Dealing with Pityriasis rosea?

😠 My baby has been dealing with this for 6 months, maybe even longer... I've seen doctors, but they haven't helped me at all. I ended up throwing out every single product I bought because nothing worked. Right now, I'm just using some Adermine stuff; it helped a tiny bit, but the issue isn't gone. 😳 Has anyone else dealt with this annoying virus? Let me know!

Here it is—the very first patient I saw in dermatology during my medical school rotations had this exact diagnosis.

A few things to keep in mind: Pityriasis typically lasts about 4 to 6 weeks on average, though it can stretch to 3 or even 4 months in rare cases (some medical texts even suggest it can linger for 6 months or longer). However, if the skin lesions haven't cleared up after that 3-month mark, there is legitimate reason to suspect we might be looking at something else entirely. There are several conditions that mimic Pityriasis rosea quite closely. 🧐

I’m not sure when your last dermatology appointment was, but I’d strongly recommend seeking a second opinion. Be sure to tell them exactly how long these symptoms have been persisting. That duration should be enough reason for them to run more extensive tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possibilities. In my view, you need to ask the dermatologist to be definitive: is this truly Pityriasis rosea? And if it is, what on earth is making it so stubborn? 🙂

In the meantime, watch your habits. Avoid wearing unwashed clothes or anything straight from a store without laundering it first. If you pull something out of the back of your closet that hasn't been worn in a while, wash it again—make sure it's thoroughly rinsed of detergent and ironed. When you sweat, dry your skin immediately to prevent further irritation. Try to limit soap and gel usage, avoid frequent showers, and skip the baths if possible. Stick to water where you can. Don't use abrasive towels, don't scrub your skin, and stick to neutral creams and lotions. I assume you've heard all of this already, yet the condition continues to plague you regardless. 🙂

So, the only real advice I have is this: see a dermatologist. Again and again. 🧐

Nicholas Myers said:Here it is—the very first patient I saw in dermatology during my medical school rotations had this exact diagnosis.

A few things to keep in mind: Pityriasis typically lasts about 4 to 6 weeks on average, though it can stretch to 3 or even 4 months in rare cases (some medical texts even suggest it can linger for 6 months or longer). However, if the skin lesions haven't cleared up after that 3-month mark, there is legitimate reason to suspect we might be looking at something else entirely. There are several conditions that mimic Pityriasis rosea quite closely. 🧐

I’m not sure when your last dermatology appointment was, but I’d strongly recommend seeking a second opinion. Be sure to tell them exactly how long these symptoms have been persisting. That duration should be enough reason for them to run more extensive tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possibilities. In my view, you need to ask the dermatologist to be definitive: is this truly Pityriasis rosea? And if it is, what on earth is making it so stubborn? 🙂

In the meantime, watch your habits. Avoid wearing unwashed clothes or anything straight from a store without laundering it first. If you pull something out of the back of your closet that hasn't been worn in a while, wash it again—make sure it's thoroughly rinsed of detergent and ironed. When you sweat, dry your skin immediately to prevent further irritation. Try to limit soap and gel usage, avoid frequent showers, and skip the baths if possible. Stick to water where you can. Don't use abrasive towels, don't scrub your skin, and stick to neutral creams and lotions. I assume you've heard all of this already, yet the condition continues to plague you regardless. 🙂

So, the only real advice I have is this: see a dermatologist. Again and again. 🧐

To the gentleman above: I have already "swapped" through three different dermatologists, and they all reached the same conclusion—it really is rosea. Let me give you the full breakdown of what I've tried:
Dermatologist 1—prescribed Sinoderm. I did everything you mentioned: no soap, using a soft towel to pat dry...
Dermatologist 2—Ornazol shampoo and some vitamin cream custom-made at a local pharmacy.
Dermatologist 3—Esperson Mite.
Since absolutely nothing worked, I switched to Aderma products. It helped slightly, but not completely. When I say it helped, I mean the eruption isn't as aggressive as it used to be.
What I have noticed is that it flares up whenever I sweat. And man, do I sweat. I have a two-year-old boy, so life is basically constant hyperactive chaos...
As for unwashed clothes, unironed stuff, or old seasonal clothes sitting in the closet? I haven't had any issues like that! Never!
But today, I stumbled upon an article about a similar issue called Erythrasma. I've never heard of it before, but honestly? I think that might be it! It doesn't sting, it doesn't itch, and it doesn't hurt—it just looks terrible aesthetically!
It baffles me how none of those doctors even considered this or even suspected it! 🤷
The only thing they all agreed on was that it would eventually pass on its own, whether treated or not. 😕So, I’m left with zero options. Either I sit around and wait, or I try to corner one of my doctors and shove the idea of Erythrasma in their face as a potential culprit. What else am I supposed to do? Thanks for the input. Best,

Ugh, well, here we go. I finally got diagnosed with this crap. 😢 I’d never even heard of this condition before, and now that I’m actually looking into it, the info out there isn't exactly comforting. My dermatologist told me straight up that it’s absolutely not contagious and that I can basically live my life just like I did before—aside from the usual hygiene stuff like showering and laundry, obviously. Can anyone please tell me that this won't last as long as they predicted? They gave me a 6 to 8-week window, and I am really hoping for a shorter recovery. 😕 Thanks in advance.

