Hi - I'm only one week into the PR rash and I'm already in the scabbing over/drying up stage and it's no longer itchy at all. I work with an alternative medicine practitioner who is FANTASTIC. Here's what she has me doing to speed up the progression of the rash:

1) Don't scratch, don't bathe (just shower and pat dry).

2) This has to be cured from the inside out, because it's a virus coming out from inside your body. Cut ALCOHOL and SUGAR completely out of your diet. All sugar, including fruit! Sugar feeds fungi/molds/viruses in your body and you want to starve the critters out. Sugar will also impede your immune system's ability to do its job. I know this is hard to do, but hey, do you want to get rid of this fast or not?

3) To be really effective, you should avoid acidic foods and focus on eating alkaline-producing foods for a few weeks. An acidic body provides a perfect environment for illnesses of all kinds, including parasites, viruses, and cancer. Google "alkaline diet" to find out more. I've been juicing fresh organic veggies to get lots of vitamins every morning too. Basically all I'm eating right now is veggies, veggies, veggies!!!!!

4) Drink large amounts of water. ALWAYS STAY HYDRATED.

5) Sun exposure helps dry the sores up. I've spent a couple of minutes per day in a tanning bed, but be careful not to burn.

6) Take a goldenseal supplement, and a black walnut tincture daily (antiviral and antiparasitic).

7) Take a really good probiotic acidophilus supplement before every meal. The fact that we caught this means that our intestinal flora is not what it should be, because that is the first line of defense for our immune systems. The best way to find the probiotic that's right for you is to have someone "muscle test" several different brands for you - ask around for an alternative health practitioner that can do this. That way you know it's working. It's very important to be taking a good one DAILY, not just when you're sick.

Note: Don't take an antibiotic for this, it will do more harm than good. It won't kill the virus, but it will kill BOTH the good and the bad flora in your intestinal tract, and the bad flora, being more aggressive, is always the first to grow back (yeast infections, canker sores, acne, allergies and gassiness are telltale signs that you have too much bad "candida" flora - google "candida diet" for more info). And your immune system needs the good flora in order to work! So instead of antibiotics, load up on the good probiotics and take the sweets/alcohol out of your diet to starve out the bad critters.


I asked my alternative practitioner why this happened to me, and she explained that it's a virus already present in my bloodstream (Human herpes virus 6 and/or 7 - something dormant in all of us) which is expressing itself in my body due to an imbalanced immune system. Molds, fungus and dormant viruses are always present in your system but your immunity keeps them under control unless they are triggered by something and that fine balance gets out of control. In my case, I slept in a moldy room and that's what triggered the outbreak in the first place - I woke up with the herald mark the next morning - but I could have slept there and the PR would NEVER have happened if I hadn't been eating far too much sugar and junk!

A word of encouragement: getting this rash is a blessing. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. It's not life-threatening, but it's a signal we shouldn't miss because it's saying our immunity is compromised - something that can lead to much more serious illnesses - and something that's almost always caused by poor diet, not enough exercise, smoking, drinking, and/or use of drugs like antibiotics that put your system off-balance.

Ok, there's my 2 cents. Hope it's helpful to somebody out there. I'm pretty excited at how fast it's working for me.

I have had a patch on my back for three weeks and kept ignoring it hoping it would go away - i finally went to the docs today and was diagnosed with PR. I've never heard of it before and could have cried when the doc said there was nothing they could do!! I go abroad in a week!!!!! I have been on my first sunbed today and plan to keep going on to see if it helps. The thought of more developing though is freaking me out!!! Wish me luck!!

well ive been on two sunbeds at 6 minutes each time so far and i am taking Morrsions own high strength vitamin c to boost the immune system (apparently its the immune system failing that is the problem). Ive also been putting lavender oil (neat) on the herald patch. I am happy to say that it has definately faded, i'm hoping that it will have completely gone in a few days. Im going to continue with the high stength vitamins (the ones that you have to dissolve in water), using the lavender oil and sunbeds and fingers crossed this nightmare will be over soon!

I posted a message earlier about a "whole body" approach to healing P.R.

Just an update to let you know that 1 week after I posted that, my rash was completely gone. It worked!

