Hello All! This is my story...Around two and a half months ago a red, oval shaped, raised patch appeared on my right forearm. It was approx. 3cm in diameter and there was a similar, slightly smaller second oval patch next to it. I had been giving my kitchen a good spring clean the day before and thought maybe it was some kind of burn caused by some cream cleaner or the like that has splashed on my skin and hadn't been washed off.
I now know, thanks to this forum and other websites that it was a Herald Patch, an indication that more were to follow. I thought little of it, thinking it would fade and disappear until approx. two weeks later more began popping up on my right arm and around the top of the left arm, as though it was working its way across my body.
This prompted my first visit to the GP who diagnosed it as some kind of eczema and gave me a topical cream. I wasn't happy with that diagnosis at all, I told the GP that I have never had eczema and neither have any of my family suffered from eczema in their lives - parents, my brothers and sisters and their children - no one. Also, my gut instinct was this thing was going to spread and I told this to the GP, who just ignored me..
Nevertheless I dutifully started applying the cream but it had no effect. With the blotchy rash with fine ring like scaling spreading uncontrollably over my body I went back to the GP, who this time diagnosed ringworm and prescribed nausea inducing Terbinafine tablets. I've been taking them for three weeks and it was getting worse and worse.
It was really getting me down and began to believe I had some ultra-resistant ringworm. I also was terrified that my condition would spread to my little four year old boy and to my husband.
Through searches on the internet I now know I have Pityriasis Rosea and hopefully it will clear itself and that its not fungal. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow and hope to confirm this.
I also, like others on this forum, believe that I probabaly caught it. The reason for this is because about two weeks before the Herald patch, I attended a Market Research event. The lady I sat next to and had to partner up with for the day had a skin condition on her arms that I had never seen before. I remember her arms and discussing it with my husband that evening. She had red blotches all up her arm and they must have been itchy as she had scratched some until they bled. It knew it wasn't eczema nor psoriasis, neither acne ( I do have acne ). Her arms and chest looked awful, yet her face had really lovely clear, peachy skin.
I can't say for sure but I think maybe I caught it from her - I vaguely remember getting a cold a week later and not long after the initial patch on my arm.
I really wish someone would research this virus, looking at the dates on the postings on this forum this thing is quite active with lots of sufferers. I have warned all my family about this condition and insist their GP take samples before diagnosing eczema / ringworm should they have unexplained patches appearing.
Sorry to go on and on, I feel that the detail may help others figure out if they have Pityriasis Rosea too. I would also love to know of any research to prove this is contagious. Many thanks - a77c