I've been scratching my armpits like a freaking chimpanzee for the last two months. Now I know why.
A couple months ago, I noticed a small red spot under one of my arms. Shortly after, I developed a crazy rash on my legs. Having just returned from California where I spent an entire day in the grass, I thought this was a flare-up due to my grass allergy. As it progressively got worse, I watched as dry, red spots slowly engulfed my legs. My next self-diagnosis was eczema, so I loaded up on moisturizing cream and went to town. No luck- my legs looked like I had acquired leprosy, while they FELT like I had a bad case of the Chicken Pox.
This week, after waking up to bloody legs from scratching in my sleep, as well as being fed up by the CONSTANT itching under my arms, I took my rash-ridden self to the doctor. After examining my legs, he ruled out eczema and any kind of fungal infection. Stumped, he then looked under my arm. And, after an enlightening "Ohhhhh!", he started a line of questions:
Dr: Did you notice this spot before the rash on your legs?
Me: yes...
Dr: And did your ribcage and abdomen ever itch?
Me: YES...
Dr: And did it then spread to your legs downward?
Me: YES!...
(It was starting to sound like that annoying Progressive commercial)
He then informed me I have a "classic case" of Pityriasis Rosea, a viral infection that begins with a "Herald Spot" and quickly becomes a skin rash. My particular case is accompanied by severe itching.
Oh, not to worry, because it usually only lasts four to six months. MONTHS!!! ARGHH!!!! Until then, I'm supposed to take lots of cold showers and oatmeal baths to help combat the itching. The only good news in this situation is that the approaching cold weather gives me a good excuse to keep my spotted skin covered up. I think this may be the only time I've actually welcomed winter weather.
7 comments:
From personal experience: Stay away from steroids,(it's not really worth the exposure to the side effects & the new skin can make you look like a leopard for a while!); take Benadryl pills for itching, and the spray works well locally; don't use powder or talc; and sunbathing or UV lights can help it to fade sooner (don't get sunburned). Rosa
My kids have had it and it didn't last very long. Hope your case is short lived too
-Manda
Yikes, Jamie! Hope it clears up soon.
How horrible and uncomfortable! I hope it passes quickly!
I'm sorry, Jamie! Skin rashes are the pits. (Sorry, couldn't help myself!) Seriously, though, my son has severe eczema and it's just awful. Hope your skin clears up quickly.
I had that when I was a junior in high school. SO NOT FUN! Unfortunatly for me it was in the middle of summer. The spots dry out and fall off, which in my case, caused my tanned skin to look like lepord prints. ( Iremember it because I was at HUME LAKE when this started to happen-come to think of it, I am pretty sure you were my cabin counselor...) ANYWAY be happy you will have cold winter to keep covered up and I really DO sympathize with you!
That's horrible! Maybe you should get some prayer for that--I'm not kidding! It might go away much faster! Call the healing team if you don't want to ask at small group or church!
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