Pityriasis Rosea, Or Something Else??? Please Help Me.

I used a tanning bed and it worked as well.

I think that bronzer might be a better way to go. Tanning beds can be more hazardous to your health unless you are suggesting that you just use it for about five minutes or so at a time. Is that what you mean?

What were the herbal pills called you took?

Well... where to begin... the herald patch. My husband and I went to a friend's house to hang out and I was wearing my bathing suit. It was I'd say late July or early August 09 (I live in Florida). I never swam, just sat in a lawn chair in their back yard, hanging out by the fire and such. That night when we got home, I noticed a strange spot under my bathing suit strap on my back. Then within a few days, itchy spots, everywhere! Thought I had ringworm somehow, maybe one of their dogs rubbed on me or something in the yard (although I wasn't rolling around on the ground or anything). Started using hydrocortisone creams but got really expensive, going through about a tube a night! Went to a doc, agreed ringworm. Prescribed antifungal pills, didn't help after about a month, went to another doc. Agreed a severe case of ringworm. Prescribed a different, newer antifungal pill. Didn't help. Finally went to a dermatologist. Diagnosed immediately as PR. Have been on a cocktail of prescribed meds like prednisone (which does not cure, just kinda masks it and clears it until I finished the prescription, usually a week. Not good to be on steroids for long periods of time), hydroxyzine (which is for the itch, it helps but makes me sleepy), Clobex lotion (a steroidal cream for the itchy spots - which is tough if spots are everywhere!) and Clarinex (an antihistamine). Had biopsy, results indicated an allergic reaction to a bite from an arthropod. What the heck is an arthropod?? Derm said not scabies because at this point, I'd had it for months and no-one else near me had it, including my husband who obviously sleeps in the same bed every night. Scabies is highly contagious. Treated me for this "arthropod bite" with cream and it did not go away. Derm recommended I see an allergist so I did, even though I hadn't done anything out of the norm that I thought I would be allergic to. Allergist ordered blood tests. The results came back that I am allergic to pecans...fine and dandy but I've eaten them my entire life without problem. Besides, I hadn't had a pecan in I don't know how long so I knew that wasn't the issue. We recently established with a new primary physician who, after sharing my story, agreed it is PR. I think it is too considering all the research I have done on this. Nothing to cure, just deal with it and let it run it's course. Ugh!! It is now March 2010 and I still have some of it. Although, I must say it isn't nearly as bad as when I was first invaded! Tanning seemed to help me too. I have gone twice now over the past 2 weeks (am considering going more often though to hopefully speed up the process). I read that stress can be a factor of getting this and I will say I was stressed... We were in the process of buying our 1st house (extremely stressed out!) I also read online somewhere that the final stage is peeling. I got excited when I began to moult a little bit. Before I tanned, at that. However, I've had more spots since moulting. I have even had it on my face where my lips would swell and eye lids (closer to the beginning of my turmoil, how embarrassing! Have been wearing long sleeves, turtlenecks, scarves, you name it - in Florida at that, in the summer! Anyway, I am really hoping this funk has met it's match and will leave me alone soon! By the way, I have stopped using the steroidal cream and use Sarna lotion on itchy spots (recommended by derm and allergist). It's like an icy-hot type thing, helps the itch and it's over the counter. I have felt better after reading stories of others with this mess so I don't feel like such a freak!!! I hope my story helps, I felt compelled to share. I recommend seeing a dermatologist, of course, and not just taking my word for anything I discussed in my treatment. Best wishes to all and keep your head up! Above all, say some prayers... I have had MANY people praying for me!!!

IVe had PR for about 3 weeks now. Like many of the posts have said, I first thought it was ringworm. Then i notcied it started to spread on my back, stomach, legs and along the bottom of my chest. After this I went the doctor, immediatley he told me what it was and said there was nothing I could really do. But, he recommended taking a Benedryl before bed and applying Sarna anti-itch cream (pretty inexpensive and works with itching). He also recommended me to go tanning. I hate the thought of getting a "fake tan", but anything to help this go away I will do. To any of those reading this I know how you feel if you are embarressed by it. I have it all over my neck and people are always asking me about it. The weather just started getting warm and i have to bundle up because I hate the feeling knowing its on my body. Tomorrow though I'm definetly taking a trip to the tanning booth and hopefully this works. If not I willl just have to bear it.
Good Luck!

