You are not a doctor, but maybe you can help me with a weird skin thing.

• I have something rash-like going on. It started on my face, spread to my torso and back. It's migrating quickly. What the hell is it? Of course I should see a doctor...can't afford to until a major hang up with my health insurance is resolved. I don't know how long it will take, maybe be next week, maybe two months from now. Me. 37 y/old woman. About 6 weeks ago I had what I thought was an unusual acne break out on my right chin from the corner of my mouth downward. The skin has raised red bumps and is dry and flaky. The red bumps spread to the other side of my chin/mouth. Then it started to run up in the lines between my nose and mouth. Make-up can deal with most of it, but still. About 10 days ago the guy I'm seeing pointed out a smattering of small, red, slightly raised bumps across the small of my back. A few days after that I noticed the same smattering red bumps on by pelvis/hips. In the last few days it's spread up my torso and the rest of my back. The bumps are most clustered, dense and flaky on my face. On my torso and back they just seem random and scattered, no flakiness...but increasing in numbers. It seems like it took several weeks for the rash to go from my face to the rest of my body, now it's spreading really fast. This is brand new to me. The only skin condition I've ever had is very mild tinea versicolor, which flares up once every few years and goes away after a week of washing with dandruff shampoo. I don't have any personal or family history of skin allergies, eczema, psoriasis etc. I have not changed products in ages - all of my lotions, perfumes, cleansers, soaps, laundry detergents etc. are as they have been for ages. He hasn't changed products either. I don't have a fever. The bumps are not painful, tender, itchy, or swollen and don't seem to have any fluid/puss or other gross stuff in them. I'm not taking new medications. The only thing I can think of that changed around the time the rash stared is that I eat a lot more Trader's Joe's food.... sandwiches, salads, veggies etc. I can change that if it seems appropriate. I'm under more stress than usual, but mostly good stress. Other stuff. Don't smoke. Drink on average 2 glasses wine/beer/mixed drink twice a week. My weight is fine, diet is fairly decent, don't exercise as much as I should. I rarely get sick. What the fuck is this? Anything I can do until I can see a doctor? Thank You!

• Answer:

  Or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pityriasis_rosea. Starts with a "herald patch" then spreads in a couple of weeks around the torso, front and back.