How long does Pityriasis Rosea take to clear up?

Anyone know anything about Pityriasis Rosea?

• I started with one oval scaly patch of skin on my lower back in july 08' then it started to go away but I had an outbreak of smaller patches on my chest in Sept. (this was right after my friend discovered the rash on her chest about 2 weeks earlier) She went to her dr. and he told her she had pityriasis rosea so I read into it and found info saying it starts with one large scaly patch. The outbreak on my chest went away after a week or so and then finally the large patch on my back started to fade...then in the mean time a patch on the outside of my thigh appeared and shortly after a patch on the inside of my upper arm appeared as well. They look the same as the one that was on my back and they are starting to fade...which is leaving a white mark in its place which again is what happened to the one on my back. This has been going on now for the past 6 moths starting from that one patch and I want to make sure that what I have is pityriasis rosea and not something else. It looks like its finally going away and I have a dr. appt. on thurs. but I also know there is nothing you can do to get rid of it. These few patches are really bothering me though. Please help if anyone knows about this rash/virus ??????

• Answer:

  Pityriasis Rosea is a rash thought to be caused by virus. Although the rash can be quite dramatic, the illness is very mild. It commonly affects young adults, but can affect all ages. It goes away on its own without any treatment Most people don't feel unwell. A mild headache or tiredness may be all that occurs. The rash usually starts with a 'herald patch'. This is usually an oval shaped red patch about 2-5 cms in diameter. Common sites for this are the chest, abdomen, neck, back, thigh or upper arms. However, it is common not to have (or not to notice) a herald patch. Following the herald patch, usually 5-15 days later, a more widespread rash gradually appears over about 10 days. This rash can spread over most of the body. It usually consists of oval shaped spots 1-3 cm in diameter which are pinky in colour. Often the spots seem to form lines in parallel with the skin creases. Although the rash may seem alarming, you are not unwell with the rash. At worst, the rash might be slightly itchy. The rash fades in time but this may take several weeks. It leaves no marks and there is no damage done. Second attacks are very rare, but have been reported. This description is the typical case which most people seem to have. Occasionally, the rash may just affect the arms and legs. Rarely, it can cause scaling or flaking of the skin which can be troublesome. What is the treatment? There is no treatment that will clear the rash quicker than its natural course. Calamine lotion may help the mild itch. Sometimes, if the itch is troublesome, a mild steroid cream may help. (For example, hydrocortisone cream which you can buy at pharmacies or get on prescription