Everything you need to know about pityriasis rosea. Is pityriasis rosea contagious or not? How is pityriasis rosea transmitted? Spots after pityriasis rosea

Contents:

What are the symptoms and signs of pityriasis rosea? How does it start?

Most often, pityriasis rosea develops as follows: first, the first spot appears on the back, chest, abdomen, or other area of the body. After a few days, similar spots, but smaller in size, appear next to him. Over the next weeks and months, new spots may appear on other parts of the body.

In the medical literature, the first spot of pityriasis rosea is called the “maternal plaque.”

In some people, the maternal plaque does not form and all the spots appear at the same time.

Sometimes, a few days before the appearance of pityriasis rosea, a person may feel the symptoms of a mild cold: fatigue, muscle pain, fever.

What do the spots of pityriasis rosea look like?

Pityriasis rosea patches usually have a well-defined red outline and are covered with a very thin, shiny, dry “film” or scales. Their sizes can vary from a few millimeters to 2-5 cm in diameter.

Pityriasis rosea can be itchy and sometimes the itching can be severe.

How long do people suffer from pityriasis rosea?

For most people, pityriasis rosea lasts from 2 to 12 weeks.

In rare cases, it can last 5 months or more.

Could I get pityriasis rosea again in the future?

Most people who have had pityriasis rosea never have the disease again.

However, in rare cases, some time after recovery, a person may get pityriasis rosea again.

What causes pityriasis rosea?

The causes of pityriasis rosea are currently unknown.

Some experts believe that it may be associated with a viral infection, but the virus that could cause this disease has not yet been identified.

Is it possible to get infected with pityriasis rosea from domestic or stray animals (cats, dogs, etc.)?

Among domestic animals, only pigs can get pityriasis rosea, but in these animals it is not contagious and is not transmitted to people (unlike ringworm).

Could the appearance of pityriasis rosea be associated with decreased immunity?

Although pityriasis rosea is indeed somewhat more common in people with immunocompromised The category of patients with immunodeficiency (weakened immunity) includes:
people who are infected with HIV or have AIDS,
people who have diabetes,
people who have cancer and are receiving treatment for cancer (chemo-, radiotherapy),
people who are taking treatment with glucocorticoid drugs or other drugs that reduce the activity of the immune system (for example, Methotrexate, Azathioprine, Mercaptopurine, etc.),
people who have had an internal organ transplant and are taking medications to suppress transplant rejection,
people who suffer from chronic diseases of internal organs: chronic renal failure, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, heart failure., most people who get this disease do not have any problems with immunity.

Could pityriasis rosea be associated with medications?

In some rare cases, taking lamotrigine, nortriptyline, clozapine, , captopril (and other ACE inhibitors), anti-rheumatic drugs, lithium, imatinib or and some other medications can cause spots that look very similar to pityriasis rosea.

Can pityriasis rosea appear in newborns or infants?

As we said above, pityriasis rosea is extremely rare in newborns or infants.

So if your baby's skin has a rash that "looks like pityriasis rosea", it is most likely caused by some other disease, such as , , .

How can a person become infected with pityriasis rosea? Can it be transmitted from person to person or through sexual contact?

Although pityriasis rosea sometimes occurs in several people living nearby at the same time, it is not considered a contagious disease.

In this regard, you can safely care for a person who has contracted pityriasis rosea and you do not have to worry about infecting friends, relatives or colleagues if you yourself have contracted it.

Children with pityriasis rosea can attend kindergarten or school.

Should I see a doctor if I think I have pityriasis rosea?

If you have symptoms similar to pityriasis rosea, it would be the right decision to consult a dermatologist.

After examining you, your doctor will be able to rule out other diseases similar to pityriasis rosea, for example, pityriasis versicolor, psoriasis.

Be sure to consult a doctor if your “symptoms of pityriasis rosea” do not go away within three months.

What can a doctor do to clarify the diagnosis?

To clarify the diagnosis, a dermatologist usually just needs to examine the spots on the skin and ask about how they appeared.

What treatment is needed for pityriasis rosea? Does it need to be treated at all? What can you do to prevent your skin from itching?

As we said above, pityriasis rosea does not pose a health hazard, does not cause complications and goes away on its own within a few months. Due to this, dermatologists usually recommend that people do not undertake any special treatment.
To help soothe the itching, your doctor may recommend that you regularly apply a moisturizing cream to the pityriasis rosea patches (see. How to properly use skin softening and moisturizing products).

If pityriasis rosea is very itchy, be sure to tell your doctor about it. He may advise you to take antihistamines (for example, suprastin).

Pityriasis rosea is a disease that appears seasonally. It has certain symptoms, but each person manifests itself differently, and, therefore, an individual approach to treatment is required. If suspicious pinkish spots form on the skin, which over time begin to peel and itch, you need to pay attention to them. Perhaps this is the beginning of the development of the disease.

Causes and symptoms of pityriasis rosea. Treatment

Pityriasis rosea or Zhiber's disease is an acute lesion of the skin of an inflammatory nature, which has a unique course, location and characteristic appearance, capable of spontaneous healing. Often manifests itself when the immune system is weakened (a previous cold). In the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 10) it has code L42. This infectious dermatological disease occurs predominantly in women aged 20 to 40 years and children over 2 years of age.

