Pityriasis Rosea

Pityriasis rosea definition and general information

        Pityriasis rosea is characterized by the appearance of diffuse redness(erythema) associated with a very slight scaling (falling tiny shreds of skin). There are many varieties of pityriasis which have no relation with each other. The Pityriasis Rosea is the mildest and most mysterious of the common dermatoses. It is characterized by the eruption (the appearance) of a single large plate and several smaller plates. There are several varieties of pityriasis rosea. Pityriasis Rosea appears at all ages, but among young adults it is most common.

Pityriasis rosea disease evolution

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        Pityriasis rosea (Pityriasis rosea Gibert) should not be confused with pityriasis versicolor. The development of this dermatitis (skin disease) is cyclical and usually heals in six weeks.In some cases the development lasts two to three months. Recurrences are rare.

Pityriasis rosea treatment

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       Pityriasis rosea treatment usually implies specific medication that can be external or internal. Some lotion and lubricants may be prescribed in treating pityriasis rosea. One should avoid making physical effort and also hot baths are not recommended so that the rash will not be influenced and complication avoided. In treating pitiriasis rosea one must know that this is not a very dangerous disease even when it occurs during pregnancy time. Other treatments used are Ultraviolet light treatments and also anti-inflammatory medications like corticosteroids.

Pityriasis rosea rash

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       Pityriasis rosea rash can appear at any given age, but it tends to occur in people aged 10 to 35. Pityriasis rosea rash usually lasts for several months. This rash will heal in time and most of the time it leaves no signs or scars. Look at these pictures to get an idea of how Pityriasis rosea rash looks like.

Pityriasis rosea skin

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       Pityriasis rosea skin initially looks like a single patch but this is just at the beginning of the disease, because in the next few days it will spread and the skin will look different. The rash will spread leading to the occurrence of several patches. The initial patch usually appears on the stomach or on the back. In the next few days smaller additional dots (spots) will appear. Pityriasis rosea skin disorder will heal on it's own when complications do not occur.

Pityriasis rosea causes

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       Pityriasis rosea causes are not yet very well understood. It seems that the causes are infections or some fungus. Other research put Pityriasis rosea causes on a virus.

Pityriasis rosea symptoms

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       Pityriasis rosea symptoms are mainly the following:

• The Herald Patch
• Itching and a hot sensation in the spots
• many spots and lesions
• spots appear on the torso and stomach

       Other pityriasis rosea symptoms:

• sometimes fever
• seldom fatigue

Pityriasis rosea pictures

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Pityriasis rosea typical form

        In the typical form, the complications are usually absent. General fever, headache, arthralgia, some digestive disorders are sometimes reported.
In the second stage Pityriasis rosea is round or oval, although limited in its center, pale pink, its border is slightly papular, darker pink and finely scaly. The original plate remains isolated for 5 to 15 days, sometimes longer.
The rash reaches its maximum in about ten days. It is composed of two types of elements:
1. Oval medallions, though limited, with a diameter of 1 to 2 cm, reproducing the original plate smallest;
2. Multiple erythematous macules, scaly, a few millimeters in diameter, can develop into a medallion.
The topography is typical, symmetrical, it mainly affects the trunk orientation with medallions along the lines of tension of the skin, giving the back an image like a "Christmas tree". The neck is frequently affected. The face is usually not affected.

        Pruritus is absent in a quarter of cases, mild in half of cases. There is no other useful diagnostic sign in the usual forms.
The trend is toward healing spontaneously in 3 to 6 weeks on average. The skin lesions disappear, starting with the oldest. Sometimes, local treatment can complicate the evolution, causing irritation and itchy sentisation. Relapses are very rare (2 to 3 per 100 cases), usually only after a few months or years.

Pityriasis rosea atypical form

        This is just a small list of characteristics.

1. The original plate may be absent.
2. The topography of the Pityriasis rosea rash may be atypical localized, unilateral, affecting the extremities, face, scalp, palms, plants, nails, oral mucosa.
3. The morphology of the Pityriasis rosea eruption may be secondary psoriasiform, vesicular, papular, urticarial or purpuric, pustular or bullous.
4. The duration of the Pityriasis rosea rash may be a few hours to 2 months for the original plate and 1 week to 3 months for the secondary rash.