I might have missed an existing thread on this, but I couldn't find one, so here goes. I finally kicked this thing about two months ago. Those of you dealing with a "permanent" prognosis know exactly what I’m talking about. I won't beat around the bush; I just wanted to drop some advice. My doctor basically told me this thing lasts six to eight weeks and there isn't a cure—at least, nothing that actually clears it up completely. Just when I was starting to accept my fate, I stumbled upon the tip I'm sharing with you all: extra virgin olive oil. First off, the itching died down significantly, and second, the whole mess was gone in less than four weeks. It vanished for good. Aside from a few spots on my skin, I didn't deal with any other issues during the whole ordeal. Anyway, stay healthy—I really hope none of you end up needing to dig through this post. But for those who do, hang in there. 😁

It’s hitting me again. Round two.
Just figured I'd share what's working for me to take the edge off.

As soon as that first red patch popped up, I started taking Noni.
I was doing one shot a day.
The other spots are tiny—maybe 1 to 5 mm—and there aren't many of them. Plus, they don't itch.

Maybe if I doubled the dose it would work better, but honestly, I'm not sure if you should overdo it on Noni since you can get too much vitamin 🙂.
Since I've dealt with this before, I was basically waiting for those big, obvious red patches to show up. I kept watching, but nothing happened.
Then I caught these tiny little red specks out of nowhere. That's when it clicked—they were trying to surface, but I had already shut them down.
Basically, boost your immune system so your body can actually fight back.

Anyway, hopefully this helps someone else out, so I thought I'd drop it here.

It took about four weeks for me—hardly even itchy, and the spots were super faint and pretty sparse. Didn't touch a single cream.
Honestly, when I first got the diagnosis, I was ready to just lose it.🤣 But then? It passed without any drama at all. I kept waiting for things to get worse, but nope—nothing happened.

So, I dealt with Pityriasis this year. Before all that started, I’d been wearing some new underwear straight out of the package without washing them first—total rookie mistake, right? It kicked off with this massive red patch on my lower back, and then two weeks later, it had spread across my entire back. I went to a local clinic to see a dermatologist, and at first, she actually thought it might be psoriasis because I had a positive reaction to a stearic acid candle test. I kept showering like normal, which I guess didn't help, because the rash just migrated everywhere. She prescribed some Belosalic to rub on the spots for a few weeks, but honestly, I eventually just stopped using it on my own. At the follow-up, she corrected herself and said, "Nope, it's definitely Pityriasis." Apparently, those psoriasis-looking patches were just a reaction to a throat infection I was fighting off at the exact same time. Once I stopped showering so much and cut back on sweating, I finally cleared up after maybe two or three months.

Hey everyone. So, I came down with Pityriasis Rosea a few days ago. It all started exactly a month back when I had surgery to remove my tonsils—my immune system took a hit right after, and here we are. First sign was this loud, hacking dry cough that lasted a week, then this red patch showed up on my stomach. About five days ago, the rash actually started spreading. It’s all over my abdomen, my back, and the backs of my thighs now. The itching? Absolutely unbearable. I haven't slept in five days. I'm losing my mind; if this keeps up for another week, I'll be checking myself into a psychiatric ward. To make matters worse, my first doctor—a specialist dermatologist—had no clue what was happening and prescribed Econazole, which just made everything worse. I ended up Googling the symptoms myself, eventually finding a second dermatologist today who confirmed it is indeed Rosea. I see people on these forums saying you shouldn't even bathe, but my doctor told me the exact opposite! She actually suggested I head to the coast and get about thirty minutes of sun exposure daily, claiming UV rays are great for Rosea. Currently, I'm using a corticosteroid topical from the pharmacy, Telfast tablets, and Eucerin shower oil. The plan is to shower daily in lukewarm water with the oil and then apply the steroid. A friend also mentioned that sun and olive oil helped her clear it up in three weeks. I just hope I can endure this. Tonsil surgery followed by this... all within one month. It's madness.

Hi,
About two months ago, I noticed this small, scaly oval patch on my right side. Since then, little red spots have spread from my groin up toward my hip on both sides, plus some under both armpits—though the left side seems worse. I tried using Beloderm cream after seeing a doctor, but honestly, nothing has changed in two months. I also came down with the flu four days ago, and maybe because of the sweating, things just seem to be getting worse. It feels like mosquito bites or something; the itching is pretty intense and it’s really wearing me down. Looking at photos online, I'm thinking it might be Pityriasis, though I don't get why it hasn't spread everywhere like most cases, instead focusing on my groin and armpits.

copperseal said:It’s hitting me again. Round two.
Just figured I'd share what's working for me to take the edge off.