There are several assumptions about the etiology of this disease:

The most common opinion is that the causative agents are bacterial infections. In particular, these are streptococcal and staphylococcal infections, which can occur with an exacerbation of an allergic reaction;
some experts claim that psychosomatics takes an active part in the appearance of pityriasis rosea on the skin: stress, anxiety, depression and other emotional disorders;
According to other sources, roseola exfoliates occurs under the influence of herpes virus type six or seven (viral theory of the disease). There is an assumption that the herpes virus, entering the human body, causes an allergic reaction, manifested in the form of symptoms of pityriasis rosea;
Skin damage, bites of blood-sucking insects, hypovitaminosis, chronic pathologies, and allergies favor the development of the disease.

At the onset of the disease, the general condition of the body worsens: lack of appetite, sleep disturbance, slight increase in temperature. There may be an increase in the size of individual lymph nodes. Then a large pink itchy spot appears on the body. Inside this spot is covered with small scales, outside it is clearly defined. This spot most often appears on the chest or shoulder. Later, spots appear (almost never on the face), neck, stomach, legs, arms, groin and even on the genitals. The disease lasts from 1 to 6 months. During this time, the plaques change their shade, the intensity of peeling and itching of the skin changes.

Based on numerous reviews on the Internet, one can understand that pityriasis rosea causes a lot of inconvenience, both cosmetic and psychological.

Pityriasis rosea, symptoms

Depending on how the manifestations of lichen look, you can determine what period of the disease a person is experiencing:

In the initial period, one large spot appears, increasing in size (maternal plaque). The number of maternal plaques at the initial stage of the disease is 2–3 pieces. The formation is bright pink in color, clearly outlined along the edge with a red border. Its diameter is 4-5 cm, sometimes it reaches 9 cm. The inside of the spot is pale pink, peels off, causes itching and tingling. All this is accompanied by chills, weakness, headaches, and enlarged cervical and submandibular lymph nodes.
During the period of intense rashes, which occurs approximately a week after the appearance of the mother plaque, a large number of “medallions” of daughter spots appear. These are small oval spots (up to 3 cm) of pink color, inside of which you can also see peeling. During this time, the person continues to experience severe itching. With an allergic reaction of the body, all these symptoms intensify, thereby causing physical and aesthetic inconvenience, causing a stressful state. This period lasts several weeks.
During the recovery period, the flaky areas inside the rash elements crack and form scales. The affected skin turns yellow, and after the scales fall off, it becomes brown. Pityriasis rosea may disappear on its own, without the use of medications. Sometimes you can observe atypical manifestations of this disease: a vesicular or lumpy rash.

Important! Gibert's disease rarely appears on the head, especially on the face, and never occurs on the feet or hands.

Causes of pityriasis rosea

The specific cause of this disease is still unknown. But it has been scientifically proven that pityriasis rosea feels great against the background of reduced immunity. Facts that answer the question: “Where does this disease come from?”:

Presence of diseases of chronic etiology;
Hypothermia (or overheating) of the body;
Overwork, stress;
Eating disorders;
It happens that the impetus for the development of the disease is the use of heavy physical labor at work. As a result, spots of Zhiber's disease appear.
Recent illnesses (flu, sore throat, ARVI)
Long-term use of corticosteroids and other medications;
Allergic predisposition, inherited;
Skin damage, including insect bites.

There are complications of this disease:

Plaques appear not only on the skin, but also on the mucous membranes and on the nail plates of the hands.
The chronic form of Gibert's disease is one of the complications of the disease, in which the itching becomes stronger, and in the affected areas the skin becomes thicker and denser. In this form, lichen is the most difficult to treat; a detailed examination is required to prescribe adequate treatment.
rashes appear on the head, under the hairline.

Diagnosis of Giber's disease

The correct diagnosis can only be made by a dermatologist during examination of the patient, as well as after a detailed examination.

What can pityriasis rosea be confused with:

with pititriasis. With it, the scales on the spots are not dry, but wet, sticky, the spots have depressions in the middle, which is not typical for pityriasis rosea;
with pityriasis versicolor and herpes zoster. Pityriasis versicolor is caused by fungi, and shingles occurs as a result of exposure of the human body to the varicella zoster virus when immunity is reduced;
HIV is accompanied by similar skin rashes;
eczematous manifestations;
with an allergic rash with hypersensitivity to medications;
It is important to know how to distinguish it from psoriasis. A blood test will help with this (in case of lichen, the total number of T cells decreases), histological examination;
do not forget about syphilis, in which plaques similar in appearance appear (secondary syphilis);
fungal dermatomycosis.

To exclude all of the above, material is taken for examination and serological diagnostics (RW) is performed. Some controversial issues can be resolved using a Wood's lamp.

Therefore, the most correct solution if red itchy spots occur is to go to a dermatologist. Otherwise, the disease may progress to the chronic stage of the disease, which will make it much more difficult to cure it.

Pityriasis rosea, treatment

Pityriasis rosea in humans is not considered a dangerous disease. Usually the disease goes away on its own and the question is: “How to treat the disease?” does not arise. To avoid complications, it is recommended to follow a hypoallergenic diet during the period of rashes, do not rub the affected skin with a washcloth, generally do not try to over-wet the stains, do not use body cosmetics, and wear cotton underwear.

In order to understand how to treat this disease, it is necessary to remember its main manifestation – itching. To relieve this most unpleasant symptom, you need to take antihistamines (for allergies) orally, and lubricate the plaques with antipruritic and corticosteroid ointments. If an inflammatory process is observed in the affected areas, it is necessary to use antibiotics, the skin is lubricated with indifferent water-based shaken products.

To say exactly how to quickly cure lichen, it is impossible not to mention iodine, which is recommended to treat plaques 2 times a day. Studies make it clear that such therapy is more effective, together with the use of acyclovir and erythromycin in the first days. Thus, you can see that there are many treatment methods. Only a doctor can choose the correct treatment.

