Pityriasis Rosea

Causes

The cause of this problem is not known. It may be triggered by a viral infection.

Risk Factors

This problem is more common in people who are 10 to 35 years of age. Pregnant women may be at higher risk.

Symptoms

A person often has cold-like symptoms before the rash appears. These may be:

• Lack of energy
• Fever
• Headache
• Sore throat

The rash starts with one large, oval, and scaly patch on the back, stomach, armpit, or chest. In time, a person may also have:

• Rose-colored patches that may have scaly edges
• Mild to severe itching
• Itching that gets worse when the body overheats, such as with exercise or after a shower
• Skin redness or swelling

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the skin. This is often enough to make the diagnosis.

If the diagnosis is unclear, you may need to see a doctor who treats the skin. A sample of the skin may be tested. This can be done with a biopsy.

Skin Biopsy

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Treatment

The rash usually goes away on its own in about six weeks. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms during this time. Choices are:

• Supportive care, such as warm oatmeal baths and using moisturizer
• Medicines to ease itching, such as:
  • Antiviral medicines
  • Antibiotics
  • Antihistamines
  • Corticosteroids
• Ultraviolet light therapy to speed healing

Prevention

There are no known guidelines to prevent this health problem.