I went to a tanning salon today for 8 minutes for the first time since I got this damn PR. I put on tanning lotion beforehand and it seemed like the spots got redder? I don't know if this has occurred to other people? When you went tanning, did you put on tanning lotion or sunblock?

Hi,
I've had PR now for about 5 weeks, I thought I had ringworm also but my doctor knew better luckily. I was extremely relieved that I in fact did not have systemic ringworm! I have the rash on my stomach and my back and feel extremely unattractive! At the time it appeared I had a Malar type rash on my face which lasted about 3 days, I was extremely stressed when it appeared and am putting this condition solely down to the stress. The rash is extremely itchy but seems to be spreading very slowly. I thought it would be getting better by now but it's getting worse....... painstakingly slowly. The rest of my skin which doesn't have actual plaques (face/neck/chest/top of legs) seem very irritable and blotchy. A few months ago (Aug/Sep) I flared up with an Urictaric rash all over my body and was covered in wheels and even histamine blisters, prednisalone sorted this out over 3 days. I have since had this reaction twice but less severe. I wondered if they are related, if in some people, stress causes these skin problems? I was scared a few weeks back that I had Lupus! I think having this is causing more stress! I hate this rash and really want it to go away, I feel ugly and itchy and it feels like there's no signs of it getting better. It has been wonderful reading all of your posts and I feel a little more optimistic. Good luck everyone x

Hi,
I was diagnosed with pr 4 weeks ago. I had a herald patch on my shoulder and just over a week later the rash started. I have a pretty awful case of it with my neck, back, arms, legs to my knees, stomach and chest covered. It looks awful. I also got night sweats??? Not sure if this was related. Anyway, after reading a heap of info and with the doctor and dermatologist telling me that it was viral and to let it work it's way through I took action. I washed my skin with selsun gold ( the yellow bottle) 2 times morning and night. You have to shake the bottle to get the active ingredient to mix through the shampoo. I left it on for about s minute each time. One week on and mine is nearly all cleared up and my skin is looking normal again. I also took phenergan ( anti histamine) to help with the itching. Trust me- this works!!! I'm 29 and think I must have caught it because I was run down. Don't be shocked if you'd skin dries out heaps either and itches more... It took about 4 days for my skin to start to come good. Actually on a way I'm sort of glad I had it because it makes me understand about 1% of how people must feel who have skin conditions... And appreciate my good skin!
Don't stress because it will go away, eat well, use the selsun, rest up and stop stressing!

Guest wrote:

Thank you for this response. I was thinking about checking out a Chinese medice store but after your response I am sure I will. My experience with the "western" doctor was so disapointing (now I know why I hate going to the doctor). I found some names of the possible Chinese herbal medicine that could help with the PR.

here are the names if anyone is trying to find them:

Herbal Formula: Yin Qiao SanLong Dan Xie Gan Tang

Herbal Formula: Xiao Feng San, Long Dan Xie Gan Tang EXTERNAL Qing Dai, Da Qing Ye, Ban Lan Gen, Huang Qin,

 

is the scars will fade also? or it will stay on ur skin forever,,,

Pitriasis Rosea is not contagious. It goes away in 4-6 weeks. It is when little elliptical dots that are salmon colored occur on the belly, chest, arm pits,back, or fore arms. Usually there is a patch bigger than the rest about the size of a quarter, this is normal. There is nothing to worry about.

