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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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So how long did it take for it to go away? I notice that people have more spots than a actual rash my skin is red and bumpy with the oval bumps does that sound like something you had also? or is that all part of the PR? with me being a black female also the red bumps are very noticebale and papular? I think I will ask for some kind of anxiety pills because Its really efecting alot I dont like getting up in the morning. So I really thank you for responding
April 7, 2011 - 7:41amThis Comment
Mine ran the course of 12 weeks... I started noticing fading beginning at the 10th week, but I really noticed it going away at the 12 week mark. 3 whole months of agony. Some people have like a ton of little reddish/pinkish spots/bumps and others have bigger, but fewer spots, which is what I had. While doing research I read about how PR is also linked to a form of herpes simplex 6/7 --- not tthe major ones (Herpes Simplex 1 and 2) which are contagious. Simplex 6/7 is obviously not the same as those two, but reading that prompted me to ask my doctor to subscribe Valtrex, JUST IN CASE, and I took it twice a day for like 3 weeks during the outbreak, so I'm wondering if that could be a reason I didn't get a lot of tiny bumps forming all over.... I don't know, I tried everything I could before just treating the symptons and dealing with them that way. Toward the end I would stand, practically naked, in front of my large bay window every day hoping and praying no one could see inside, and I would stand in the sun for 15 minutes a day soaking my body in the rays all over. That really really helped A LOT.
So, it took 12 weeks before I really noticed that hey... they are really beginning to fade all over. Being a black female myself I thought I was doomed to have marks and scars left all over when the PR completely healed, but I'm finding that as the rash fades, so does the discoloration except for the herald patch which is still slightly darker in color than my skin surrounding it.
What you are describing... more spots than actual rash is the same thing that I read many many other people having as well during the course of their PR outbreak. It shows up differently for some people, but all in all, the main symptoms will be the same for everyone no matter how many fewer or lesser lesions appear on your body.
The anxiety pills should help A LOT... I wish you the best! Stay strong -- and if someone doesn't seem right please talk to you doctor about it... force the issue if you have to. This is not something I had EVER heard of until I got it myself so the more info that's out there, the better, especially for black women.
April 7, 2011 - 7:56amThis Comment
I have it and does anytone know of someone that actually had this and went away? its miserable and im seeing spots daily. I had it now for 4wks it has gotten better but I still see new spots appear
April 6, 2011 - 8:36amThis Comment
Yes, I had it. My comment is the one before yours and when I made that comment, I was still dealing with the full effects of the outbreak. Today, I am completely healed of the rash. When I get too stressed or too hot, I get a little itchy in some spots where a rash occurred, but that's the extent of it. My rash took a full 12 weeks before it started to heal. Please follow the steps I listed above. There is absolutely nothing that I know of or have tried that will make the rash go away any faster than the remedies listed above. Nothing a doctor or dermatologist will give you will make the rash go away any faster... the stuff they prescribe is designed to alleviate the symptoms, but I'm sorry to tell you that nothing truly works except for UV Rays, Lukewarm Showers, Oatmeal Moisturizers + Vitamin E + Cocoa Butter, lowered stress, don't scratch, don't let your skin get dry--- the itch is way worse, and get SUN!!!
Let it run its course... treat your symptoms. Trust me... I tried EVERYTHING. When I came to the realization that I had to just wait it out... I started healing before I even realized.
April 6, 2011 - 8:54amThis Comment
You are awesone thank you!!!! it is really driving me and really stressing me out. I thank you for your response. I have it on my hnads which they say you rarely get. very noticeable and embarrsing. Mine looks more like I have a heat rash on my hands and feet. your right about the doctors they gave me some pills and a shot it looked better after but I couldnt deal with what they were giving me. which was Prednisone. it worked but the side effects was horroble. was your rashy or just the oval shapes lesions? how many weeks did you notice that it was getting better and they sopped appearing? I so thank you for your response. its easier to deal knowing that this is actually real and people actually do get this.......
