Pityriasis Rosea Facts and Pityriasis Rosea Treatment
Pityriasis rosea is a rash that occurs most commonly in people between the ages of 10 and 35, but may occur at any age. The rash can last from several weeks to several months. Usually there are no permanent marks as a result of this condition, although some darker-skinned persons may develop long-lasting flat brown spots that eventually fade. It may occur at anytime of year, but pityriasis rosea is most common in the spring and fall.
Treatment
If symptoms are mild, no treatment may be needed.
Gentle bathing, mild lubricants or creams, or mild hydrocortisone creams may be used to soothe inflammation. Antihistamines, taken by mouth, may be used to reduce itching.
Moderate sun exposure or ultraviolet light treatment may help make the lesions go away more quickly. However, care must be taken to avoid sunburn.
Those who are familiar with Pityriasis Rosea know the frustrations involved in seeking treatment for the condition. Doctors can diagnose the skin virus, yet generally offer little to no help with getting rid of it or helping to provide relief for it. Usually the advice given to patients is to wait it out until it goes away on its own. If a patient persists however for some sort of treatment, then an itching cream or steroid therapy may be given.
Treatment is symptomatic. The duration may be notably reduced by appropriate treatment. Ultraviolet B in erythema exposures should be used to expedite the involution of lesions after the acute inflammatory stage has passed.
Pruritis may uncommonly be intense and corticosteroid lotions, creams or sprays give immediate relief. Antihistamines by mouth are also beneficial.
The goal of treatment for pityriasis rosea is to relieve symptoms associated with the condition, such as itching. There is no cure for pityriasis rosea. The condition will resolve spontaneously. Treatment will be determined by your child’s physician based on the severity of the condition and may include one, or more, of the following:
medicated lotions and creams (to soothe the itching)
medications by mouth (to soothe the itching)
cool baths with or without oatmeal (to soothe the itching)
If the rash itches, treatment with a cortisone cream usually brings prompt relief. The cortisone does not cure pityriasis rosea; it will only make you more comfortable while getting over the rash.
Ultraviolet light treatment or phototherapy may shorten the duration of the condition and may be prescribed for extensive and persistent cases of pityriasis. Corticosteroid creams may also be prescribed to relieve the itching
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.
Pityriasis rosea usually goes away on its own within six to eight weeks. Disease may have many clinical variations. It has some characteristics of a viral infection. One to two weeks later, more smaller, but alike, patches will manifest on the trunk, arms, and legs.
The rash of pityriasis rosea can look like eczema, ringworm or psoriasis. It is not possible to make the rash vanish any faster, so treatment aims to manage the symptoms. There is no direct treatment for this condition - however, corticosteroid creams may be decreed to help relieve the itching. Moderate sun exposure or ultraviolet light treatment can relieve speed resolution of lesions.
