06/15/2026
I'm at my wit's end with this rash that keeps spreading. Erythema annulare centrifugum, psoriasis, pityriasis rosea? SOS!
If any of you kind souls have a moment, could you look at this and share your thoughts? I've been dealing with this rash for three months now and I need to get it under control, it's really starting to affect my mental health.
The first spot appeared around Thanksgiving, three months ago. A small, pink dry patch in the middle of my back about an inch across. It grew to several inches wide by Christmas and developed a noticeable red ring. My PC said it was ringworm, but it didn't respond to anti-fungal (topical or oral).
It started spreading a week into January with several smaller spots appearing on my chest and stomach. Dermatologist did a biopsy on the original spot on my back. The results came back as:
SLIGHT SPONGIOTIC PSORIASIFORM DERMATITIS, RUBBED Note: The differential diagnosis includes long-standing erythema annulare centrifugum and nummular dermatitis. PAS stain is negative for hyphae and pseudohyphae.
They prescribed a topical steroid cream that didn't have any affect and the spots continue to spread. Some of the older spots are starting to get flaky and fade just a bit, but none have gone away completely.
I've suspected that it might be pityriasis rosea based on what I've learned online. The first spot on my back would have been the herald patch, with the smaller spots all appearing in the time since. It's been mostly limited to my torso, with a couple spots on my neck, one on my arm, and three on my leg. What's weird is that the spots elongate on the skin tension lines, you can see in the pictures! I heard that's common with pityriasis rosea?
I went back today and the PA I met with thinks that it's erythema annulare centrifugum. She said that it's hard to determine the cause, and more importantly that it's hard to treat. I'm panicking about the thought of having to live with this indefinitely. They did another biopsy on a new spot to try and get more answers.
Looking at the photos, what do you think?