#scabbies

Okay this ask is WILD

I have been contemplating posting this because it is extremely personal, and I don’t want people looking at me as if I am as gross as I feel buuuut after seeing the stories of others and how they have helped me, I decided to share my story hoping to hope others as well.

Here’s my struggle with inverse pityriasis rosea.

If you’re suffering, Skip to the conclusion 

Pre Diagnosis:

Sometime around the beginning of February I notices small bumps forming under my arms and inner thighs. I assumed they were razor bumps and brushed them off, until they started spreading down my arm, and up around my hips. I also noticed some on my chest. They were painful and extremely itchy.

That’s when worry set it, I feared cancer, STDS, scabies, everything . They were growing and becoming painful. Being uninsured was a major set back. I set up an appointment at a free clinic to see if it could be scabies or a form of an STD. Upon my arrival, I asked if I showed symptoms of scabies. The nurse, a bit rude assured me it was not scabies, but something called folliculitis, aka, a series of ingrown hairs and refused to test me for any STIs. Because of the location in my armpits, I was told to avoid lotions, deodorants, and soaps. She assured me that over the counter Benadryl and hydrocortisone cream (anti-itch) could solve my issues easily .

But they didn't . In fact, it got much worse. The bumps started to rise in large red, painful patches. Large, oval shaped dark marks started to appear. I looked like a druggie with shooting scars. The discomfort was inevitable. Despite my anxiety of hospital fees, I walked to the ER. Asking the nurse if it resembled folliculitis (as I was told it was the day before), I was told that it was scabies, and was Prescribed a cream that cost $103.27, out of pocket, and advised to continue a life with long sleeve shirts and no deodorant…..

Having scabies really upset me. Yet in still, I used the cream and noticed everything getting worse as the days passed. Additionally, I had managed to run through 2 bottles of hydrocortisone and enough Benadryl tablets to view them as a day time snack. I set up an appointment with a dermatologist on Friday, but the day way too far away. The “rash” was spreading, the dark spots were increasing. The rash was now crawling towards my stomach and down and around my arms. I found myself often waking in the night due to discomfort of the itch.The cream did not work, because it was in fact NOT scabies.

Monday: I purchased a bottle of Aveeno Skin Relief body wash and Lotion because of course, I still bathed. Taking the advise of a friend, I took an oatmeal bath. Big mistake. This set my soul on fire. The rash became inflamed and managed to spread further, it remained that way through the night. I got no sleep, something that I was becoming used to. 2 am, wide awake I decided to walk to the ER a third time.  The nurses began to recognize me as a regular, what a fucking pity. I insisted some blood work was done, I my bank account could not take guessing games. My request was denied, my nurse claimed that guessing is what the ER was for, it is designed to quickly diagnose and send me about my night. This time my nurse told me it was not scabies or folliculitis, I was told it was pityriasis rosea, my third diagnosis in 2 weeks. The information went in one ear and out of the other. I was tired of being the subject of guessing, I could not afford it. A trip to the Emergency with insurance has a copay $250, so I could only imagine how much I owed being uninsured. I was prescribed a week’s supply of an internal steroid called Prednisone, which tastes like goat feet. I was told they cause hyperactivity, and that I shouldn't expect any sleep that night (as if It even crossed my mind, it being 3AM and having class at 8). I continued with the Aveeno Skin Relief and left the oatmeal bath packets to anyone in their right mind that wanted them. The dark shits was spreading, leaving marks and my self esteem was at an all time low.

Friday came, and I was elated. By this time, I acquired insurance, which has made a significant difference in the way I was treated. I underwent a skin scraping and an unexpected biopsy. Three stitches later, they concluded that it was not pityriasis rosea, which is a reaction only 2-5% of people have as a response to a common, bodily virus, but the inverse version, which only attacks the folds of skin versus the full body. I was informed that there is no cure for pityriasis rosea, it last from 6 weeks to 6 months; I was well beyond the six week mark. I was told it comes and goes whenever it’s ready, that mine resembled the beginning stages. I was beyond devastated. I only own spaghetti strapped or crop topped shirts. I couldn't hide it forever. I was prescribed oral steroid Hydroxyzine to take at night in combination with Claritin (to replace the Benadryl) and told to use Triamcinolone and Hyrdocortisone cream twice daily. My doctor let it be known that this would only help the itch but not the actual rash itself. It wasn't great, but it was better than nothing.

Post Diagnosis:

Friday: After going home and following the regimen, I noticed my condition become much much worse!! Luckily, the dermatology office was closed during the weekend and I was left to suffer(: I noticed everything felt extremely tight and painful. I immediately assumed it was just my bandage and underwear chafing, until I decided to take a look. I had been mistaken. My thighs were inflamed and the texture was changing. It was in fact my skin that felt hard, like rubber. There were a series of smaller bumps forming. The skin under my bandage looked gray, wet and weird due to the swelling. The shit looked disgusting as fuck.. Meaning, I looked disgusting as fuck. Because the main rash was located in the inner thighs, the surrounding areas (MY VAGINA) was left to wither in pain as well. Yay. 

Saturday: Noticing the swelling of my groin and thighs, I decided to say fuck the cream. I called first thing Monday to notify my dermatologist, who would not be in till the following Friday. Due to an appointment cancellation, I was able to schedule an appointment with another doctor Tuesday.

Sunday: A night spent crying. Every time I looked at myself, I cried. The good vibes I held on to were no where to be found . The “Being strong” facade had gotten old, the swelling caused my stitches to become very itchy and painful. I felt as if my sutures were bursting which each movement I made. I must add, giving an emotional, upset person medicine that increases depression isn't the brightest idea, but what do I know ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  . . 

