Ever suffered from itching at the hands, neck or your body? Maybe you got a skin disease caused by pityriasis rosea. But don't be worry, read the Pityriasis Rosea article below.
Pityriasis Rosea
is a common skin disease. It appears as a rash that can last from
several weeks to several months. The way the rash looks may differ from
person to person. It most often develops in the spring and the fall, and
seems to favor adolescents and young adults. Pityriasis rosea is
uncommon in those over 60 years old. It may last months longer when it
occurs in this age group. Usually there are no permanent marks as a
result of this disease, although some darker-skinned persons may develop
long-lasting flat brown spots.
The skin
rash follows a very distinctive pattern. In 3/4 of the cases, a single,
isolated oval scaly patch (the "herald patch") appears on the body,
particularly on the trunk, upper arms, neck, or thighs. Often, the
herald patch is mistaken for ringworm (tinea corporis) or eczema. Within
a week or two more pink patches will occur on the body and on the arms
and legs. These patches often form a pattern over the back resembling
the outline of an evergreen tree with dropping branches. Patches may
also appear on the neck and, rarely, on the face. These spots usually
are smaller than the "herald" patch. The rash begins to heal after 2-4
weeks and is usually gone by 6-14.
Sometimes
the disease can cause a more severe skin reaction. Some patients with
this disease will have some itching that can be severe, especially when
the patient becomes overheated. Occasionally there may be other
symptoms, including tiredness and aching. The rash usually fades and
disappears within six weeks but can sometimes last much longer. Physical
activity, like jogging or running, or bathing in hot water may cause
the rash to temporarily worsen or reappear. In some cases, the patches
will reappear up to several weeks after the first episode. This can
continue for many months.
The cause
is unproven. It definitely is not caused by a fungus or bacterial
infection. It also is not due to any known type of allergic reaction.
This condition is not a sign of any type of internal disease. Since it
is neither contagious nor sexually transmitted, there is no reason to
avoid close or intimate contact when one has this eruption.
There
is some evidence that it is a relapse of Human Herpes Virus type 7
(HH7) infection, as this virus has been isolated from blood, skin
lesions, and white blood cells (lymphocytes) of pityriasis rosea
patients. In other people HH7 is only found in the lymphocytes. This
virus infects most of us as children, and we develop immunity to it.
This is the reason it is so very uncommon for other members of the same
household to come down with pityriasis rosea at the same time.
A
dermatologist can usually diagnose the condition quickly with an
examination, but at times the diagnosis is more difficult. The numbers
and sizes of the spots can vary and occasionally the rash can be found
in an unusual location, such as the lower body or on the face. When
there is no "herald" patch, reactions to medications, infection with
fungus or syphilis (a type of VD), or other skin diseases may resemble
this rash. The dermatologist may order blood tests, skin scrapings or
even may take a sample from one of the spots to examine under a
microscope to reach a diagnosis.
Treatment
may include external and internal medications for itching. Aveeno
oatmeal baths, anti-itch medicated lotions and steroid creams may be
prescribed to combat the rash. Lukewarm, rather than hot, baths may be
suggested. Strenuous activity, which could aggravate the rash, should be
discouraged. Ultraviolet light treatments given under the supervision
of a dermatologist may be helpful. Recently, both the antiviral drug
Famvir and the antibiotic erythromycin have been claimed to produce
healing in one to two weeks. For severe cases a few days of oral anti
inflammatory medications such as prednisone may be necessary to promote
healing. For mild cases, no treatment is required as this disease is not
a dangerous skin condition.
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