Recurring pityriasis rosea

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Hello

I was interested to read other experiences. I am currently experiencing a recurrance of pityriasis rosea. I had the first occurance about 9 or 10 years ago and my Dr too was not only surprised to see a rare disorder but to see it in someone at my age. I was 27 then. Even more surprised now at late 30's!

I too thought there was a patch of ringworm on my arm and recently had an awful cold and took 2 days off work (that's really rare for me as I'm a bit a workaholic). I didn't pay any attention to it at first, the spots that now cover my tummy, and a fear of having chicken pox actually made me look into what I had. When I read the symptons I realised that my symptons are classic. I would have left it at that, because I'm not suffering at all - not even itchy spots, provided I don't scratch the herald patch - I don't even notice it. It was only when I read that only 2% recurs that I read on and found your experiences.

My herald patch and spots has been so typical in both cases that there is no doubt it is pityriasis rosea. My Dr the first time told me that it was most likely to be stress related.

My only curiosity this time is why now? Its made me consider taking a holiday in the sun (how often is the diagnosis to spend time in the sun?) to make sure I'm not opening myself up to to something more sinister - maybe this is natures little warning that I'm over doing it.

Does anyone else think like that?

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  • Posted

    I AM EXPERIENCING PR FOR THE THIRD TIME ONCE WHEN I WAS 10 ANOTHER AT 30 AND NOW 42, BUT THIS TIME IT IA VERY ITCHY VERY ANNOYING. I AM IN MY 7TH WEEK AND IT SEEMS LIKE ITS STILL SPREADING ALL OVER MY BODY CHEST, BACK, ARMPIT, GROIN, BACK OF MY LEGS THEIRS EVEN ONE LITTLE SPOT IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD HAIRLINE. HOW WORS CAN IT GET.
    • Posted

      Hi,

      Just wrote this to another person who posted and thought I would share with you also:

      I just saw your post and wanted to see if I can be of help as you say you can not get treatment. I am currently suffering from a virus which includes sore throat and chesty cough. Yesterday I woke to a second occurrence of PT. My first was two years ago and I was sent to a dermatologist who specialises in PT. he gave me cream and tablets that got rid of it very quickly. I have an appointment with him tomorrow morning and am hoping he gives me the same medication. I can let you know what they are if you like! I can't remember their names now but am certainly not going to throw away the left overs this time.

      Hope your PT hasn't returned again.

    • Posted

      Hi Lex, do you remember the name of the cream and tablets? I also have recurrent PR, unfortunately.

  • Posted

    sad have you tried going to a tanning bed and head and shoulders shampoo. I found it to very helpful. This PR really sucks and it is really depressing. I hope you see an end to yours misery really soon. smile
  • Posted

    I have had Pr for over 7 yrs. I have never had a bad break out but it seams that the herold spot is always there by my upper stomache under my chest although sometimes its more prevalent that others. Usually its small and faded. When i get a breakout it seems to creep up my chest and has spread across my upper back. Now recently it is darker than usually and spread across most of my upper back. It seems that once it reaches a new spot it will always go back there when it flares up. I dont understand why I have had it consistantly for so many years many people have mentioned that they have had re-occurances but mine has always been constant never going away completely I wonder if anyone else shares this? Usually i do notice it breaking out when I am sick, stressed, or the temperature of water or outside has affected it. For so long i just ignored it even though it bothered me because it was hidden by clothing but now it seems to be popping up more and more in places that are visible, like my back and chest. It makes me very frustrated and subconcious although after reading i feel my case is thankfully not so severe besides the amount of time it has lasted. I am definetly going to try Zinc Oxide Cream, but definetly not tanning since I have had skin cancer. I think i remember using selson blue when i first got diagnosed and after reading ive remember that, going to try it again. I guess i just excepted it as a part of my life for so long but when it flares up it definetly bothers me and i do want a cure!! i find it so weird that so many people seem to have it and they know so little!
    • Posted

      OMG.......you are the first person that i have heard with the same issue as mine. I have sufferred for about 5 years, it has never really went away but the flare ups have been minimal. I have recently suffered from the worst flare up I have ever had.....I hope it this will be the end of it. Are you still suffering?
    • Posted

        I am 67 years old and have had PR off and on since I was pregnant with my first child, 42 years ago ! It usually didn't bother me too much and was not severe, but is now on my neck and itchy. After I saw how awful it could be from pics on the web , I'm thankful it isn't worse, but would really like to be rid of it? I now have some things to try from this post. Thank you for sharing your story.
    • Posted

      My 2 year old was recently finally diagnosed with PR after bouts of anti fungal  creams and wrong diagnoses. He has now had this condition for about a year now. We use emollients and antihistamines but nothing seems to help with the itching or fast progression. He still itches and the patches all seem to merge into one. About 80% of his body is covered now. Any help or advice would be much appreciated. 
    • Posted

      Hi,

      Just wrote this to another person who posted and thought I would share with you also:

      I just saw your post and wanted to see if I can be of help as you say you can not get treatment. I am currently suffering from a virus which includes sore throat and chesty cough. Yesterday I woke to a second occurrence of PT. My first was two years ago and I was sent to a dermatologist who specialises in PT. he gave me cream and tablets that got rid of it very quickly. I have an appointment with him tomorrow morning and am hoping he gives me the same medication. I can let you know what they are if you like! I can't remember their names now but am certainly not going to throw away the left overs this time.

