anyone else experience this?

I've had PR for two weeks (of generalised rash). Herald patch came up before that. I've seen 7 docs and PR is their best guess but no one's totally sure. I've got a really rashy one, not just the big spots. When I look on Google, PR is always really big spots, but mine's like heatrash with the big spots over it. I'm glad other people here have mentioned that as well because I was starting to freak out! My doc said mine is the worst case he's ever seen and I do truly look like an alien. This is the most stressful thing I've ever had. I can't wait for it to be over. I have the rash from my knees to my chin - a THICK COATING over all that area, including genitals and bottom - and all down my arms and on my hands. None on my face thank God!

They were incredibly itchy over the last couple of days but have now all gone flat, itch has reduced massively and they are all peeling. Hopefully I will not get a lot of waves of outbreaks and it will soon be over. I look so disgusting though, I really can't wait to wake up and this be over. It's so upsetting. I've only cried once so far and I'm going to try and keep my chin up!

I also self diagnosed myself. I have been doing a lot of detoxing and my herald pathches showed up coincidentally after I did a liver flush. I assumed it was a candida type rash. I actually had 2 big ones, one on my arm and one on my lower leg. Then I got a few more. I had just a handful of them for about 2 months. Finally I decided to take action and started trying to suffocate them with antifungal type stuff under bandaids. I ended up really pissing them off (like another guy mentioned earlier) and they spread like crazy and the one on my arm got a secondary infection. My left arm is almost completely covered, I have a ton on my stomach and another huge one on my right arm and on my legs.

My doctor was grossed out and said it was an allergic reaction and immediately wanted to put me on prednisone. You guys need to understand that it is NOT a good doctor if they want to give you prednisone. That stuff is HELL on your body!! I took it one time before I knew better a couple of years ago and it made me super sick. I told her no way. She gave me a topical steroid and that made me sick as heck too! My body is super sensitive to medicine I've realized I think because my liver is so congested. Well anyways, that is another story!

Does anyone else have oozing rashes? I have stuff oozing out of the huge one on my arm and grosser yet, I have them right on my nipples and they ooze and it my bra sticks to my breasts and when I pull it off it hurts like hell!! I started going to the tanner and it started clearing up after 2 trips, but then I got really stressed out at work and it started coming back like right away!! Stress does really make it worse. Calendula cream seems to help a little but it's expensive and a pain to put on. So my original rash came about the 2nd wk of Dec, then it started spreading like crazy around Feb 20th , so that has been about 5 weeks with the really bad rashes. I really feel like there is no end in sight!! I"m going to try the lemon balm I think that someone posted earlier.

Thanks so much for all of your responses! I was officially diagnosed with PR two days ago after enduring this tormenting condition for 2 weeks. I actually diagnosed myself after extensive research on the internet, but went to my doctor to get a confirmation. My doctor told me that the rash would last at least 8 weeks and the only thing I could do is wait it out. I was definately not feeling this plan. I had already suffered 2 weeks and this thing was not getting any better. I was not sleeping, I lost my appetite (always nausea) and my skin itched an burned like no tomorrow. I've decided to try some of the home remedies to see if this will help ease some of my pain. I can't imagine having to go through this for 6 more weeks. I'm trying not to get stressed out, but how can you not stress out when you feel like your life has been turned upside down. Before the onset of PR I used to work out everyday, now whenever I think about working out I feel like I see another bump appearing. I've decided to stop showering because even the lukewarm showers irritate my skin. I'm sure relief will come soon, but in the mean time my skin feels like its on FIRE! Has anyone else felt this burning sensation with their case? I'm sorry if I appear to be whining, but I feel miserable. I'm a 39 year old woman with 3 boys and have a very active life. However all activity has stopped because I now feel like anything I do that raised my temp causes an outbreak. It has to get better...any advice is helpful. Sorry for the venting...I really just need to get it off my chest.

My daughter had PR in July. We heard the same thing over and over - you just have to wait it out. But, we kept trying different avenues - doctors, online, and found one dermatologist (after 2 doctors had told us to just wait it out) who said you definitely DO NOT HAVE TO JUST WAIT !!! He prescribed oral steroids and a topical steroid cream. After a couple days, it was very much cleared up. I do not understand why doctors say there's nothing to do and it won't hurt, and it will eventually go away, probably. Well, there is something you can do, and doctors should prescribe the steroids. This PR rash is awful and long lasting. I see no reason to make victims of it suffer for so long when there is an effective treatment - not just for the symptoms, but to make it go away. If you have PR, please find a doctor who will prescribe this for you. I hate thinking of anyone having to suffer with this.

I have it too it sucks ;(

I know this might sound crazy but it's the truth. First, at little background..
About 2 years ago, I was diagnosed with PR. The first rash was about 2-in. in diameter on my lower back. I noticed it one day and figured it was a rash from my football pads. A couple of nice hot showers later, the rash spread to my stomach, chest, and thighs. Luckily it was the beginning of the summer so cooler showers were no problem, but it does put a damper on going swimming with your friends with a rash all over your body. The rash didn't itch unless I was sweating so I stayed indoors most of the time.
This routine lasted about 5 weeks until we went on our beach trip..
By this time, I was sick of the rash and ready for it to go away. When we reached the beach, I decided to not let the rash interfere with my vacation so I vowed to let mother nature works her magic! I spent 6 solid days on the beach in the Florida sun. If my rash started to itch from sweat, I hopped in the SALTY ocean and cooled off. I know they say to keep your skin moisturized with oatmeal baths, etc. but it seemed that the topical ointment my doctor prescribed me didn't help. The salt in the ocean seemed to dry out the rash. I will admit the rash appeared "redder" after I returned to the condo but there must be something in the water. Two days after returning home from the beach, my rash was 90% gone!! Like Ripley says, Believe It or Not.. :)

I started to notice by PR about 2 weeks ago. I freaked out and went to several doctors to tell me the same thing let it run its course. I was so angry and mad. I'm a gym girl and having these scars all over me was so depressing. Then I thought about when my mom prayed I would grow a finger nail after my finger was chopped off in a window. The doctors told her it wouldn't grow ever...well I have a beautiful full grown nail on my finger. I remembered PRAYER. God has the final say so! You may see scars and they may tell you they won't fade... PRAY.

I feel better because I asked God to help heal me and comfort me during this time of great dispair. I FEEL much better because I believe....just pray people.

Okay, now for others I have used Calmine lotion which helps with the itch. Also, Psoriasin (Coal Tar 2%) works wonders with the itch... use it for 2 days (says cancerous but what isn't). Also no tanning on Psoriasin until after 24 hours. Also get Cetaphil lotion to help as a moisturizer.

Also note to use Castor Oil during the course of your healing to get your natural tone back. Read link below:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/castor-oil-for-skin-care.html