April 6, 2011 - 9:07amThis Comment
I had a herald patch (saying that word STILL makes my skin crawl), on my back and it was kind of pine tree shaped but it was definitely rashy on top and oval shaped. The spots that appeared on the rest of my body were oval, round, splotchy... different sizes and shapes, but the rash always resembled that of a piece of bran flake cereal (sorry about the food comparison), but that's how it looked. I didn't get it on my hands or feet, and I'm wondering if your dermotologist recommended a STD test for Syphillis... don't panic, it's just to rule it out mainly because pityraisis on the hands and feet could be a manifestation of that, but it's not common so don't worry (I just wanted to mention it just in case your doctor's haven't!)
My rash didn't start going away until about the 9th or 10th week... literally that long. I dealt with it cold turkey for about 3 weeks before I got diagnosed with pityraisis rosea, so I was suffering for a while and stressing myself completely out in the process, thus making it worse! So, about the 10th week or so I saw the spots beginning to diminish... Even today, I can still see where the spots were, but whoooooa, so much improved, no rash, just some minor skin discoloration in the areas where the rash occurred.
I did so much research on this, wondering if I was alone, but I saw that so many people get this, it's just not talked about as much as other common skin rashes and conditions. There's no known test or treatment so that could be a factor as well.
For a while, I thought I would never get over this rash... but having come this far, please believe that you will get better eventually. You have to comfort yourself, comfort your body, and make sure you are not allowing yourself to get stressed out too much. Let me know if you have any questions whatsoever... I will try to respond as fast as I can.
April 6, 2011 - 9:39amThis Comment
Hi I just got PR about 2 weeks ago and it started to freak me out. I'm African American so it is twice as bad because they are hyper-pigmented (darker). I did stress but I found out what I had, I am going tanning... yes we tan too :-). I did try the Psoriasin ointment with Coal Tar 2% which helped TRENDOULOUSLY with the itching(Note: Wait 24 hours after using Psoriasin before tanning). I feel much better. But also use Cetaphil lotion to keep moisturized and buy 100% Castor Oil. Castor Oil is the best oil that goes into your body and help with the healing.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/castor-oil-for-skin-care.html
Sorry folks but if you have faith and believe in GOD.... remember he has the last word. The doctors can say oh your scars will stay, they will be perminent.... WHATEVER. Pray ask him for his grace in helping with the healing and let your prayers be answered. It's is just the devil trying to steal your joy... DON'T LET HIM. I grew a finger nail when I wasn't suppose ... my finger got chopped off and my mom prayed... I have a beautiful nail!
Well, good luck I'm still on my 3rd week and I'm working out today... That's has been my stress reliever for 5 years and I refuse to sit an sob about these scars that I've already given to God.
Stay blessed and stop worrying! I'll keep all my PR buddies in my prayers.
September 14, 2011 - 1:57pmThis Comment
Do you think with me already having it for 4wks now that it can still develop on my face?
April 6, 2011 - 11:29amThis Comment
You can still develop new spots up until the time they begin to heal... I stopped getting new spots at about the 8th week if I recall correctly, but at 4 weeks, yes, you can still get new spots forming on different parts of your body. I was fortunate not to have gotten any on my hands and face, but I have read stories of people, mainly females, getting them on their face, and even in their scalp. I'm so sorry you're going through this.
April 7, 2011 - 6:52amThis Comment
I had the Harold patch on my arm then a few weeks later the rash begin. he did a biopsy on it and everything was fine. its weird because I went to three different Doc and they all said PR but my case seems a little different with it being on my hnad and feet and more rash now than the little oval bumps but I see its still a little oval in some places and turning dark, which i guess means its healing. Im still getting red bumps on my legs.Hopefully its not syphills which I totally doubt but thank you I willlook in to it I see my derm Friday. once again thank you so much
April 6, 2011 - 9:54amThis Comment