Use only the shower; it’s better to forget about the bath until all the rashes go away.
Use gentle detergents.
Limit sun exposure.
Do not wear synthetic or woolen underwear.
Limit your skin from exposure to sweat.
Follow a diet.
Use only those medications prescribed by a dermatologist.

Pityriasis rosea. Treatment at home

You can treat pityriasis rosea at home using folk remedies, but for safety and the right choice of remedies, it is still better to consult a dermatologist.

There are many treatment methods. Here are some of them:

Apply apple cider vinegar to rashes. It will speed up healing and quickly relieve itching and pain.
Apply warm newspaper ashes to the lichen. This method will be effective at the early stage of skin lesions.
Apply birch tar to the plaques, which can be mixed with butter.
Rosehip oil, burdock oil, sea buckthorn oil are also effective in treating pityriasis rosea.
Apply a thin layer of sour cream or cottage cheese onto a cabbage leaf and apply to sore spots.
Apply a mixture of beets and honey to areas of skin affected by plaques.
Black elderberry drink is used as a complex remedy. To do this, you need to brew dried elderberry flowers and take the infusion 3-5 times a day, 2 tablespoons. This remedy strengthens the immune system very well.
Prepare celandine tincture: mix equal parts alcohol and dry celandine herb, leave for 14 days in a dark place in a closed glass container.

Remedy for pityriasis rosea

To carry out effective treatment, drugs that dermatologists often use:

Salicylic ointment is an antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, drying medicine. It is recommended to apply 2 times a day to affected areas of the skin. Can be used until recovery. This ointment is contraindicated for children under 1 year of age.

Salicylic-zinc paste is similar in use.

Flucinar 0.025% is a synthetic glucocorticoid (ointment or gel). Anti-inflammatory, antihistamine. Quickly eliminates irritation and itching. Apply to the plaques carefully and rub in gently. This remedy has many contraindications. Therefore, it is recommended to read the instructions;
Lorinden ointment is an excellent antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agent. Apply to the affected skin first 2-3 times a day, then 1 time. It can also be used on a bandage, the main thing is that there is access to oxygen to the lesions. This ointment should not be used for more than two weeks, and it is also contraindicated for children under 10 years of age. It is not recommended to apply Lorinden to the face, use it for acne, or for viral diseases;
Sinalar. The drug can be in the form of a cream, ointment, emulsion (mash). This drug consists of an antibiotic and a glucocorticoid. It is recommended to lubricate morning and evening;
Anesthetic and desensitizing talkers (with menthol);
Birch tar has a bactericidal and wound-healing effect. 5 ml of ointment is mixed with 25 g of base (oil) and applied twice a day for 10 days;
Acyclovir tablets are used for viral rashes;
Antibiotics - erythromycin, terramycin, tetracycline, biomycin and others, prescribed in the first days in order to stop further growth of plaques and shorten the cycle of the disease. It is recommended to drink for an average of 5 days;
Antihistamines - can relieve itching, swelling, inflammation, soothe and reduce the number of spots;
Iodine, according to some experts, is a powerful antiseptic widely used in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. An exception is an allergic reaction to iodine. But there is another belief that in this case, iodine acts as an unnecessary irritant that aggravates the situation.

The question naturally arises: “Is it possible to smear pityriasis rosea with brilliant green?” Doctors do not have a consensus on this question. The solution does not penetrate deep into the skin, but is very effective on the surface. Some people believe that it is not worth treating the affected areas with antiseptics at all, others say that it is very good to cauterize lichen of viral etiology with brilliant green, especially in children.

Diet for pityriasis rosea

Any products made from milk: butter, kefir, cream;
Green vegetables, parsley, dill, celery, lettuce and other greens;
Foods high in iron (food for children, bread, confectionery;
Mineral water.

For lichen rosea it is prohibited:

hot spices (pepper, mustard);
alcohol;
salted, canned vegetables;
limit the intake of foods containing purines: meat broths, sauces, veal, meat of young pigs, as well as broths from fish, mushrooms, chicken, jellies, smoked meats, offal dishes, fish, salty, sharp cheeses, eggs, nuts, citrus fruits;
you should not drink strong tea, coffee, cocoa in large quantities;
do not eat animal or cooking fats;
pastries, cakes, chocolate;
legumes (lentils, peas, beans, beans);
products with a high content of preservatives (juices, canned food, carbonated water).

How does pityriasis rosea go away?

There is an opinion that Zhiber's disease is not dangerous and does not need to be treated. But, given the fact that the rashes are cyclical, the process can take up to six months, and the spots appear on the face, neck, and itch, this prospect is not inspiring. If you treat what is happening wisely and carry out timely therapy, then in a couple of months you can get rid of this unpleasant disease forever (to this, a strong immunity is developed).

The latent development of the disease occurs during the incubation period, which lasts from 2 to 20 days; at the end of this period, spots already appear, the number of which increases during the course of the disease. Older spots change bright color to brownish shades, the middle turns yellow, fresh spots turn pink again... and this happens for 6-8 weeks. Thanks to modern remedies, you can reduce the itching, flaking and discomfort caused by them in order to survive this unpleasant period.

Consequences of pityriasis rosea

Complications from pityriasis rosea also exist, although perhaps not as dangerous as from ringworm or ringworm.

The main complication here is severe unbearable itching, in which the skin continues to peel off.

