Pityriasis rosea pele biography

Skin disease

Not to be confused with pityriasis versicolor or rosacea.

Medical condition

Pityriasis rosea is a type of skin rash.^[2] Classically, it begins with a single red and slightly scaly area known as a "herald patch".^[2] This is then followed, days to weeks later, by an eruption of many smaller scaly spots; pinkish with a red edge in people with light skin and greyish in darker skin.^[4] About 20% of cases show atypical deviations from this pattern.^[3] It usually lasts less than three months and goes away without treatment.^[3] Sometimes malaise or a fever may occur before the start of the rash or itchiness, but often there are few other symptoms.^[3]

While the cause is not entirely clear, it is believed to be related to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) or human herpesvirus 7 (HHV7).^[3] It does not appear to be contagious.^[3] Certain medications may result in a similar rash.^[