Pityriasis rosea (Skin Disease Type)

Pityriasis rosea (Skin Disease Type)

This disorder is a common, but unexplainable, reaction. The initial lesion, "herald patch", is red and scaly, followed in 1 to 2 weeks by widespread, oval, scaling, fawn-colored macules 4 to 5 mm in diameter over the trunk and proximal extremities. Pityriasis rosea is usually an acute self-limiting illness that lasts 4 to 8 weeks. It is not highly infectious.

Pityriasis rosea: Signs and symptoms

 

When people get pityriasis rosea, they often have the following signs (what you can see) and symptoms (what you feel):

• Mother patch: The first sign of this rash is a single patch on the skin. Called a "herald" or "mother" patch, this patch is the only patch on the skin for about 2 weeks. This patch can get large. It feels scaly. People who have fair to olive-colored skin will see a pink or rose-colored patch. In people who have dark skin, the color varies from violet to dark gray.
• Daughter patches: Within a week or two, more patches appear on the skin. These patches are smaller and may appear on the chest, abdomen, back, arms, and legs. Sometimes these patches develop on the neck, face, and elsewhere on the skin. Patches can even develop inside the mouth. These patches are oval shaped. If many patches appear, these new patches may form a pattern on the back. The pattern often looks like a Christmas tree.
• Patch-free zones: Patches rarely appear on the face, scalp, palms, or soles.
• Itch: The skin can itch. About half (50%) of the people have itchy skin. The itch tends to worsen when the skin gets warm, such as when a person works out or takes a hot shower.

How do dermatologists treat pityriasis rosea?

Pityriasis rosea usually goes away without treatment. You can expect to have the rash about 6 to 8 weeks before it disappears. Some people have it for 2 weeks. Occasionally, it lasts longer than 8 weeks. 

If a patient has unbearable itching, a dermatologist may prescribe a medicine to help relieve the itch. Sometimes a dermatologist prescribes light treatments for the itch. 

Source By American Academy of Dermatology

Another Type of Pityriasis rosea: