Ok, Long story short. First thing Inoticed was a quarter size bruise like spot on my butt, than within days little red hicky like spots started showing up. They don't itch at all or even hurt. I have about 30 now.

I went to a walk in clinic because I was online trying to figure out hwta it was and everything freaked me out. Well they were not sure. So thy took blood, everything came back normal.

So I went to a dermatologist. They didn't seem to know either, said to come back in 30 days and if not better would do biopsy.

Than went to my doctor who did a biopsy, suggested results were PR. SO I called dermatologist and sent them results. Well they don't agree. they said if this is what I had, they would itch. Plus I only have them on my hips and down. Many on my butt and thighs.

So went back to derma today and they do another biopsy. Now waiting. These things are pretty ugly. Some are kinda oval and all are red, brighter red when I take a hot shower. Some have gone away, but 10 more replaced them. Its been about a month and half.

Could this be what I have? I havent tried to tanning yet, of course dermatologist said dont do it. Since they don't think its even PR, than I am kinda afraid to tan.

Not sure if it has anything to do with it, but I had cold like symptoms for about a month now. Runny nose and they think its just allergies, but I never had an issue before with alergies.

Any thoughts. I hate that its been a month and I still have no clue what I have.

Anyone have pictures they would like to share?

Sorry, posted twice. Didn't see and computer shut down.

Hi,

This is my story of the ugly stuff from a very fed up 45 year old female! I first noticed the round, oval, pink spot on my stomach on the 21st of Jan/08. As I have had shingles about three times in the past, this is what I thought it was so I started using Zovoraz cream which is used for the shingles. I used this for a little longer than a week and more spots started to come out. Off to the doctor....she took one look and said I had pityriasis rosea and that it would likely get worse before it got better. Because it is caused by a virus there is nothing I could take for it and should go away in roughly 8 weeks. Well here it is the beginning of the 8th week. And yes it is still here. I am going to the Dominican on April 2nd and I'm thinking I am not gonna be the prettiest looking shell on the beach! The ones on my stomach(which pretty much covered the majority of it as well as my chest) have pretty much cleared up, just leaving the places they were a different color. My back is a different story.....my skin feels like sandpaper and the spots are getting a deep red/purple and very very hard, something like a callous. I have been doing tanning sessions, 3x's a week for the last five weeks. Has it made a difference? I would like to think it has but not knowing what I would look like if I weren't doing this, it is hard to say. But in all the internet research....most people say it does make a difference. It did make them less noticeable by getting a nice tan, but now that they are scabbing/flaking....it is pretty disgusting. I did a tan on Friday and got a little burn (had to use a hotter bed) and by Sunday I was itching like crazy (really the first time I can say it itched) and continues to itch. So I skipped Monday and am heading back today. I am hoping that the dry, flaking and itching is a sign that it is healing. Hubby says my back is looking better overall, except for the single crusty spots. Anyways, that's my story thus far......I have 22 more days to get rid of this crap....keeping the fingers crossed. I will keep you posted to the outcome and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask me.

I can't believe that you have to spend hours on the internet to find out that a trip to the tanning bed will kill that crap faster than anything. Everything else the antihistamines, lotions whatever do nothing but help some with the itch. UV is the cure

I have meant to add my story for the longest because when I had the problem I read all over forums looking for answers. I was a 34 yo female, mother of 2 preschoolers.

I had PR 2 years ago and it lasted 4 months. Talk about frustration. I was misdiagnosed with poison ivy but through my own research and then confirmation with a doctor I was certain. I had the 'herald patch' on my stomach and then it happened.... up into my hair, on my stomach, back, down to my knees, even on my butt! The rash was everywhere. I was so miserable. Showers were agonizing and I was scratching constantly. I would even say it caused depression with the hopelessness I felt.

I was put on oral steroids, lubed myself up every day with cortisone cream, was a zombie taking Benadryl all day long and would scratch myself bloody at night. One item I found very useful was spray. Benadryl and I believe there is also a cortisone spray. Anyway, I sprayed away and it gave me some relief.

Just wanted to let sufferers know they are not alone and that the spray can ease the constant urge to scratch and the scars, for me, are all gone. Hang in there. It seems like it will last forever but it DOES eventually go away.

