Are you also experiencing pink, coral-like spots on your body? Let's talk about Pityriasis Rosea!

Have you ever noticed that your skin suddenly develops a pink, scaly, slightly raised rash? Sometimes you can even scratch these spots. That's what we're going to talk about today , Pityriasis Rosea . The name may sound serious, but let's talk about it simply, in a way that you can understand.

What is Pityriasis Rosea? Simply put...

Simply put, pityriasis rosea is a skin condition that is usually not serious , but can be a bit annoying. It causes scaly, raised patches of skin (rashes) on your skin. The word "pityriasis" means "scaly." "Rosa" means "pink." However, not everyone has these patches of pink. Depending on their skin tone, they can also appear red, gray, brown, or purple .

This is most commonly seen on your torso, arms, and legs . Some people also call it a "Christmas tree rash." We'll talk about the reason for that later.

Who is more likely to develop this?

Anyone can develop pityriasis rosea. However, some people are more likely to develop it. Let's find out who they are.

• For young people between the ages of 10 and 35 .
• Women are said to be about 50% more likely to develop this than men.

Some people say they were under a lot of stress before they got these spots. However, there is not enough research to confirm that stress is the cause of these spots.

It is usually less common in people over the age of 60. However, if it does occur, the symptoms may last a little longer.

How does pityriasis rosea affect the body?

As mentioned earlier, it most commonly affects the skin on your trunk, arms, and legs. However, there is a rare type called "inverse pityriasis rosea," which can also affect the skin on your neck, face, armpits, and groin.

You may develop lesions on your skin that are discolored, look like coral, or look like dry, wrinkled paper . These spots may itch.

What are the symptoms? How do you recognize this?

The symptoms of pityriasis rosea usually appear in several stages. Let's take a look at how that happens.

• Some people may first experience symptoms like fever, headache, or a sore throat, similar to a cold.

The "Herald Patch" or "Mother Patch"

• Then, suddenly, a slightly larger, raised, discolored, round or oval patch develops somewhere on your body. This can be anywhere from 1 to 6 centimeters in size. That patch is called the "herald patch" or "mother patch." This is the first and biggest sign of this disease. Imagine, there is a young girl named Niluka. Suddenly, a pink, scaly patch bigger than a five-rupee coin appeared on her stomach. At first, she thought it was something else.

Then comes "Daughter Patches"

• About a week or two after the "herald patch" appears, many smaller, discolored, round or oval patches begin to appear around the original large patch. These are smaller than the original patch – about 1 to 2 centimeters in size. These are called "daughter patches." The pattern of these patches on the body can look like the branches of a Christmas tree bending down . This pattern is especially noticeable on the back.
• About 50% of people with pityriasis rosea scratch these spots . That's about half.
• In people with darker skin tones, such as those with black or dark brown skin , these spots may be more raised (papular). The center of the spots may also look like necrotic tissue.

The important thing is that pityriasis rosea is not painful. However, if you scratch the spots, the skin can be damaged, causing infection and pain. Therefore, it is important to control scratching as much as possible .

What causes pityriasis rosea?

Doctors still don't know exactly what causes it. However, many believe that several types of herpesviruses , namely herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) and/or herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), may be the cause. However, this is not yet confirmed.

Important: These types of herpes viruses are not related to the herpes that causes cold sores or the viruses that cause genital herpes, so don't worry about it.

Is this caused by COVID-19?

Some studies have shown that certain skin conditions, including pityriasis rosea, may be associated with COVID-19 infection. However, there is not yet enough evidence to definitively prove that pityriasis rosea is caused by COVID-19.

What is the difference between pityriasis rosea and ringworm?

Many people confuse the two because they look a bit similar. Both pityriasis rosea and ringworm are skin diseases that belong to the papulosquamous group. That is, they are diseases that cause raised, discolored, scaly patches on the skin.

However, eczema is caused by a fungal infection . Although the exact cause of pityriasis rosea is not known, doctors believe it is caused by a virus. Therefore, the causes and treatments for the two are completely different.

Is this a sexually transmitted disease (STD/STI)?

No. Absolutely not. Pityriasis rosea is not a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or infection (STI). It is not spread from one person to another through unprotected sex or skin-to-skin contact. So don't be alarmed.

What if pityriasis rosea develops during pregnancy?

This is something to be careful of. If you develop symptoms of pityriasis rosea while you are pregnant, see your doctor immediately . Some studies have shown that if this disease develops during pregnancy, it can sometimes lead to complications such as miscarriage or neonatal hypotonia . Therefore, it is very important to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

How do doctors diagnose this exactly?

A doctor can usually diagnose pityriasis rosea by doing a physical exam, because the "herald patch," the small spots that follow, and the pattern of those spots on the body are characteristic of this disease.

