We found this extremely interesting article that leans in the same direction our data is showing! It says that the “likely cause” of pityriasis rosea, lichen planus and shingles are all variants of human herpes viruses.
It shows the possible correlation between PR and HHV6 and 7, and then LP and HHV 6 or 7.
Human herpes viruses are extremely common in the world’s population- estimated that about 98% of the world’s population has had these, mainly when we were kids. They are like having a cold or flu.
Pityriasis rosea is a “self limiting” disease that you usually get for about 8 to 12 weeks, so it is much more difficult to study than lichen planus and shingles.
Research is pretty much in agreement that shingles is a rash you get if you have had chicken pox, and it just “pops up” years or decades later for as yet unknown reasons. We posit the same is true for lichen planus, lichen planus planopilaris, lichen planus sclerosis, lichen planus palmoplantar, and all the variants of pityriasis rosea, such as pityriasis rosea gigantea, pityriasis rosea circinate, pityriasis rosea marginata, acral pityriasis, purpuric pityriasis, hemorrhagic pityriasis, urticarial pityriasis, erythema multiforme pityriasis, papular pityriasis, follicular pityriasis, vesicular pityriasis, hypopigmented pityriasis, irritated pityriasis (I certainly was when I had it), relapsing pityriasis, recurrent pityriasis, and persistent pityriasis.
We will be discussing some of these variants and posting some more studies soon!
Click HERE for the study.