Help...do I have pityriasis rosea

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Ok so I had an oval patch on my back that looked like ringworm then about a month later I got a rash all over my chest that looked like rings as well....it looked like little versions of my patch on the back. I took some oral steroids and the rash on the chest went away after a week or so and then so did the patch on my back but I had a patch develop in the mean time on my thigh and my upper arm and these suckers won't leave me....they look exactly the same as the one on my back did and they look like they are going away leaving a white mark in it's place but they still flare up a little red and itchy if I take a shower. I went to the dr. yesterday and he said not to worry about it but it has been going on now for a couple months so I will be going to the dermatolgist...I pretty much diagnosed myself but I would like some reassurance from someone....does anyone else have symptoms like me????? PLEASE HELP!!

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi there,

    I've been looking up pityriasis rosea and I realised this is exactly what I had even though I my doctor who never really looked at my rash diagnosed me with ringworm. I had all the symptoms you had and yes, after one large one appearing practically my whole body was covered in them. I never thought they would leave and after another visit to the doctor he gave me cream and told me to stop being dramatic!! But what he didn't realise that the marks all over my body was making me feel so down. My rash lasted around 2mths. I thought it was never going to go away when all of a sudden it started to fade. They took around a week to fade and I didn't have any scarring or problems since. Don't worry as you're not on your own and never think that it wont ever go away and never feel bad if it gets you down. It will go even though it may feel like forever!

  • Posted

    Thanks for replying to my experience! I have been miserable with this condition. I only have a few patches now....and the rash that covered my chest didn't last long at all now I just a few patches that are real dry and flaky...I hope it goes away soon.
  • Posted

    Hi there,

    My 14 year old daughter developed a similar rash on her neck and face back in October. I took her to the doctors and was told not to worry as it was ONLY A FORM OF EXCEMA, we were given steriod creme and told it would go away in 1 week. Six weeks later the rash had spread down her arms and on her back. We took another trip to the doctor who still insisted that it was excema, and was told once again not to worry. By this time my daughter was extremely stressed out as she was very conscious of the rash on her face. They decided to take a swab and scraping to check for fungal disease.

    We went back a few days later and was told it could be a fungal infection, my daughter was given antibiotics and more creme. This did seem to clear it up for a while but eventually small patches started to appear again. We carried on using the steroid creme and e45.

    My daughter had her usual bath last nite (no bubble bath or soap) and called me up when she got out. I was completely gob smacked, she was covered from head to her knees in the same rash, I could not believe how much it had spread. So once again back to the doctors for a fourth time this morning. He now confirmed that it was not excema but Pityriasis Rosacea. She was given stronger steroid creme and told to go back in three weeks. If we had been told this in October last year it would have saved my daughter a lot of stress and worry. (hello 14 year old hormonal teenager, I must have aged 10 years in that time.)

    My advise to anyone else who has similar symtons go straight to your gp and ask questions, and dont be fobbed off as we were.

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