Quantcast In pityriasis rosea there are slightly raised pink, scaly lesions. This image displays a rash with slight scaling that is typical of pityriasis rosea. This image displays a rash with slight scaling that is typical of pityriasis rosea. 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. In severe pityriasis rosea, numerous small bumps may run together. This image displays a rash on the patient's trunk typical of pityriasis rosea. In the displayed image, the large red circle on the upper chest is the "herald patch" of pityriasis rosea. The patches of pityriasis rosea are typically oval, often parallel to each other, and may have an edge of scaling at the outside border.
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Pityriasis Rosea:
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Picture of Pityriasis Rosea: In pityriasis rosea there are slightly raised pink, scaly lesions. Divider line
In pityriasis rosea there are slightly raised pink, scaly lesions.
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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.

The 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 antihistamine pills
  • Ultraviolet light treatments
  • Oral corticosteroid pills (if the pityriasis rosea is very severe)
Last Modified: 29 Jan 2008

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