Tuesday: My new doctor (along with the help of three other Residents)  informed me that the changing texture of my skin was a sign of improvement, and not to fear the gray skin surrounding my stitches . Yet no one could explain the inflammation. I was prescribed more Prednisone tablets to take in the day, in addition to the hydroxyzine taken at night. When returning home, followed the doctors orders, using the oral steroids first. I felt relief in 10 minutes after taking them. I was pleased lol. However, The second I began applying the cream to my skin, I knew it was a mistake. The rash almost immediately rose and the Surrounding areas became swollen and "angry" as my doctor enjoyed putting it. 

Wednesday: My skin was hard and tight, swollen again and the rash was full fledged and disgusting. Let's not to forget itchy, many times I caught myself drawing blood trying to relieve it. After googling the side effects, I concluded that this was not normal, and that I was allergic to the only thing that could come close to soothing the massive itching. After tossing the cream, I noticed the swelling went down mostly, with respect to the genitals, which are still suffering. The rash was no longer inflamed but the dark leopard spot that decorated my skin were super dry and scaly. The rash had resolved to painful dry areas. For the first time every, It finally looked exactly like what I was diagnosed with. After weeks of cry and Hiding behind long sleeved clothing, I decided I wanted my life back. I celebrated by using deodorant (big whoop), my favorite gentle, yet scented soap and wearing something that suited with the weather. My rash was healing and I wanted to feel decent for the first time in weeks. Anyone that knows me knows that I am I hygiene freak, eliminating deodorant out of my life for a month was almost as hard as a pedophile at a park. I missed it.

Thursday: I felt a new confidence knowing that they were finally able to accurately diagnose me. I was determined to beat it. I decided to find more people like me. After viewing various health forms and seeing hundreds those sad, depressed and helpless like myself, I noticed one girls story. She claimed that she was able to beat her pityriasis rocea in two weeks with the combination of organic coconut oil, head and shoulders shampoo (as body wash), and ..tanning. 

Tanning was a common and strongly urged suggestion, but I’m black and already at high risk of skin cancer so, I didn't consider it. After that, I took a more in depth look at the comments of others. There was a large amount of people holding the claim that head and shoulders and coconut oil with the combination of tanning not only got rid of the rash, but it also left them with no scaring. I was hooked. I also learned that hot showers worsens the condition, probably explaining my experience with the oatmeal bath. I mean come on, if you’re telling me no deodorant and use soap when needed, of course I’m going to take the hottest shower possible to get clean. What the fuck do I look like being 19 and musty? /_\

Results: Anyway, I went to the closest drugstore and purchased both. And I must say they were right. I literally watched my skin change. The head and shoulders felt magical. That in combination with my towel produced a feeling close to scratching, which felt waaaay better than sex, omg. After the shower , I applied a generous amount of coconut oil to my body. By the time I finished, the affect area (rash) was dry!!! As if I had not just put anything there. So I repeated. My skin was devouring this shit. I could literally see the oil be absorbed and gone in less than a minute. It was sooo dry that it burned a bit as the oil was absorbing. After repeating applications a few times, I noticed my skin exfoliating. If I rubbed the "rash" small amounts of dead skin would come off. The rash was healing and peeling like it was supposed to do. To make sure I wasn't going crazy, I looked at the skin under my bandage to compare (I didn't apply anything to this area because I didn’t want to irritate the sutures). The skin that received coconut oil where just dark spots, resembling a leopard or cheetah, my skin didn't feel like a snakes anymore. Whereas the area under the bandage was grey had dry patches, holding the same scaly texture as before.

 In one day, I saw more action than I've seen from February 5th and beyond ( more than two months). I'm weird, I'm the type of person that picks scabs and removes dried glue from my hands, so this was kind of fun. The coconut oil is great, I’ve mentioned being skeptical about tanning, but I'm curious what it may bring. 

Friday: Coconut oil and the genitals don't mix, I repeat COCONUT OIL AND THE VAGINA DONT MIX. So as I've mentioned, the dryness of my skin burns a bit under the lubrication of the coconut oil. The worse part of my rash is located on my inner thighs, close to man’s most prized possession, meaning that there are dry patches located here as well. Applying coconut oil here is by far one of the most excruciating pain I've felt. This was no regular burning, it was knee buckling, grasping for Jesus to take the wheel type pain, which dominated my morning until I could reach my doctor. Every move I made, I felt it in my soul. I felt the mercy tears gather in my eyes, trying not to fall because I refused to let this dominate my day. Under the advice of my doctor, I applied a cold compress (towel drenched in water) against the area for a while, and used Vaseline on the area instead. Major difference, it still hurt, but I managed.

Saturday (Current): all is well. I'm going to give tanning a shot today, and also pick up bottles of vitamin C and Zinc. I read on tumblr that it really helps, and tumblr never lies. The rash on my thighs is dying out, leaving me to tend to the ones that have developed on my back and stomach , which should be a breeze. The worse part is over. 

 Conclusion: 

 If you're suffering from PR , end it in days not months. Pick up a bottle of head n shoulders and a jar of extra virgin coconut oil and call it a day. This has been really helpful to me and I couldn't keep it to myself. I wish I would've discovered  this secret more early on before it got this bad.

If tanning doesn't bother you, add that to the list as well. It was the most common suggestion. It was recommended to do five 10 minute sessions in a two week period.