As a consequence, another complication arises: when scratching plaques, they may become infected with pathogenic microflora and enlarge the lymph nodes. With improper treatment, it is possible to develop eczema, pyoderma, and various types of folliculitis.

Pityriasis rosea during pregnancy

Zhiber's disease is a very common occurrence during pregnancy, since the expectant mother's immunity is under enormous stress. This disease has absolutely no effect on either the fetus in the womb or the newborn baby during breastfeeding. But consultation with a dermatologist and appropriate therapy are still required. In this case, the pregnant woman is recommended to wear clothes made from natural fabrics and to observe personal hygiene rules more carefully.

Is pityriasis rosea contagious?

It has been proven that the virus that causes Gibert's disease is transmitted from person to person through airborne droplets, contact and household contact. But if the immune system is in order, then the person will not get this disease. Theoretically, the answer to this question is yes. Practically, it is unlikely.

Why is it dangerous?

It is not the disease itself that is dangerous, but its possible complications - eczema, streptoderma, various atypical reactions of the body.

How can you get infected?

A healthy person living in the same room with an infected lichen rosea will never become infected. A person with reduced immunity can contract this disease through completely accidental contact.

Is it possible to wash with pityriasis rosea?

With this disease, you can wash, the main thing is not to take a bath, so as not to spread plaques throughout your body. It is useful to take a shower, as sweat also increases the irritation and itching of the plaques. You should not use washcloths or scrubs while bathing; you should use a very gentle detergent.

We invite you to watch a video about the treatment of pityriasis rosea from specialists:

Zhiber's pityriasis rosea (pythiasis) in humans is considered a disease of an infectious-allergic nature, most often manifesting seasonally. It has certain symptoms, but it occurs differently in each person, so treatment requires an individual approach.

The appearance of suspicious pink spots that begin to peel off over time, the occurrence of itching - all this should alert a person. Such symptoms may indicate the development of pityriasis rosea. What kind of disease is this? How to get rid of this type? It's worth looking into this.

Pityriasis rosea (pythiasis) in humans - what is it?

Zhiber's pityriasis rosea is an infectious disease that is not transmitted from person to person and appears when the immune system is severely weakened. This disease is quite common, but despite this, it has not been fully studied.

The reasons for its occurrence are not completely clear, but most often the disease affects people in middle age with weakened immune systems, after suffering from infectious diseases.

According to some reports, Zhibera (as this disease is also called) is caused by herpes virus type 6 or 7, but this has also not been proven. Perhaps the virus is just a trigger.

After entering the body, an allergic reaction begins, which provokes the appearance of symptoms of pityriasis rosea.

If a person has once suffered from pityriasis rosea, or pityriasis, as it is also called, then his body should develop a strong immunity, but this does not always happen; relapses are still possible.

The disease always has a chronic course, most often the period of exacerbation occurs in the spring-summer period, during the abundant flowering of plants and trees.

Symptoms and causes of pathology

It is recommended to look at photos of other patients to understand what pityriasis rosea looks like in humans. Pityriasis is multiple rashes on the skin: small oval or round spots. They range in color from pink to intense red.

The initial stage usually begins with the appearance of one large spot, which most often appears on the patient’s chest, and after a few days numerous smaller spots begin to form around it.

The spots begin to peel off and may resemble a medallion in appearance. Most often they appear on the body, but on the face the phenomenon is diagnosed extremely rarely.

After healing, pigmentation at the site of the spots is disturbed - the skin becomes either too dark or too light, but after time everything returns to normal.

The causes of pityriasis rosea include:

severe or constant stress;
infectious diseases;
decreased immunity;
metabolic disorders;
allergic reactions to insect bites or plant pollen.

Vaccination can also lead to the appearance of pityriasis rosea, but everything depends only on the individual characteristics of the body.

The virus may not appear immediately, but only after suffering from an infectious disease and a decrease in immunity.

Paying attention to the photo of pink lichen, its signs and treatment in children and adults, no strong differences stand out. In a child, the disease occurs in the same way, sometimes in a more acute and severe form.

This is due to the fact that children's immunity is much weaker than adults. In children, this pathology is most often diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 12 years.

Diagnostics (basic tests)

At the slightest suspicion of the development of pityriasis rosea, you should immediately contact a dermatologist. Some people argue that even if Gibert's disease is not treated, the spots will go away on their own in a few months, but it is worth risking your health.

Any disease, if not treated promptly, can lead to complications. Moreover, advanced diseases are much more difficult to treat, so when the first symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor.

If treated incorrectly or not, the rash can cover the entire body and a bacterial infection can develop.

Making the correct diagnosis for pityriasis can sometimes be very difficult, because the specific pathogen is not detected. The disease is often confused with other types of lichen (and others), with toxicoderma.

Diagnosis consists primarily of visual examination. An experienced dermatologist will take into account the characteristic location of plaques on the body (along Langer's lines), their shape and appearance, and, based on this, will make the correct diagnosis.

Additionally, tests may be prescribed:

general blood;
general urine;
microprecipitation reaction;
scraping from affected areas of skin.

The difficulty of diagnosis lies primarily in the fact that lichen sometimes has to be distinguished from other serious pathologies - secondary syphilis, trichophytosis, psoriasis.

TOP 5 treatment methods

If pityriasis rosea is diagnosed in a person, individual treatment is prescribed. If there are no special complications, the patient may be prescribed simple antihistamines, and he will also need to follow a certain diet.

Many people are interested in whether pityriasis rosea is contagious or not in humans. In most cases the answer is no, although there are exceptions.

If we talk about how lichen is transmitted from person to person, this only happens through close contact, as well as when sharing hygiene items, such as towels.