If you're brave enough, get your hair clean cut (totally shave your body where it is effected), and put some medicine. It may take 2~6 weeks to cure all symptoms.

God hates me, im convinced of it! get this...
so i normally get told that I'm a pretty girl and that i should rest on my looks cause my grades aren't the best (I always choke during tests!) but over the summer i had to get my teeth (all 4 of my wisdom teeth) pulled! i spent a solid week looking like a gopher! after that was done i went back to living life and being happy. Then god decided to grant me with a lovely little thing called a chalazion (look that up and see how much fun it is) after a week of this little guy i had to go to camp but it was starting to go away so i thought i could deal. after about a week into camp (my first camp that i spent a long time away from my family! 2 weeks!) i noticed this rather big dry spot on my stomach. i normally get a random dry spot so i put some lotion on it, assumed it would go away and called it a day. well it didn't and a few days later my cabin was convinced that i had ringworm (i cried myself to sleep many a night) as soon as i got home i went to my dermatologist and he diagnosed it as PR. i could've punched through a wall i was so mad when i found out there is nothing you could do to get rid of it. after nearly 3 weeks of this gem of a disease, its still here, moving up my neck and school starts in 4 days...life is so unfair. i know how superficial that sounds but you have to experience this disease to actually get just how awful it is

I am an African-American female, diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis for 9 months, taking daily injections of Copaxone that may have weakened my immune system and helped this unheard of PR virus to have easy access into my system. Ive been diagnosed with PR for 2 weeks. I noticed the Heralds Patch on my left buttock but mistaked it and a few of the smaller bumps for Ringworm..after making an emergency appointment with the dermatologist. The physicians assistant didnt know what it was but prescribed some lotion and shampoo to bathe with, and asked me to come back in 3 days if it didnt get any better. I used them but lost all patience as it began to spread to "MY FACE"!!! I immediately went to the ER where the physician assistant there looked me over and diagnosed it as PR...thanks you Jesus I got a diagnosis!!! But wait what in the world is PR????? I had never heard of this B-4!!! Well good news, you wont die, and its not life threatening, and looks more horrible than it really is. She also advised that its just a virus, that isnt contagious, will last from sometimes 3, 6, to 12 weeks and just has to run its course.

hi there all, i also have Pityriasis rosea. it started with a red bloch on my stomoch about 6/7 months ago, i thort it was rubbing from my belt buckel, i had that for about a month before i noticed a red rash all over my chest and neck when i got out of a hot shower, to be honest when i saw this i s**t my self, and went down to the drop in center.
i was told straight away it was PR, and to just leave it alone and it will go away.
just to be sure i checked with my GP who confermed PR! told me to use anti-histamine and calamine loation, the rash cleared up in a week or two, but the main patch on my stomoch is still going strong, my GP also told me to keep it away from the sun! but reading the posts here today, im off to the sunbed shop!lol.
im sick of the iching, wakes me up at night. il postr to let you know how the uv works.

hi there all, i also have Pityriasis rosea. it started with a red bloch on my stomoch about 6/7 months ago, i thort it was rubbing from my belt buckel, i had that for about a month before i noticed a red rash all over my chest and neck when i got out of a hot shower, to be honest when i saw this i s**t my self, and went down to the drop in center.
i was told straight away it was PR, and to just leave it alone and it will go away.
just to be sure i checked with my GP who confermed PR! told me to use anti-histamine and calamine loation, the rash cleared up in a week or two, but the main patch on my stomoch is still going strong, my GP also told me to keep it away from the sun! but reading the posts here today, im off to the sunbed shop!lol.
im sick of the iching, wakes me up at night. il postr to let you know how the uv works.

This is my 3rd out-break and its worse than ever! I've had it for just over 1 week and my back, stomach, neck, arms and legs are covered. I've also found it patchy behind my ears and my face is patchy too!

Its sore and really itchy. Been to the docs twice and he has now given e steroids to take for 5 days and some antihistamine avaliable only on prescription.

I've been having luke-warm baths, avoiding soaps and tight clothing, drinking plenty of water, moisturising it and I've also started taking multi-vitamins and have changed my diet as well!

I'm also going to cut out all the sweets I keep eating (why did they have to bring wispa bars back!!) I've been eating a lot more veg and a lot more healthier such as rice and wholemeal breads to try and help my immune system and help my body get back to normal!

