🦴 Musculoskeletal & Dermatology🟢 BasicPapulosquamous Disorders

Pityriasis Rosea

A common, self-limiting rash of young people that starts with a single patch and then spreads in a typical pattern.

Key points

Pityriasis rosea is a common, mild, self-limiting rash, thought to be linked to a viral infection.
It often begins with a single larger oval patch, called the herald patch, several days before the rest of the rash.
The rash then spreads as smaller oval patches on the trunk, arranged along the skin lines in a Christmas-tree pattern on the back.
The patches are pink or brown with a fine scale at their edge, and mild itching is common.
It clears on its own over several weeks and does not usually return.

Memory trick

Pityriasis rosea is a mild self-limiting rash (viral link): a herald patch first, then smaller oval patches along skin lines (Christmas-tree pattern on the back); fine edge scale, mild itch; clears in weeks.

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🦴 Musculoskeletal & Dermatology🟢 BasicPapulosquamous Disorders

Pityriasis Rosea

A common, self-limiting rash of young people that starts with a single patch and then spreads in a typical pattern.

Key points

Pityriasis rosea is a common, mild, self-limiting rash, thought to be linked to a viral infection.
It often begins with a single larger oval patch, called the herald patch, several days before the rest of the rash.
The rash then spreads as smaller oval patches on the trunk, arranged along the skin lines in a Christmas-tree pattern on the back.
The patches are pink or brown with a fine scale at their edge, and mild itching is common.
It clears on its own over several weeks and does not usually return.

Memory trick

All of Dermatology More Musculoskeletal & Dermatology