When I first got pityriasis rosea I didn’t know what it was and I was on holiday.  It started off with a dark patch and a few days later the rash started.  It was all over my body except for my face, hands, the bottom part of my legs and my feet.  By the time I got to the doctor the rash had turned black.  My doctor didn’t know what it was a prescribed me antibiotics and antihistamines.  I then started to do loads of research online and realised what I had. I also realised that on black people the rash turns into black marks.  I should never have been prescribed antibiotics. I started to use Bio oil.  I have no idea if it helped to reduce the marks but it definitely helped when my skin started flaking for a week.  It looked horrible.  Luckily the itching wasn’t too bad for me. The marks went completely after two months.  I was so glad it was winter. All in all it took 2 ½ months to go completely.  Unfortunately for black people it takes longer because of the scars it leaves behind.  I now really appreciate my good skin.   If you definitely have this there is no need to go to the doctor because it goes all by itself.

i also have had Pit Rosea for about 2 weeks. The first week was just the breaking out part, but a little itchy. (2 weeks after "mother" patch started on arm) Then the 2nd week got horrible! spread to arm pits, sides, groin area, stomach, now down my arms. It started to burn almost more than itch. Could not sleep well, was miserable. Went back to dermatologist and he told me just have to ride it out and here is some steroid cream. He would not listen to any newer therapy like Acyclovir (anti-viral used for Shingles, Chicken-pox, Herpes ect.) Well, went to my GP and begged for the Acyclovir. He did a bit of research and agreed that it is a valid treatment for someone with a severe case (like mine). I stared it right away and by the next morning the burn was much better. The rash is still there full force, but I feel much more comfortable. I am also tanning (which is pure torture for me being fair skinned and hating sun bathing) but i think it is also helping? The tanning does make it worse at the time, I just hope it is killing it in the long run. Hope i am finally on the up swing. we'll see.

 

I have it too , not pleasent, but curable, on the Wend I first noticed a rash after the shower , So I quickly put some cortizone on it & took an antihistamine, both of which I had in the house, after a few days, i didnt see an improvemnt, in fact it had spread & my skin was very flaky, so on the Mon, i booked a doctors appointment, she did not know for sure what it was , but definitely not contact dermatitis, which a chemist told me it was .. to be fair it hadnt spread from my arm at that stage, she then said id have to go to a dermatologist, the waiting list was veryyyyyyyyyyyyy long as in months !! , but I shed a few tears & said I was bridesmaid the wknd, sooooooooo she begged him to see me, and he did :-D , he quickly diagnosed it as P.R., & i cried , as it looks awful ,all over my body , he said 6-8 wks healing time , really ?

the cream he gave me is veryyyyyyyyyyyyyyy good, its betnovate 01% ( strong steriod) he also gave me a lower dosage that I oculd use more of & more often.. twicw a day is the most, as i have to fully undress to apply the cream.

as im writing this its the 3rd day , and i can see a big improvement, but must try the selsun as a body wash.

im bewildered as how I got it, but as i said its cureable, and theres worse things to get

 

so dont fred, it will go away x

 

I first realized that there was a pink, 1 inch diameter patch on my side about a week and a half ago.  I have spent countless hours since than researching on this topic.  I dont have health insurance and refuse to go see a dr. only to find out my condition is exactly what I already thought it was. 

All the symptoms seem to match up perfectly with my condition except for two.  The First difference is I have no pain or itch.  The marks that i see are light pink patches all over my side, stomach, neck and a little on my back and do not itch one bit (the herald patch is on my side). The Second difference has to do with the common Christmas tree appearance.. The marks I have do not resemble a christmas tree AT ALL.. More like a stary night. 

Everything besides these two differences  leads me to believe I have P.R.  Through all the research i have done the only thing close to what these marks look like besides P.R is a possible Drug/Alcohol induced Hepatisis C outbreak.  I have never been diagnosed with hepC but I feel like i cant rule out the possibility.  I was taking some hydrocodone for a few weeks b4 the outbreak and occassionally drinking on them. I would really like to know if there is anyother possibilities i should consider before continuing to treat the outbreak like P.R.

I did try tanning but havent seen any results yet.  It has been almost 2 weeks since the first patch appeared.

Going to vegas in 1 week, kinda freaking out. PLEASE HELP