The good news is, it ended. I will never forget. The scars have finally gone away after 2 years. I have had no recurrence. And I feel for anyone who has to go through this horrific virus.

If only mine were on my toes, i've been diagnosed with pityriasis rosea since september 2007 and 6 months later, I still have them... they are all over, even in my neck and face. So everybody sees them, people react differently towards you. I can see in their eyes. But I don't really care about how people react, I just want those patches gone, steroid and antihistamines are not doing the job, got no insurance, and I can barely survive on my salary....to top it all, I live in Louisiana, where 3/4 of the year is HOT. I should move to Alaska!!!

I am15 yr old african american girl who has pr. In think i have had this for roughly 5 years. At 11 they appeared as clear , small patches all on my stomach,chest and back.I WAS SO CONFUSED AND DISGUSTED. As I itched pus came from them. My doctor perscribed hydrocortisone 2%. IT DID NOTHING BUT STRESS ME AND MY MOTHER OUT. The creme couldn't cover all the spots I had. When I went to the dematologist aftera few yrs they asked to see my hands and feet for spots. THAT IS A SIGHN OF SYPHLYSIS. I'm not sexually active and i never have been. This was an insult b/c that was the first idea that popped into their minds and they said that with a smile. I have had this for yrs with no treatment or any success of it clearing. I have recently foung out that I did something to make it worse, bathing with hot water. Also,me being black reveals that it will last longer. I should expose it to light but iwould never do that around other people. So,I dont know what to do. PLEASE,SOMEONE HELP,i DON'T WANT TO LOOK LIKE THIS FOREVER.

I HAVE HAD IT FOR YRS. i AM 15 YRS OLD AND IT STARTED AT 11.

I am 17 now, but when i was about 10 i also got PR. It took 3 different doctors and countless visits to finally come to that solution. I cannot remember what they prescribed, but it was a liquidy creamy solution that i had to put on every single bump.. every single night. They stayed for months. I was misdiagnosed with chicken pox and several other things. i had the dry, pink spots ALL OVER my body. But since they have gone away, i have not had any since then!

good luck guys =] there will go away i promise!

Ive now had pr for about 5 weeks,i first noticed (the herald patch) on my left arm within a week more spots had apeared on the same arm then within two weeks i am covered ,especially on my legs it looks repulsive! i am so paranoid about myself now ,luckily i havnt had any on my face , iv started using the sunbed so im hoping a praying this will improve it , mine are mildly itchy , im going to improve my lifestyle as before i wouldnt say i was a healthy person so maybe this will help too ,i will keep you informed ,hope this nightmare ends soon !

Oh yes forgot to mention im 26 year old female ,i was told its more common in your teens and twenties ,but my father in law had a mild case of it ,so who knows !

this rash has ruined my skin. The dermatologist said that it wouldn't scar but then again he couldn't accurately diagnose it. I'm like a spotted leopard, no shorts or skirts because it scarred my legs the worst

this rash has ruined my skin. The dermatologist said that it wouldn't scar but then again he couldn't accurately diagnose it. I'm like a spotted leopard, no shorts or skirts because it scarred my legs the worst

my doctor said i had pr, but he said that it was very odd that i had a large amount of blisters on my back as well as herald patches. does anyone else have red pimple looking blisters on their back along with the herald patches?

I have had Pityriasis Rosea for at least 5-6 weeks and I
thought that it would drive me crazy with itching. Finally,
my spouse forced me to go to the emergency room at
a local Veterans Hospital. The emergency physician on duty
took one long look and said that it was "probable PR!" That's
the first time I ever heard of this disease. He prescribed
Prednisone. I think that the Prednisone killed everything
in me but the Pityriasis!