However, pityriasis rosea can look similar to other skin conditions. For example:

• Eczema (Eczema / atopic dermatitis)
• Psoriasis , especially guttate psoriasis
• Ringworm
• Ringworm (Tinea versicolor)

Therefore, if the doctor has any doubts, he may perform tests such as:

• Allergy test
• Taking a small piece of skin for examination (Biopsy)
• Blood tests to check for other causes that are not related to pityriasis rosea but are causing these spots.

How is it treated?

The good news is that most of the time, pityriasis rosea does not require any special treatment . It usually gets better on its own within 6 to 8 weeks . Just think, the doctor told Niluka, mentioned earlier, that there is nothing to worry about, that it will get better on its own in a few days.

However, if you have severe itching, your doctor may prescribe treatments such as these to reduce the discomfort:

Treatments a doctor can provide

• Antivirals: These drugs help fight harmful viruses in the body.
• Phototherapy: This involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light, especially ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, using special lamps. The UV rays from the sun can help treat some skin conditions, such as pityriasis rosea. However, for people with darker skin tones, permanent hyperpigmentation may develop after the spots have healed . So if you have darker skin, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor about this treatment.
• Prednisone tablets: Prednisone is a type of corticosteroid. It is a medication that is taken by mouth with a glass of water. It reduces inflammation of the skin and other inflammatory conditions in the body.

What treatments can be done at home?

There are several over-the-counter products you can buy at a pharmacy and some simple treatments you can do at home to reduce this itching.

Although these home remedies are safe for most people, it is wise to talk to your doctor before using them, as in some cases you may have an allergic reaction.

• Antihistamines: These are a class of medications commonly given to treat allergy symptoms, especially itchy skin.
• Calamine lotion: Calamine lotion can help reduce itching and discomfort, as well as moisturize dry, flaky skin.
• Hydrocortisone creams or ointments: Hydrocortisone is a corticosteroid combined with a painkiller. This can be applied to the itchy areas.
• Oatmeal: Oatmeal is a great natural treatment for itching. The best way to use oatmeal for pityriasis rosea spots is to grind it into a fine powder (colloidal oatmeal) in a blender or food processor. Then, mix the oatmeal powder with a little hot water to make a thick, sticky paste. Apply this paste until your spots are completely covered. Leave it on for at least 10 minutes, then wipe it off with a clean towel. You can also take a bath with oatmeal.

Does food and drink affect this?

There are no specific foods you should avoid if you have pityriasis rosea. However, some people believe that following an anti-inflammatory diet can help reduce itching. Some studies have shown that people who follow a Mediterranean diet have lower levels of inflammation in their bodies.

Some foods that have anti-inflammatory properties:

• Oily fish, for example salmon, sardines, and mackerel.
• Greens, like spinach and kale.
• Olive oil.
• Tomatoes.

Foods that can increase inflammation:

• Fried foods, many types of fast food.
• Cured meats containing nitrates, like hot dogs.
• Highly refined oils and trans fats.
• Refined carbohydrates, like sugar, pastries, and white bread.

These are just suggestions, you can try them if you like.

Can pityriasis rosea be prevented?

Unfortunately, there is currently no way to prevent pityriasis rosea. Because the exact cause is still unknown, it is difficult to say how to prevent it.

What happens if you get pityriasis rosea? Is it something to worry about?

If you have pityriasis rosea, as mentioned earlier, it can often be managed well without any special treatment . It will usually clear up completely within 6 to 8 weeks. However, if your symptoms are severe, you may be able to get relief with treatment.

The best part is, once you get pityriasis rosea, the chances of it happening again are very low . Also, it doesn't cause permanent scarring or other damage to your skin. So, it's nothing to worry about.

When is it necessary to seek medical advice?

Although it usually gets better on its own, you should definitely see a doctor in cases like these:

• If you develop new symptoms .
• If your symptoms do not improve despite treatment.
• If your spots last longer than 10 weeks .
• If your spots look infected (e.g. red, purple, gray or white; severe swelling, pain, pus).
• If you develop spots like this while you 're pregnant (this is very important!).

Important questions to ask the doctor

When you go to see a doctor, it may be helpful to ask these questions:

• How exactly do you tell if I have pityriasis rosea?
• If I don't have pityriasis rosea, what other skin disease could it be?
• How long will it take for these spots to completely disappear from the body?
• What medications do you recommend?
• Are there any side effects to those medications?
• What home remedies do you recommend?
• Is there a special cream or ointment that I can be prescribed?
• Should I see a dermatologist or other specialist?

Finally, you have to say...

Although pityriasis rosea is a common skin condition, it can be embarrassing and embarrassing, especially when you scratch it. There is no cure for it, but it is not contagious . Once it has cleared up, it is unlikely to recur.

The most important thing is to pay attention to your skin. If you notice a spot like this, see a doctor as soon as possible and get advice. Then you don't have to worry or be unnecessarily scared.

` Pityriasis rosea, skin disease, skin spots, herald patch, Christmas tree rash, skin rash, dermatology