But it is worth noting that this happens extremely rarely and most often it is impossible to get sick from another person. However, during the period of illness and treatment, it is best not to visit public places such as baths, saunas, and swimming pools.

If the disease has a complex chronic course with exacerbations, accompanied by a bacterial infection, then in this case it is simply impossible to do without adequate drug treatment:

In addition to antihistamines, the patient may be prescribed desensitizing agents and glucocorticosteroids.
For treatment, an ointment containing hydrocortisone or betamethasone is also prescribed.
In addition, drying preparations containing zinc, for example, regular zinc ointment or Tsindol, can be prescribed.
If a fungal infection is also associated with pityriasis rosea, it is advisable to prescribe antibiotics, for example, Clotrimazole. Antifungal medications in ointment form may also be prescribed.
If possible, the doctor can prescribe special pharmacy talkers, which are made individually. Most often, these products contain substances such as menthol and anesthesin.

Be sure to maintain special hygiene when sick. Frequent water procedures are excluded, especially with the use of soap and gels.

Water procedures can provoke exacerbation and prolongation of the disease. It is also worth excluding fabrics that irritate the skin, such as synthetics and wool, from clothing.

Ultraviolet light has a beneficial effect on the skin and promotes faster recovery.

During treatment, it is worth following a special diet. Products that can cause an allergic reaction and containing artificial colors are completely excluded.

It is worth giving up coffee, strong tea, alcoholic and carbonated drinks. The consumption of fatty meats and fried foods should also be limited.

Traditional methods of treatment

A cure for pityriasis rosea is also possible with the help of folk remedies, but you should approach their choice carefully; you should initially consult a doctor.

How to quickly cure pityriasis at home? This question worries many. There are many methods and recipes:

They lubricate the affected areas. Vinegar will help you get rid of the disease faster and also eliminates pain, burning and itching.
Burnt newspaper, or rather its ashes. It will help you get rid of it faster. Burn the newspaper and apply warm ashes to the shingles. This method will be effective only in the initial stages of the disease.
Birch tar. Don't forget about this natural antiseptic. It is also applied to plaques. You can mix tar with homemade high-fat butter. Various oils are also effective in treatment - rosehip, burdock, sea buckthorn.
Compresses with dairy products. Apply a little cottage cheese or sour cream to a cabbage leaf and apply to the affected areas. You can also use a mixture of beets and honey. It is also applied to a cabbage leaf and applied to the plaques.
Elderberry medicine. As a comprehensive remedy for the treatment of pathology, you can prepare a drink from black elderberry. To prepare, you need to take the dried flowers of this plant, pour boiling water over them and leave. Take two tablespoons 3-5 times a day. This remedy is very good to use as a preventive measure, as well as to strengthen the immune system.
Tincture with celandine. A well-known and effective remedy that is very easy to prepare at home. Take the herb and pure alcohol in equal proportions and place in a tightly sealed glass container. Leave in the dark for 14 days.

If a person looks at the photo and discovers symptoms of pityriasis rosea, treatment with folk remedies may be ineffective in advanced cases, as well as when additional infections occur. In such a situation, you should not take risks; you need to consult a specialist and undergo the correct therapy.

Forecast

Most often, the prognosis for treatment is favorable; recovery can occur within a few weeks, provided that there is no bacterial or fungal infection.

After suffering from the disease, immunity is developed, but it is unstable. That is, the risks of getting sick again always exist.

It is always necessary to eat right, lead a healthy lifestyle and strengthen your immune system. If there is a tendency to allergic reactions, it is necessary to completely eliminate the appearance of the allergen in the patient’s life.

Do not forget about the rules of hygiene, use only your own products and objects, because in rare cases, pityriasis rosea can be transmitted from person to person.

Zhiber's pityriasis rosea is a disease of unknown cause that manifests itself as pink, round rashes on the skin of the torso, arms and legs.
The disease is non-contagious, that is, it is not transmitted from person to person. There is no specific treatment. It goes away on its own. Examination by a dermatologist.

ICD 10 code: L42 - Pityriasis rosea. According to the classification, Zhiber's lichen belongs to.

This is what pityriasis rosea looks like in humans

Causes

The etiology (cause) of pityriasis rosea in humans is still unknown!

There are hypotheses for the occurrence of this skin pathology in humans:

viral nature (herpes virus, ARVI),
infectious-allergic nature (allergic processes started after infectious diseases).

Predisposing factors:

decreased immunity is the main factor in the development of the disease,
infectious diseases,
avitaminosis,
starvation, malnutrition,
stress,
hypothermia,
frequent use of scrubs and hard body washcloths.

The incidence of pityriasis rosea is observed mainly in the cold season.

Symptoms and clinic

1) Maternal plaque (see photo) is an important sign of the initial stage of the disease.

A rounded redness appears on the skin in the form of a spot 3-5 cm in size. Usually, a few days before the appearance of the maternal spot, patients notice an increase in temperature, malaise, joint pain, enlarged cervical lymph nodes - all symptoms similar to ARVI.
The maternal plaque is slightly raised above the skin.
After a few days, the mother spot begins to peel off over its entire surface.

2) Daughter spots are the main symptom of pityriasis rosea in humans.