      Hope your PT hasn't returned again.

    • Posted

      Hi, 

      I had it first when I was 17 , a really intense 90% coverage and full fatigue issue for total up to 4-6 months.  

      Since then (over these 13 years) I have had a familiar patch on my arm that did the same, nice a faded but there. It would come and go but always was a bit present. Over the past few years its been more on the tops of both my hands and more widespread and pimply not as a cluster or patch. It also flares up and goes down but always present. Now I got a new herald patch and that faded and found another herald in my groin and now im getting small patches all over and pimples. 

      Its reassuring that others also have the reoccurring and constantly there PR reminder. Just so we don't miss it too much wink  I am hoping that it doesn't flare more.  On wards with the self medicating and healing. 

      good luck!

       

    • Posted

      I really thought that I was the only one that had this too I am 17 and have had PR since I was 10 and it only flares up during the winter time and nearly goes away in the summer time it’s always been there but here in the last few months I have had a really rough flare up and it’s very annoying and make me self conscious 
  • Posted

    I have had Pr for over 7 yrs. I have never had a bad break out but it seams that the herold spot is always there by my upper stomache under my chest although sometimes its more prevalent that others. Usually its small and faded. When i get a breakout it seems to creep up my chest and has spread across my upper back. Now recently it is darker than usually and spread across most of my upper back. It seems that once it reaches a new spot it will always go back there when it flares up. I dont understand why I have had it consistantly for so many years many people have mentioned that they have had re-occurances but mine has always been constant never going away completely I wonder if anyone else shares this? Usually i do notice it breaking out when I am sick, stressed, or the temperature of water or outside has affected it. For so long i just ignored it even though it bothered me because it was hidden by clothing but now it seems to be popping up more and more in places that are visible, like my back and chest. It makes me very frustrated and subconcious although after reading i feel my case is thankfully not so severe besides the amount of time it has lasted. I am definetly going to try Zinc Oxide Cream, but definetly not tanning since I have had skin cancer. I think i remember using selson blue when i first got diagnosed and after reading ive remember that, going to try it again. I guess i just excepted it as a part of my life for so long but when it flares up it definetly bothers me and i do want a cure!! i find it so weird that so many people seem to have it and they know so little!
    • Posted

      Hi, it's the same for me. I first got a herald spot on my upper back between my shoulder blades when i was 14. I went to my pediatrician and she said it was because of sweat drying on my skin and causing a rash. I live in south Florida, so sweating while being outside isnt that abnormal so i rolled with it. she told me to wash my back thoroughly every morning and night with Head and Shoulders shampoo. after about 6 weeks it and two other spot went away. About three years ago, i got a reoccurance on my lower back, right at my waist. I tried to do the same thing with the Head and Shoulders to no avail. I went to a doctor and he told me it was PR. He told me it would go away on its own. It never did. I have now a whole bunch of spots branching out around it up and down my spine from the bottom of my shoulder blades to the top of my hips. its in a straight line, sollowing my spine, almost like a pine tree. Its been three years and it hasnt gone away. sometimes there will only be the herald patch, and then ill get sick or stressed or it will get hot and muggy outside and then itll be back to the pine tree on my back. Im very pale and these spots are kinda dark so they are very noticable. im now 19 years old and these spots make it embarressing to go to the beach or wear sundresses and bikini tops and id honestly do just about anything to make them go away. I have scrubbed my back until its pretty much raw and that doesnt help much. Someone said to mostruize and thats what im gonna try next. the best way that ive gotten them to mostly fade away is laying in the sun but then i get sunburned because i dont tan, so i cant do that anymore. Hoping that mosturizing will do the trick!

  • Posted

    Hi, I too am a sufferer of PR. I first had an outbreak after being sick sometime in the early spring (27 years old). I got the herald patch and all the spots. It lasted about 3 months. It went away, then the a year later came back, then the next year got it again. It always seems to come in the spring. I have also gotten random spots here and there but never a full outbreak (in between outbreaks). It is more annoying than anything. Is this something that just stays dormant in your body??
  • Posted

    I have broken out in this over5 times. I am searching for the answer of how is it  possible to keep getting it. It is awful and it itches terribly. To think it is such a tiny needle point dot before herold growes. I  am 48 I first got it 15 or so year ago. And it is probably my 8 or so episode. Miserable whats wrong with us.
    • Posted

      Hi Jeanie-

      I, too, am suffering from PR for the 3rd time. All 3 times have been after having strep throat. After doing research, I have discovered that, fo rme, it is an auto immune issue. As my body goes to heal, the good/healing cells are presumed as enemies by my body so my body attacks itself by releasing histimine, causing the welps/hives. I'm currently on week 2 with it this time. I'm waiting on it to stop spreading before I visit the tanning bed. I live where it's HOT, so I am running out of time before it's extremely hot here and I"m forced to wear shorts and sleeveless tops. Praying it goes away with a few visits to the tannin bed soon. How are you doing now, a month later? Is it getting better for you?

    • Posted

      Hi Jeanie, I too am on my 3rd sore throat in 6 months and 3rd PR outbreak. How did you work it was an auto immune issue? I've had blood tests to check for auto immune disease and I've been given the all clear. Have you managed to resolve it yet or are you still dealing with recurrences a year on? 

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