I was diagnosed yesterday with pityriasis rosea. The doctor to one look and said she knew exactly what it was. The funny thing is that doctors don't know the cause of this disease, but the good thing is that it runs it's course. It can take anywhere between 1 to 4 months to completely go away. Just avoid hot showers and use a soap for skin rashes. This will help the itching and avoid it from flaring up.

please someone help me I am 34 and pregnant so I already feel not at my best I have now been told I have PR It is making me so upset to look at my body I have the spots all over my chest area. All the doc can say is it will go away in time.!! Please does anyone no of anything that will make it go faster I am very depressed I have always looked after myself and alway had lovely skin. please write me.

Just wanted to say thank you to those of you that have contributed tips for what worked for you, and I will return the favor. I am basically going to reiterate other things that have been tried but...

I have had PR for about 2 weeks or so. I'm one of those lucky ones who has some significant itching. I have been traveling to NY and LA while suffering with this which ads an added challenge. I got some oatmeal bath mixes (Walgreen's brand - $5.99) and used it with lukewarm water several nights. It seemed to provide some temporary relief to the itching, but I did not find it to be extremely helpful for me.
I consulted my pharmacist sister who just reiterated there is no medication to help even if I could get to a doctor. She did suggest (as many people on message boards have) to try UVB rays. I was lucky enough to have a day where I could go lay in the sun and what do you know, instant relief! I was in the sun an hour on each side and today have had no itching except for a small portion of my chest which was not exposed to the sun. I'm not sure the sun "heals" PR or gets rid of it necessarily as much as it camoflauges it. I do think it may prove to be an agent to shorten the duration of the affliction as I really feel like it "dried out" the PR lesions. So my advice, go get tan. Screw what people think of your spots in your bathing suit!

Bluebells, I too am pregnant (9wks) and was diagnosed with PR on June 9th. Well, there is nothing I can take because I am pregnant so my lesions spread like a wild fire. Well, after reading all the horrible post about PR and pregnancy I had a panic attack. But good luck with your relief. I go to my OB/Gyn tomorrow hopefully he will refer me to another dermatologist because the one that diagnosed me doesn't want to touch me since I am pregnant.

Hi Tlalo and guess what my spots have almost gone.! I was climbing the walls with worry I am just over 30wks pregnant I like you read up on PR and it scared the pants out of me what with being pregnant but I have been told over and over again PR does not affect the baby. I never treated my spots with anything apart from washing in head and shoulders lol but not sure if that helped. I work out I have had the spots for about 10wks all in all and there finely going I still have them but you can hardly see them. So it is true what You read they will go away.!! Hang in there.xx

Take antihistamine tablets, wash in head and shoulders and use as much Bio Oil as possible, it worked for me!!

Hello all there,
Im 22 yrs old, M , and i had herald patch like 35 days before on my back.At first it was itchy i didnt care but after few days i encountered more spots at my legs especially upper thighs and upper arms.
My dermatologist said it is PR and gave me (roxithromycin-300 anti biotics -7days OLOpatadine HCL anti allergen -15 days) and gave topical cream based on mometasone furoate fusidic acid.
The bottom line is it has been 30 days since the 1st herald patch on my back and the spots seem to still increasing day by day.I now have them on my back and lower abdomen ,my chest area is free from them atleast for now but my upper arms and thighs are worst affected,im really tense if not worried , because ive read it takes about month or so to get away with this disease but for me they are still increasing.
Do i need some blood tests? or should i w8 and watch.....itchy..as far as recovery is concerned no significant signs of recovery are shown so im lil tense for that part too.
Thanks