After 7-10 days from the appearance of the mother spot, multiple pink spots ranging in size from 5 mm to 2 cm appear on the skin of the chest, abdomen, back, arms and legs.
The spots are round or oval, do not merge into conglomerates, and are raised above the surrounding skin. After a few days, the skin in the center of such a spot becomes pale yellow and begins to peel off. After a few more days, the central part of the spot peels off and the skin becomes like “tissue paper.”
Along the periphery, the spot does not peel off and remains pink.
A rim of peeling remains between the central and peripheral parts of the spot (symptom of “collar” or “medallion”).
On the body, the spots are located along the folds and tension lines of the skin (Langer's lines). This sign is considered diagnostic - it helps to establish a diagnosis.
During this period, the maternal plaque begins to turn pale and gradually disappears.
The rash almost never appears on the palms and soles of the feet. Very rarely - on the face, on the lips, on the neck, and also in the groin.
Rashes on human skin can appear in waves, every 7-10 days. Therefore, you can observe a polymorphic picture: some spots have just appeared, pink, small, without peeling. Other spots are old, ring-shaped, with “collar” peeling and a red border around.
Usually, before new rashes, a person notices a deterioration in health - weakness, malaise, low-grade body temperature (up to 37.2 degrees).

3) Skin itching.

The spots are accompanied by mild itching. This is not the main symptom of the disease and occurs in only half of patients. Most often, the skin itches in children and young people with an emotional psyche, as well as when the skin is irritated.

Typically, pityriasis rosea patches do not bleed. But with severe skin itching, patients, especially children, can scratch the spots until they bleed.

4) Course of the disease

After 3-6 weeks, the pityriasis rosea spots begin to fade in the center. The spots become ring-shaped. Then the peripheral part of the spot disappears.
For some time after the spot disappears, an area of increased (or vice versa - decreased) skin pigmentation remains. These pigment spots disappear on their own within another 1-2 weeks. There are no consequences in the form of scars or scars in the uncomplicated form of the disease.
If the course is favorable, recovery does not take long, and relapses do not occur.
The disease reoccurs in immunocompromised individuals. These are HIV patients and patients with low immunity due to blood cancer due to heavy chemotherapy.
Pityriasis rosea can be complicated by inflammatory phenomena on the skin: pustules, pimples, the addition of fungal flora (mycosis). In rare cases, children may experience eczematization with weeping. To avoid this, follow these recommendations.

What a patient should not do

Do not injure or scratch the spots (so that the spots do not increase in size).
Do not rub your skin with a washcloth or even a sponge when washing in a bathhouse or bathtub.
You cannot take antibiotics yourself.
You cannot sunbathe or visit a solarium.
Do not lubricate the skin with alcohol and alcohol tinctures of iodine, brilliant green, ointments containing sulfur and tar, tar soap, salicylic ointment, or apply cosmetics to the affected skin.
You cannot wear synthetic or woolen items (only cotton!).
You should not wear things that injure the skin (a hard bra provokes the growth of spots under the breasts).

Diet for pityriasis rosea

1) Eliminate allergenic and irritating foods from the diet:

sweets, honey, chips, soda,
chocolate, coffee and strong tea,
citrus,
artificial food additives and flavors,
alcohol,
smoked meats,
pepper and other spices,
fatty foods
pickles and marinades,
eggs.

2) You can and should include in your diet:

Porridges made from natural grains: oatmeal, buckwheat, millet, 5 grains, 7 grains, etc.
Bread Borodinsky, Suvorovsky, Urozhayny, from wholemeal flour.
Boiled meat.
Potatoes, carrots and other vegetables.

Is it possible to wash?

Yes, you can, but not every day and only in the shower. You cannot wash under hot water - only under warm water. Do not use a washcloth. Do not use soap. Pat the skin with a towel (do not rub!).

How long will it take for pityriasis rosea to go away?

The standard course of the disease is 10-15 days.

What to do if the rash does not go away for more than 2 months?

You should consult a dermatologist for further examination for the presence of another skin disease masquerading as Zhiber's lichen. Most often it is necessary to exclude - this will require a skin biopsy.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made based on anamnesis (medical history), clinical symptoms and by excluding other diseases.
Laboratory diagnostics do not give characteristic signs of pityriasis rosea (remember that the cause of the disease has not been established).

Zhiber's pityriasis rosea should be differentiated from a number of skin diseases:

Pityriasis (multi-colored) lichen. The main difference is that with pityriasis versicolor, microscopic examination reveals fungal mycelium.
Secondary syphilis. All patients with suspected pityriasis rosea should be examined for syphilis!
Eczema.
Psoriasis. Unlike psoriasis, there is no psoriatic triad in pityriasis rosea.
Measles and rubella
Trichophytosis
Urticaria – in the initial stage with the urticarial form of the disease.

Treatment and prevention

In 90% of cases no treatment is required. The patient is not contagious.
Pityriasis rosea goes away on its own within 4-6-8 weeks after the first spot appears.

Remember: if you want to quickly get rid of lichen deprivation, you will not succeed. It takes time for a person’s immune system to independently begin to fight the disease. And to do this, it is necessary to remove all provoking factors so that the immune system can quickly cope with the disease.

Drug treatment is prescribed for severe skin itching and complications.