As soon as that first red patch popped up, I started taking Noni.
I was doing one shot a day.
The other spots are tiny—maybe 1 to 5 mm—and there aren't many of them. Plus, they don't itch.

Maybe if I doubled the dose it would work better, but honestly, I'm not sure if you should overdo it on Noni since you can get too much vitamin 🙂.
Since I've dealt with this before, I was basically waiting for those big, obvious red patches to show up. I kept watching, but nothing happened.
Then I caught these tiny little red specks out of nowhere. That's when it clicked—they were trying to surface, but I had already shut them down.
Basically, boost your immune system so your body can actually fight back.

Anyway, hopefully this helps someone else out, so I thought I'd drop it here.

It feels like mine has flared up multiple times, but this time was the worst. It happened after sitting in the car too long; just sweat on my back caused four to six spots. When I remember how bad the first bout was, I still panic. Right now, I'm just using Belosalic and some medicated powder. I didn't get a diagnosis right away the first time, so it spread like crazy. Does anyone know where I can pick up that Noni? Thanks a lot.

So, I dealt with my first bout of Pityriasis back in late June this past summer. My doctor initially prescribed some Belosalic ointment, but honestly, it barely made a dent. Then my aunt—who’s also a doctor—suggested I try Plimycol cream instead. That actually seemed to do the trick, though it was a bit of a struggle, and the spots where the eczema had been left behind feeling pretty dry.
Now, it’s flared up all over again. Should I just stick with what worked before, or does anyone have a better suggestion?
Also, is it normal for that initial stage—you know, the primary medallion—to turn into this round little scab that still itches like crazy?
I'm a bit stumped as to why it's back, too. I haven't been super active physically, I haven't bought any new clothes, and I've been making sure everything I wear is freshly laundered. 😕

I am so ready to be done with this! 😢

Since Plimycol is an antifungal, if you’re seeing improvement, you might be dealing with a fungal infection. Could be seborrheic dermatitis?
Where exactly is this breaking out?

Walter Thomas18 said:Since Plimycol is an antifungal, if you’re seeing improvement, you might be dealing with a fungal infection. Could be seborrheic dermatitis?
Where exactly is this breaking out?

It showed up on my left thigh (not sure how else to put it 🤦 )
A new patch formed right near the old one, and now there’s another spot by my knee. Plus, I had an old one near my armpit.
Looking at the photos, it starts off looking just like pityriasis rosea because of those specific little circles, but then the one on my thigh turns into something more intense because I end up scratching it without realizing. Is that just what happens, or am I dealing with something else entirely?

It might just be an allergy issue.
Your best bet is to head to a dermatologist so they can take a look and figure out which tests you actually need. It's nearly impossible to guess what's causing this, let alone prescribe the right treatment.

analogdriver15 said:So, I dealt with my first bout of Pityriasis back in late June this past summer. My doctor initially prescribed some Belosalic ointment, but honestly, it barely made a dent. Then my aunt—who’s also a doctor—suggested I try Plimycol cream instead. That actually seemed to do the trick, though it was a bit of a struggle, and the spots where the eczema had been left behind feeling pretty dry.
Now, it’s flared up all over again. Should I just stick with what worked before, or does anyone have a better suggestion?
Also, is it normal for that initial stage—you know, the primary medallion—to turn into this round little scab that still itches like crazy?
I'm a bit stumped as to why it's back, too. I haven't been super active physically, I haven't bought any new clothes, and I've been making sure everything I wear is freshly laundered. 😕

I am so ready to be done with this! 😢

From what I understand, Pityriasis is usually treated with medicated powders you pick up at the pharmacy. It mostly spreads across the torso rather than the legs or head, and sometimes you might take antihistamines. It starts with one single spot that eventually breaks out across your stomach and back, especially when things get warm. When you go to bed, the best move is just to keep those areas as dry as possible... though, hey, I'm no doctor. 🙂 Treatment usually lasts about a month; it can clear up on its own without intervention, just much slower. They say it shouldn't recur, but in my experience, it seems to pop up every now and then.

You’re actually talking about tinea versicolor, not rosacea. I noticed you’ve been repeating yourself—if you think treating this with ketoconazole or anything similar is going to work, then good luck to you.

So, I just did a deep dive into all those different fungal infections, and turns out it wasn't Pityriasis or versicolor at all—it’s actually what people call ringworm! It’s kind of a funny name because there aren't actually any worms involved, it's just how it looks 😁
Most of the time, you pick it up from cats or dogs. My first run-in was definitely from my little kitten; she had these tiny bald circles on her paws and around her ears. Now, I probably caught it from some stray cat I pet while walking home from school, since I'm always stopping to say hi to them 😢
It’s contagious between people, too—so I really need to be more diligent about washing my hands and sanitizing anything I share with others
Anyway, if anyone else is out there feeling as confused as I was, now you know 🙂
Thanks a million for all the help!

There it is. A fungal issue. That explains why the Plimycol worked for you.
If this keeps coming back, don't just settle for creams or pills—ask your doctor for more options.

The main thing is that it works 🙂