Every-day I look at my body new spots just seem to appear. I read that scratching doesn't make them spread but someone said they did!

Im 23 and had to miss my friends bday at the weekend, and I wont let my bfriend see me like this either . . I feel like some freak show!!

Can anyone else give me any more suggestions/advice? Does chinese medicine really work?

Alright I don't know about all that alternative medicine garbage. That sounds like hippie malarky to me. Anyway, I have has PR for over 2 years now!! I know that is longer than the normal case and over the last year it began spreading to my back.

Well I am finally getting my happy ending. My wife convinced me one day to go tanning with her at the local salon and after ONE 10 minutes session all of the spots on my stomach are gone and so are the ones on my back. The ones on my sides are a little lighter and the darkest herald patch on my lower abdomen has faded a lot. I am going to continue to go for a couple more tanning sessions to make sure it is totally gone but the progress literally amazes me. I haven't seen my stomach without spots in two years and I am so happy!

It's too bad so many people suffer so long with this without every trying this simple remedy. I hope it works for you too! FYI immediately after I got out of the tanning bed I saw noticeable inflammation of the spots and the worst patch was flaky.

The end of the story is, PR doesn't normally spread to your face, arms, legs because it doesn't like sunlight. If you aren't in the sun a lot it may spread there, and if you take a trip to a tanning bed under some severe UV conditions it REALLY doesn't like it and in my case it dies immediately.

Good luck

I have had PR for three months now. It shows no signs of going away. I was given a steroid oil to put on it which really doesn't do anything but keep the spots moist for a time. I switched to vitamin e oil with a little bit of lavender essential oil mixed in and that seems to make the spots look better at least. Sometimes they itch, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they fade, sometimes they come back. I've had a few of the newer ones completely fade away, but the ones on my trunk area haven't gone anywhere. They have also been all over my face, making my face extremely dry all over (even in areas where there are no spots). I'm an actress and model and this is truly hurting my career. I have thought about trying a Chinese herbalist as well. After seeing some of the success on here, I think I might just have to go to our local college of integrative medicine. I've been told this can last up to six months and I really don't think I can put up with three more months of this!

SO I started tanning because I have PR. I've gone once today. I'm going tomorrow and the day after that. I was wondering if you need to use tanning lotion or just go without?? Today I used tanning lotion and my marks look more pronounced and redder. Is that supposed to happen?

Throughout last evening the marks got less and less red and less pronounced on my abdomen and back. They are still the same on the arms and legs. I'm a little sunburnt but that's because it's Dec in NYC Oh how I miss the sun and summer. I'm gonna go again today hopefully the arms and legs will see improvement too. As a precaution, I've also started taking immune system building pills. Astragulus and probiotics. I have celiac too and it never really bothered me...This has finally pushed me to get on a gluten-free diet. I Thank you all so much for the info and support. This forum has really helped me in a matter of a day. So thanks again.

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

So about two weeks ago I noticed what they call the "herald spot" on my right side right where a sports bra would sit, so I assumed that it was from my sports bra rubbing while I ran or something. Then about 2 days later I had about 10 spots show up on my stomach and 2 days after that it jumped to about 60 spots covering my chest and stomach and a few on my back. I went to the doctor and they told me that I had PR and there is nothing that I can do for it but let it run its course, they don't know how its caused but it will get worse before it gets better. I am now going on two weeks with it and am starting the tanning bed hoping that it will help. It itches but not to bad now but itched like crazy for awhile. My fiance is being such an ass about this and thinks that I am making to big of a deal out of it spending to much time trying to figure out a way to get rid of it because I have been calling dermotologists asking if there is anything I can do. Has anyone found anything other then tanning beds? Am I crazy for obssessing about this so much?

I am wondering if drinking more water will help flush this out of my system faster. Anyone know anything about this

MY first "herald" patch showed up 3 weeks ago yesterday.

I didn't know not to take hot baths until finding these posts from google and i am happy i now know.

I knew that tanning helps alot of skin rashes and diseases so i went into the tanning bed for 8 minutes today, but i used a lotion.... and i think it was a terrible idea. It is probably best to tan with no lotions on. I feel it made it spread. So once i got home and saw the spreading i ran to the bath thinking it was the lotion and the old spots and new ones turned bright red!! They dont itch at all though.