Antihistamines in tablets: loratadine, suprastin, claritin, etc. Take according to instructions (1-2 tablets per day). These drugs help reduce allergic reactions in the body as a whole, which relieves skin itching. Patients stop itching.
Calcium gluconate in tablets: also for antiallergic purposes (1 tablet 2 times a day).
Ointments and creams with hydrocortisone: Flucinar ointment, Lorinden ointment, Akriderm ointment, Beloderm cream, Lokoid cream, Celestoderm ointment.
Apply to the affected area of skin 2 times a day. Mechanism of action – reduction of allergic reactions in the skin, swelling, reduction of skin itching, anti-inflammatory effect.
Ointments and creams with naftalan oil: . The mechanism of action is the same: reducing itching and inflammation in the skin. Compared to hormonal ointments, there are no such side effects.
Antibiotics. Prescribed only for complications such as pustular inflammation of the skin. In case of relapse of the disease, antibiotics of the Erythromycin group in tablets are also used (in severe cases, injectable forms and treatment in a hospital). Previously, antibiotics were used at the onset of the disease, but this is no longer recommended.
Tsindol suspension (zinc oxide) – dries the skin and reduces inflammation. It helps many patients relieve itching and skin irritation. Apply Tsindol to the affected areas of the skin with a cotton swab 2-3 times a day. Do not rub!

Prevention is needed to prevent the spread of the rash to other parts of the body, to prevent complications (see what a patient should not do).

Attention: Acyclovir does not help with pityriasis rosea. Acyclovir is a medicine to treat shingles (caused by the herpes virus).

Folk remedies

At home, pityriasis rosea can and should be treated with traditional medicines. Given the unclear cause of the disease, folk remedies for pityriasis rosea have little effect. The same methods help someone quickly, do not help someone at all, and lead to worsening for others.

To treat pityriasis rosea, the following herbs are popularly used (according to reviews from the patients themselves): celandine, string, aloe, nettle, chamomile.

Decoctions of celandine, string, chamomile, burdock, etc. Pour the decoction over (do not rub or rub, but only water) the affected areas of the skin. Do not blot with a cloth - let it dry on its own.
You should not treat skin with rosacea with alcohol tinctures to avoid the spread of spots on the skin.
Do not rub in wheat flour and dough.
Do not lubricate with vinegar, sea buckthorn oil, tar, sulfur ointment, or iodine.
Do not rub in newspaper ash.
Plants should not be used as compresses.

Inside - to strengthen the immune system:

Herbal infusions (echinacea, rosehip, ginger).
Plant juice (aloe, kalanchoe).
Multivitamin complexes (complivit, selmevit).
Immunomodulators of plant origin – immunal, immunorm.

Pityriasis rosea during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Zhiber's pityriasis rosea does not affect the fetus or the woman's labor in any way. Therefore, in pregnant women, this disease can not be treated with medication, but only by following a diet and a gentle regime for the skin.

When breastfeeding, the baby will not become infected with pityriasis rosea.

How and with what to treat?

Treatment of pityriasis rosea in pregnant women is carried out only in case of severe itching and severe inflammation of the skin.
Of the local preparations, only Tsindol or talkative (zinc + talc + glycerin) is used. Corticosteroid ointments - only for strict indications in extremely rare cases. When prescribing such ointments, breastfeeding should be stopped.
Drugs for oral administration and injections are used extremely rarely and should be prescribed by a doctor according to strict indications when the mother’s life is threatened.

Pityriasis rosea in a child

Children from about 4 years of age are affected, but most often teenagers (hormonal changes in the body, decreased immunity). The child is not contagious to others.
In children, spots of pityriasis rosea should be carefully differentiated from infectious diseases - measles, rubella.

How and with what to treat?

Treatment is not required in 90% of cases. The most important thing in treating children is following a low-allergen diet and preventing the spread of spots on the child’s skin, since children often scratch and injure the affected areas.
For severe itching, Tsindol and antihistamines (Claritin in syrup) are prescribed. If symptoms are accompanied by eczematous phenomena, in rare cases corticosteroid ointments and creams are prescribed for a short course (Beloderm cream, etc.).

Do they provide sick leave?

If the form is uncomplicated, they do not give it. If there are symptoms of intoxication after the end of ARVI, in a generalized form, or in a complicated form of the disease, a sick leave certificate is issued for the entire period of treatment.

Do they take you into the army?

There is a deferment for the period of treatment. After the end of treatment they call.

Attention: If the doctor did not answer your question, then the answer is already on the pages of the site. Use the search on the site.

Zhiber's pityriasis rosea in humans is a dermatological disease that has an acute onset and is characterized by the appearance of skin rashes. The rash looks like pink spots that originate from the mother's plaque. You can find such names for pityriasis rosea as roseola exfoliating, pityriasis.

The disease is most often diagnosed in people at a young age from 10 to 40 years. Pityriasis rosea is not common in older people or children under 10 years of age. The peak of cases occurs in autumn and spring, which is explained by an increase in the number of patients with colds, against which Zhiber's lichen most often occurs. There is evidence that this skin pathology is more common in women than in men. Among the total number of skin diseases, pityriasis rosea accounts for up to 4% of cases.

A person who has once had pityriasis rosea should normally develop immunity, however, this does not always happen. Sometimes cases of repeated exacerbation of the disease are recorded, which occurs with a pronounced decrease in the body's defenses.

The vast majority of medical sources indicate that pityriasis rosea does not require any therapy. From the moment of manifestation of the disease to the person’s complete recovery, it should take from 2 weeks to 1 month. During this time, the body will cope with the disease on its own, and relapse should not occur. However, cases are recorded when lichen affects an impressive part of a person’s skin and causes him not only psychological, but also physical discomfort. In the most severe cases, lichen can haunt the patient for six months. With such a clinical picture, it is possible to prescribe various medications designed to alleviate the patient’s condition.

Although pityriasis rosea is not transmitted from person to person, it is classified as an infectious-allergic disease, or more precisely, to the group of infectious erythema. This is due to the fact that this type of lichen occurs against the background of infectious diseases and is an allergic reaction of the skin.

