Simple Treatment Options For Pityriasis Rosea

Pityriasis rosea is a skin condition that produces a red, scaly rash. Typically, it begins with a herald patch (also known as a mother patch), one scaly, oval-shaped spot up to four inches long. The spot will typically have a raised border, and it is most often found on the back, stomach, or chest. Before the appearance of this spot, patients may experience a headache, fever, runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, or other symptoms similar to an upper respiratory infection. After the herald patch has appeared, other smaller patches of reddish spots normally appear over the next three weeks, and the rash typically causes itching. The smaller patches of the rash are often spread out across the body in a shape resembling a pine tree. Pityriasis rosea most often occurs in patients between ten and thirty-five years old, and it is rare in individuals over sixty. The rash normally resolves on its own in six to eight weeks, and treatment can promote faster healing.