A couple of weeks later a second doctor at the VA said that
he didn't think that it was PR. I believe the spots were receding
a bit at that time, so he didn't see the "Christmas Tree" pattern
doctor 1 clearly said that he observed on my back. I think I had
a brown herald spot on my abdomen but it has receded. I laid in
the sun a little the last few days. I really believe a small amount
of sunlight helped very much. My legs --shin areas-- still itch like
crazy several times a day, but my arms and back are much better.
My PR was a series of severe itching. Mild-warm baths in Baking
Soda and Epsom Salts helped considerably. The baking soda
neutralizes the acid from sweat and bacteria on the skin. I looked
this up under the Arm & Hammer label. The first two or three weeks
I thought that I had poison ivy and was treating this as such. But
it really is PR! I still have it. It's receding too slow for comfort but
I think it's going. Thank the Lord! I thought I would die from this!
Stay out of really hot warm weather. Bathe every time that you
begin to itch like crazy. Use warm water, not hot. Use a half-cup
baking soda. Alternate between baking soda and epsom salts or use
a small amount together. This will make you feel better even if you
don't see any difference in the red spots, or that they are going away.
Aveeno coloidal oatmeal baths help with the itching also, but the
baking soda and epsom salts are much less expensive in the end.

I have had Pityriasis Rosea for at least 5-6 weeks and I
thought that it would drive me crazy with itching. Finally,
my spouse forced me to go to the emergency room at
a local Veterans Hospital. The emergency physician on duty
took one long look and said that it was "probable PR!" That's
the first time I ever heard of this disease. He prescribed
Prednisone. I think that the Prednisone killed everything
in me but the Pityriasis!

A couple of weeks later a second doctor at the VA said that
he didn't think that it was PR. I believe the spots were receding
a bit at that time, so he didn't see the "Christmas Tree" pattern
doctor 1 clearly said that he observed on my back. I think I had
a brown herald spot on my abdomen but it has receded. I laid in
the sun a little the last few days. I really believe a small amount
of sunlight helped very much. My legs --shin areas-- still itch like
crazy several times a day, but my arms and back are much better.
My PR was a series of severe itching. Mild-warm baths in Baking
Soda and Epsom Salts helped considerably. The baking soda
neutralizes the acid from sweat and bacteria on the skin. I looked
this up under the Arm & Hammer label. The first two or three weeks
I thought that I had poison ivy and was treating this as such. But
it really is PR! I still have it. It's receding too slow for comfort but
I think it's going. Thank the Lord! I thought I would die from this!
Stay out of really hot warm weather. Bathe every time that you
begin to itch like crazy. Use warm water, not hot. Use a half-cup
baking soda. Alternate between baking soda and epsom salts or use
a small amount together. This will make you feel better even if you
don't see any difference in the red spots, or that they are going away.
Aveeno coloidal oatmeal baths help with the itching also, but the
baking soda and epsom salts are much less expensive in the end.

I was told that I had PR a couple of years ago, and unfortunately I am one of the few who get the "seasonal" kind (an outbreak in the spring and one in the fall) I have found after many desperate attempts to stop the itching that clay does the trick. I use ceramics clay, which can be bought at many different art stores, (25lbs for $6) and slice of a thin piece and dip it in water and put it right on the patch that itches to make a kind of clay band-aid. I let it dry and once it breaks off, I just put another piece on and the itching stays away. I don't go out of the house like this of course...

I don't have any scars and my spots usually last for 2-3 months, but they stop itching after two weeks.

I had PR for ten days before I found out what it really was at an unrelated doctor's appointment (my gynocologist recognized it). I did everything I could, but nothing helped until I went tanning. I had never tanned before but was desperate. After reading about another PR victim's success with tanning, I tried it! It took just three sessions and it cured my three weeks worth of spots. I only went in for eight minutes each tim (fair skin) and never looked tan, but it worked like a charm!

I had PR for ten days before I found out what it really was at an unrelated doctor's appointment (my gynocologist recognized it). I did everything I could, but nothing helped until I went tanning. I had never tanned before but was desperate. After reading about another PR victim's success with tanning, I tried it! It took just three sessions and it cured my three weeks worth of spots. I only went in for eight minutes each tim (fair skin) and never looked tan, but it worked like a charm!

I have been suffering from pityriasis rosea for almost 3 weeks now. I'm so itchy all over the place and have been to the doctor's 2 times now and seeing a dermatologist later in the week. Is it normal to feel like I've been bitten by a mosquito? I don't have any on my face, but it is creeping up my neck.

Will a tanning bed help?

Any advice would be appreciated.