Okay, so y'all remember that "mystery rash" I wrote about earlier... well, it is not a mystery anymore! I ended up having Pityriasis Rosea, a rash caused by a viral infection.
About Pityriasis Rosea:
A key give away of this specific rash is the pine-tree branch pattern which it forms in
Usually, it first shows itself in circular patchy spots on either your chest or abdomen
As time goes on, the rash will spread to cover larger portions of the skin, but does not move past your chest, abdomen, or back
It takes around 6-10 weeks for the rash to completely disappear
Following the rash, you should expect a fever, sore throat, headache, and fatigue
It is not contagious
My Experience:
First, I noticed a few small patches on my stomach and immediately thought I had bed bugs! Then, the bumps spread all over my stomach, back, chest, and neck and I was horrified thinking I had a very severe case of bed bugs in my bed!! About a week after the first initial bumps, I was throwing up and had a fever. Still, very unaware of what could be wrong, I was scared I had bed bugs or some new kind of skin condition. I was sick for one day and after a good night of sleep I woke up feeling 100% fine. It was very, very weird. When my allergist told me I had Pityriasis Rosea I was relieved! Until I found out it could last for 10 weeks...
Because I had prom coming up I was desperate to get rid of the red, flaky patches that resided all over my abdomen. I found Tea Tree Oil to be most useful in reducing the redness and number of spots. After two nights of applying it with a cotton ball I had amazing results. The only problem is that this oil is very potent and can cause drying effects on your skin. My skin became irritated and itchy, which I treated by applying baby oil to the affected areas and diluting the oil with water. I also took vinegar baths but I did not see as great of results.
This rash is very stubborn and hard to treat but it will go away eventually, you just have to be patient. Your doctor can prescribe Prednisone, a steroid, to relieve itchiness but I did not take this. There are many ways to combat redness, dryness, and itchiness; just remember it is not contagious and does not pose any health threats!
Treatment:
Vinegar baths may help to relieve redness
Oatmeal baths may help to relieve itchiness
Tea Tree Oil works amazingly to reduce redness and size of patches
Prednisone(steroid) may be prescribed by your doctor to stop the spread of the rash and itchiness
Information from About Pityriasis Rosea retrieved from:
“Pityriasis Rosea.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 5 Aug. 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pityriasis-rosea/symptoms-causes/syc-20376405.
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