Pityriasis Rosea - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Pityriasis rosea ( PR) is a scaly and reddish-pink skin rash. Single scaly red spot may appear on your back or stomach. This is called a "herald patch." Smaller spots will develop on your body days to weeks later. It is most common in children and young adults. PR can have a number of clinical variations. Its diagnosis is important because it may resemble secondary syphilis. Pityriasis rosea can affect members of either sex of any age. However, it is most common in females and those between the ages of 8 and 35. Symptoms only recur in 3% of the affected. PR has been linked to upper respiratory infections, it can cluster within families and close contacts, and it has an increased incidence in individuals who are immunocompromised.

Pityriasis rosea usually goes away on its own within six to eight weeks. In the meantime, you can take steps to relieve the discomfort. Viral exanthems, the incidence may increase in the fall and the spring. A single outbreak tends to elicit lifelong immunity. Pityriasis rosea is a self-limited benign illness. PR is rare in infants and in elderly persons; however, it has been reported in infants as young as 3 months. It is rises during childhood and is most common in persons aged 15-40 years. PR is reported to occur equally in the two sexes or slightly more often in females. The ratio of men to women varies from 1:1.43. PR has been calculated to be 0.13% in men and 0.14% in women. The prevalence reported at dermatologic centers has been between 0.3 and 3%.

Causes of Pityriasis Rosea

Pityriasis rosea is caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It also is not due to any type of allergy. Pityriasis rosea is not a sign of any internal disease. Common causes of Pityriasis Rosea

• Exanthems.
• HHV-6 and HH-7.
• Atopy.
• Seborrheic dermatitis.
• Acne vulgaris.
• Drugs (bismuth, barbiturates, captopril, gold, organic mercurials).

Symptoms of Pityriasis Rosea

Common Symptoms of Pityriasis Rosea

• Skin lesion
• Rash
• Itching of the lesions.
• Skin redness.
• Inflammation.
• Headache.
• Fever.
• Nausea.
• Fatigue.

Treatment of Pityriasis Rosea

Treatment is generally directed at alleviating pruritus and consists of oral antihistamines, midpotency topical glucocorticoids, and, in some cases, the use of UV-B phototherapy. Common Treatment of Pityriasis Rosea

• Relief of pruritus is helpful and can be accomplished by using topical steroids, oral antihistamines, topical menthol-phenol lotions, and oatmeal baths.
• Ultraviolet B (UV-B) light therapy, starting at 80% of the minimum erythrogenic dose, may rapidly relieve pruritus in resistant cases.
• For vesicular PR, a single case was considerably improved with 20 mg of dapsone twice a day.
• High-dose acyclovir (800 mg qid) may help shorten disease, especially if instituted early in the disease course.
• Moderate sun exposure or ultraviolet light treatment may help make the lesions go away more quickly.
• Use antihistamine pills, a steroid cream, calamine lotion or zinc oxide cream to relieve the itching. Sometimes people with pityriasis rosea have to take steroid pills to clear up their rash.

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