# Pityriasis Rosea **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pityriasis-rosea/671595 "2013-10-18T18:50:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2013, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pityriasis-rosea/671595/1 "2013-10-18T18:50:28Z")
Pityriasis Rosea - anyone ever had it? It is not contagious, and there is no cure but a couple of weeks time. The symptoms include a rash that may or may not be itchy (mine isn’t) fatigue, soreness, headache, and nausea. The symptoms have really flared this week and I feel incredibly drained. Of course that is when work takes a massive shit on me, and I played the role of superman and saved a puppy from the brink. I’m just so god damned wiped and there was a death of a family member in the office so I don’t want to leave the office even more swamped but - Jesus Christ my work is shit today. ---
**Author:** ![Dublin11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Dublin11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dublin11)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pityriasis-rosea/671595/2 "2013-10-19T10:57:15Z")
I’ve had it. The rash was all over my body apart from my face. I am really pleased it wasn’t on my face, because it lasted for weeks and weeks. It wasn’t itchy and I didn’t have those other symptoms that you describe, thankfully; I was just mottled from the neck down. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pityriasis-rosea/671595/3 "2013-10-19T13:48:02Z")
Moved from MPSIMS to IMHO, home of medical threads. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pityriasis-rosea/671595/4 "2013-10-19T18:20:50Z")
My daughter had it. It ran its course, no complications. ---
**Author:** ![Tante\_Dillie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Tante\_Dillie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tante_Dillie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pityriasis-rosea/671595/5 "2013-10-20T01:10:18Z")
I have it. It seems to be a side effect, for me anyway, of having really dry skin. It never quite goes away, but it’s bearable in the spring and summer and _atrociously_ itchy in the cold weather. I think it’s worsened by dry weather - the winters are arid hereabouts. I noticed that the herald spot blossomed today, so (sigh) I guess the rash is back for winter 2013 - 14. I fight the itch and the rash with OTC cortisone during the day (several times daily) and apply a thick moisturizer creme containing vit D overnight. I find the cortisone and moisturizer work best if I rub them on over dampened skin. I also wash the rashy area with a moisturizing bar instead of soap. I’ve read online that tea tree oil helps but the smell is pretty pungent so I don’t use it. IANAD, just a fellow sufferer. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pityriasis-rosea/671595/6 "2013-10-21T15:29:23Z")
My wife just had it a couple of months ago. It lasted about 6 weeks, although symptoms were milder after the first week. She took benedryl for the itching, but I don’t think there much else you can do.