I am going to continue tanning and pray it will fade over the next 10 days.

I started out only having spots on my upper stomach underneath my boobs. Now it is down to my inner thighs, belly button, sides, and breasts, clevage. I hate it. I keep asking myself, why me!!!!!

god it is so annoying.

Hi all, the doctor's said i had Pityriasis Rosea. You can get rid of itching & the rash. Just go to a health food store or go online and get Sliver Shield ( with Aqua Sol Technology). Sliver Shield kills bacteria and takes away any infections. Its a liquid or gel. If you take the liquid take it by mouth 3x's a day. It does wonders. In one day you can tell a difference. In two days you won't even itch as much. Sliver Shield is a life saver! Thank you to whom ever made Sliver Shield!

hello im a female aged 18 & ive been dealing with PR since last March. it was horrible mine itched like crazy for the 1st month then the red spots started peeling & turned into these yucky brown spots which are very unsightly. now i can't even wear shorts/sleeveless & have to try to cover up wherever i go even when the weather is hitting 80 degrees. would like to know if these brown spots are permanent or is there any way i can get rid of them? they dont itch anymore, just kinda stay thr. thanks to anyone who has a solution for my condition.

hi from Canada

I'm on week 2 of this, i'm male 29 years old, i'm overweight and my diet sucks...i like chips and root beer, i don't drink alcohol or do any drugs if that matters and I stay inside on the computer most of the time after work

the rashes cover my stomach, chest, upper back, shoulders, upper arms, lower arms, neck, it circles near my face on my chin, its above my ears and the skin on my forehead seems to have small bumps forming, it also seems to be spreading to legs as the bumps now appear on my inner thighs and back of calves....my hands and feet are somewhat safe at the moment but the back of my hands now have small bumps forming

first thought it might be an allergic reaction (Which it still might be) because it started about the time someone in our house was cutting wood in the basement and sawdust was shot throughout our household ventilation system, we haven't changed our ventilation system yet Sad

before the rash broke out i could tell something wasn't right with my body, i felt a bit down/sick but different and had a very mild cough

I've seen 3 different doctors

the first doctor from a walk in clinic was within first few days of Rash and it was mild compared to what i have now, the doctors facial reaction scared and worried me (just had a bewildering holy crap look to it)... I was given cephalexin (Anti-biotic) and some cream which did nothing and actually had side effects with breathing problems and discomfort near lower back on the last few days of this anti-biotic...breathing problems and lower back discomfort disappeared a day after i finished anti-biotic

second doctor i saw my rash was worsening reaching my lower arms and I told him doctor i didn't feel comfortable removing my shirt to show him, so he thought it was impetigo...

third doctor i did remove my shirt because I was getting really scared now and he said Pityriasis Rosea...went back to the second doctor which is my family doctor, removed shirt and also said Pityriasis Rosea

hard to sleep because i'm scared, is it this, is it that...why me, that sort of thing

Itching I notice most when going to bed...I take benadryl to help me sleep and relieve some of the itching

read on the net about some peoples experience with selsun blue, what the hell lets try this....left it on body about 5-10 min before washing it off in shower and didn't use any skin cream lotion afterward and my skin got so dry and stung...tried Selsun blue next day and it stung again...don't know if i'm going to try this again because I don't see any improvement and maybe its even worse now

I've been trying to change my diet because online again has some cases of people saying its immune related and toxins in body can't be flushed out fast enough so body uses skin as last resort...All that seemed to make sense to me because my diet currently is terrible so starting few days ago I've been eating oatmeal, lots of vegetables and fruits and no more softdrinks, just water...not sure if its helped any yet because skin still seems to be worsening but that could also be selsun blues fault

i've been walking during the day to get sun exposure but its still freezing winter here in Canada so only my face gets any real exposure to the Sun...heard of people having success at tanning salons and I've never used one of those but I'll try anything right now to get rid of this

The Rash does seem to worsen for me under heat, i noticed i had my arms crossed while sleeping the other night and it got very red and rash seemed to spread around where my arms crossed and skin was sweaty/warm

this sucks...especially the luke warm cold showers, hate showers now