In the displayed image, the large red circle on the upper chest is the "herald patch" of pityriasis rosea. In pityriasis rosea there are slightly raised pink, scaly lesions. This image displays very fine, scaly, oval, slightly elevated lesions typical of pityriasis rosea. In people with darker skin, the rash of pityriasis rosea can appear as very dark, scaly, slightly elevated lesions. This image displays the round or oval lesions of pityriasis rosea following skin lines like "Christmas tree branches" on the patient's back. This image displays a rash on the patient's trunk typical of pityriasis rosea. In people with darker skin, pityriasis rosea can have a deeper color, as displayed here. This image displays pityriasis rosea on the neck. The dull pink patches of pityriasis rosea typically involve the trunk.
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Pityriasis Rosea:
Information for adults

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Picture of Pityriasis Rosea: In the displayed image, the large red circle on the upper chest is the "herald patch" of pityriasis rosea. Divider line
In the displayed image, the large red circle on the upper chest is the "herald patch" of pityriasis rosea.
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Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
Although most people have the classic form of pityriasis rosea, some individuals develop a form of pityriasis rosea with unusual (atypical) features. These atypical types of pityriasis rosea may be more difficult to diagnose and may require a skin biopsy.

This procedure involves:
  1. Numbing the skin with an injectable anesthetic.
  2. Sampling a small piece of skin by using a flexible razor blade, a scalpel, or a tiny cookie cutter (called a "punch biopsy"). If a punch biopsy is taken, a stitch (suture) or two may be placed and will need to be removed 6–14 days later.
  3. Having the skin sample examined under the microscope by a specially trained physician (dermatopathologist).
In addition, your physician may want to do blood tests for other medical conditions.

Because pityriasis rosea is benign and self-limited, no treatment is required. However, some people with pityriasis rosea have mild-to-severe itching, and your physician may suggest:
  • Moisturizing creams or lotions
  • Oatmeal baths
  • Topical menthol-phenol lotions
  • Topical corticosteroid (cortisone) creams or lotions
  • Oral anti-histamine pills
  • Ultraviolet light treatments
  • Oral corticosteroid pills (if the pityriasis rosea is very severe)
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2008

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