Long lasting Pityriasis rosea

[willnick]

Hi,

I am in my mid 60s and was diagnosed with this condition early in the year by a dermatologist. I had already been suffering from this condition for more than a year and treating as eczema. Previously a GP saw it and said it was fungal and gave me cream which had no effect.

What you read about this condition says it just clears up on its own and does not last like this.

The dermatologist pescribed a strong steroid which seems to improve it but it just returns.

I was just wondering if anyone else had had similar problems.

Thanks

Nick

[Citrinesun]

I had that condition a couple of years ago and like you it was first diagnosed as fungal when I shown the gp the mother patch, so took me another appointment to get the right medication. u have religiously apply the cream all over twice a day and also wash with epiderm or similar.

Time consuming and a total PITA but it has to be done..

You are right it is supposed to clear up on its own, but I did have it for around 8-12 weeks, I honestly thought it was never going to go away, the patches change colour when healing they become lighter and fade rather than just disappear, I still had vague patches for a good while after even though I felt better. if you are stressed or run down then your body will take longer, but I would probably go back to gp if things don't improve soon.

[willnick in reply to Citrinesun]

Thank you for your reply. The ointment I was given was mometasone furoate. I was only told to use it once a day for 14 days as it was a potent one. It did not get rid of it. I have just started using it again.

I did nt have the one large 'herald patch'; but quite a few of them, along with some smaller.

I read that for older people the condition can last a lot longer, which seems to be the case with me.

[Citrinesun in reply to willnick]

That's interesting because that condition is not very common in people over 35, I remember I got it just before my 35th birthday, talk about sods law lol.

I wonder if you actually have psoriasis given the pattern of patches you describe..

Do you feel well in general?

I definitely felt poorly like I had a viral thing going on.

You may need steroid tablets instead to clear up the patch not all creams work for everyone if it is Pityriasis rosea.

I think i just used fucidin cream and the epiderm

Maybe give it a few days of re-trialing the cream you have and then if no improvement will warrant another appointment with the dermatologist I would imagine.

[willnick in reply to Citrinesun]

Well he did seem pretty sure, but was not that interested.

Unfortunately I will will have to go via a GP to be referred again.

I think sunlight helps too.

[willnick in reply to willnick]

Yes I am generally well, but may have had a virus at the start.

[Citrinesun in reply to willnick]

I'm glad at least you are feeling well. so it's just the annoying patches being persistent,

Psoriasis resonds well to the sun for some people, my brother has it really badly but the sun gives him relief rather than irritation so something to think about..

I know what you mean about him being uninterested

I don't have much faith in dermatologists.

I waited months for a referral to then be told they couldn't see on the day what my gp and another specialist saw.. waste of time for me.

You could be right your body might just be taking a little longer I guess.

If it doesn't clear up soon then I would see if you can at least see a different gp at your surgery, if there is more than 1 of course,

because everytime I have had a skin problem the first dr got it wrong and prescribed the wrong thing and I have had to go back and saw someone else.

I am having an issue atm trying different prescription creams and whats worse is they are trying to diagnosis via photos I submit to them, which does it no justice as my phone isn't designed to snap detailed pictures of weird rashes lol.

I do hope you get to the bottom of it I know it's a miserable thing to have to battle with.

[willnick in reply to Citrinesun]

Yeah there is one of the GPs there who has worked in a skin clinic and hopefully I can see him if no improvement. My skin is a bit of an issue as its very dry and have also had quite a bit of eczema, which I assumed this was an bad outbreak of. Always worse in winter.

Thanks for your input on this.

[willnick]

To add an update on this I saw another GP about 10 days ago. She seemed to think it was psoriasis. I have a cream which supplies vitamin D as well as a steroid. I am pleased to say it seems to be working and there has been a major change to the size of my red, itchy skin patches.

She has sent photos to dermatology, so will see what they say.