Merck Manual

Please confirm that you are a health care professional

honeypot link

Pityriasis Rosea

By

Shinjita Das

, MD, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised Sep 2023
View PATIENT EDUCATION
Topic Resources

Pityriasis rosea is a self-limited, inflammatory disease characterized by diffuse, scaling papules or plaques. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment is usually unnecessary.

Pityriasis rosea most commonly occurs between ages 10 and 35. It affects women more often.

References

Symptoms and Signs of Pityriasis Rosea

The condition classically begins with a single, primary, 2- to 10-cm herald patch that appears on the trunk or proximal limbs. A general centripetal eruption of 0.5- to 2-cm rose- or fawn-colored oval papules and plaques follows within 7 to 14 days. The lesions have a scaly, slightly raised border (collarette) and resemble ringworm (tinea corporis Tinea Corporis (Body Ringworm) Tinea corporis is a dermatophyte infection of the face, trunk, and extremities. Diagnosis is by clinical appearance and by examination of skin scrapings on potassium hydroxide wet mount. Treatment... read more Tinea Corporis (Body Ringworm) ).

The rose or fawn color is not as evident in patients with dark skin. Patches that appear more pink in patients with light skin appear violaceous and/or hyperpigmented in patients with dark skin.

Most patients itch, occasionally severely. Papules may dominate with little or no scaling in children and pregnant women. Children more commonly have inverse pityriasis rosea (lesions in the axillae or groin that spread centrifugally).

Manifestations of Pityriasis Rosea

Classically, lesions orient along skin lines, giving pityriasis rosea a Christmas tree–like distribution when multiple lesions appear on the back.

A prodrome of malaise, headache, and sometimes arthralgia precedes the lesions in a minority of patients.

Diagnosis of Pityriasis Rosea

  • Clinical evaluation

Diagnosis of pityriasis rosea is based on clinical appearance and distribution.

Differential diagnosis includes

Treatment of Pityriasis Rosea

  • Antipruritic therapy

No specific treatment is necessary because the eruption usually remits within 5 weeks and recurrence is rare.

Artificial or natural sunlight may hasten resolution.

Antipruritic therapy such as topical corticosteroids, oral antihistamines, or topical measures may be used as needed.

Limited data suggest that a short course of acyclovir may be helpful in patients who present early and have widespread disease, or present with flu-like symptoms (1 Treatment references Pityriasis rosea is a self-limited, inflammatory disease characterized by diffuse, scaling papules or plaques. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment is usually unnecessary. Pityriasis rosea most... read more Treatment references ). Of note, pityriasis rosea during pregnancy (especially during the first 15 weeks of gestation) is associated with premature birth or fetal demise. Pregnant women should be offered acyclovir; however, antiviral therapy has not proved to reduce obstetric complications (2 Treatment references Pityriasis rosea is a self-limited, inflammatory disease characterized by diffuse, scaling papules or plaques. Diagnosis is clinical. Treatment is usually unnecessary. Pityriasis rosea most... read more Treatment references ).

Treatment references

Key Points

  • Pityriasis rosea is a self-limited, inflammatory disorder of the skin possibly caused by human herpesvirus types 6, 7, or 8 or medications.

  • An initial 2- to 10-cm herald patch is followed by centripetal eruption of oval papules and plaques with a slightly raised and scaly border, typically appearing along skin lines.

  • Diagnose based on clinical appearance and distribution.

  • Treat with antipruritic medications as needed and possibly topical corticosteroids and/or sunlight.

  • Pityriasis rosea during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy is associated with premature birth or fetal demise.

  • Pregnant women should be offered antiviral therapy, even though this has not proved to reduce obstetric complications.

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Drug Name Select Trade
Sitavig, Zovirax, Zovirax Cream, Zovirax Ointment, Zovirax Powder, Zovirax Suspension
View PATIENT EDUCATION
NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
quiz link

Test your knowledge

Take a Quiz! 
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
TOP