Symptoms of pityriasis rosea

Both in childhood and in adulthood the disease occurs in the same way, so the following symptoms of pityriasis rosea can be identified:

A single large spot appears on the human body, which can reach 10 cm in diameter. Doctors call this spot the maternal spot. Its color varies and can range from pale pink to red. The skin in the affected area becomes dry.

Itching and burning may bother the patient, but only 50% of patients with pityriasis rosea complain about these sensations. However, a quarter of patients indicate severe itching, which is most often associated with other effects on the dermis, or occurs due to increased emotional lability of the patient.

The places where the spot is most often located are: chest, back, neck. The disease most often does not affect the feet, hands, or face.

After a week (maximum 10 days) from the moment of formation of the primary spot, multiple small rashes appear on the body, having an oval or round shape. They are not as large in size as the mother's spot; most often they do not exceed 15 mm in diameter. New spots are clearly visible against the background of unaffected healthy skin.

A distinctive feature of the secondary spots of lichen Zhiber lies in the peculiarities of their location. They tend to form groups that resemble the outline of a Christmas tree. The spots have clear boundaries along the edges and are slightly flaky in the center.

Often secondary rashes are located along Langer's lines. This is the name given to the conditional lines on the surface of the skin, which indicate the direction of maximum extensibility of the dermis. Pityriasis rosea selects these places, since it is along their course that bundles of collagen fibers are located.

The rashes do not appear instantly, they appear in stages with an interval of about 10 days. Before the next group of spots appears on the body, a person may experience malaise, weakness, and sometimes chills. This condition is explained by intoxication of the body.

Many adults do not experience any symptoms of the disease at all and pay attention to it only because the spots appear. They can itch only after taking a hot shower, or due to stress.

In childhood, the appearance of spots is often accompanied by an increase in body temperature, headaches, rhinitis, and sore throat.

To date, it has not been established what the true cause of pityriasis rosea appears. Also, the pathogen that causes this disease has not been isolated. Some scientists are of the opinion that Zhiber's lichen may be associated with a herpes infection, namely herpeviruses 6 and 7.

They explain this by saying that before rashes appear on the human body, some patients experience flu-like symptoms. In addition, a seasonal connection with the disease has been established. Its peak occurs in autumn and spring, when there is a drop in temperature, a decrease in immune strength, and an increase in the number of people with colds.

The question of how pityriasis rosea is transmitted also remains open. There is an assumption that the disease can be transmitted by airborne droplets. However, there is still no consensus on whether pityriasis rosea is contagious at all. After all, with a strong immune system, the development of the disease does not occur at all, since the body easily copes with it.

Another theory regarding the cause of pityriasis rosea is based on the fact that this disease is an infectious-allergic reaction. Scientists, as confirmation of this version, cite the fact that patients with pityriasis rosea have a positive reaction to the intradermal administration of streptococcal vaccine.

Proponents of the third theory point out that pityriasis rosea is only a peculiar reaction of the body to hypothermia. They call lichen Zhiber a skin cold that occurs due to a decrease in immunity.

Finally, the latest theory for the cause of pityriasis rosea considers nervous shock, psychological breakdown, severe stress (symptoms and causes of stress).

Why is pityriasis rosea dangerous? Consequences and complications

Pityriasis rosea is not considered a disease dangerous to human health. It rarely contributes to the development of any complications or consequences, and the spots that the disease leaves behind on the skin will disappear after 1-11 weeks. It is extremely rare that the disease can last for six months.

Complications of the disease are recorded in isolated cases, these may include:

Development of pyoderma;

Hidradenitis;

Ostiofolliculitis;

Folliculitis;

Streptococcal impetigo;

The reasons why this or that complication occurs are: friction of skin areas with pityriasis rosea, excessive washing, improperly administered therapy, hyperhidrosis, the presence of an individual predisposition to allergic reactions.

Diagnosis of pityriasis rosea

If the disease has a typical course, then only a standard examination in a dermatologist’s office is sufficient to make a diagnosis. After the examination, the doctor will prescribe a dermatoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.

When skin rashes persist for more than 6 weeks, it is advisable to perform a skin biopsy followed by histological examination. This makes it possible to exclude parapsoriasis.

If infectious complications occur, the doctor will refer the patient to submit a skin scraping from the source of inflammation, followed by bacterial culture.

To make sure that pityriasis versicolor is not hidden behind the symptoms of pityriasis rosea, it is possible to perform fluorescent diagnostics and scrape the skin to detect fungi in it. The RPR test for syphilis is performed to exclude secondary syphilis.

Answers to popular questions:

How long do people suffer from pityriasis rosea? The disease can last from 1 week to 1 month. In isolated cases, pityriasis rosea can bother a person for more than 5 months.

Could I get pityriasis rosea again in the future? Recurrence of pityriasis rosea is possible, however, this is quite rare. In most cases, the human body develops a strong immunity to the disease.

Is it possible to get infected with pityriasis rosea from domestic or stray animals (cats, dogs, etc.)? The only pet that can get pityriasis rosea is a pig. However, infection from this animal, like from any other, is impossible.

Is it necessary to smear the spots with rosacea with something? Often, having contracted pityriasis rosea, people try to speed up recovery by applying various ointments and compositions to the spots (for example, boric or acetic acid, iodine, zinc or sulfur ointment, antimycotic ointments, sea buckthorn oil, etc.). However, there is not a single scientific evidence that these products are in any way capable of influencing the recovery of the skin from the disease.

Can it be transmitted from person to person or through sexual contact? Official medicine claims that pityriasis rosea is not a contagious disease and its transmission from person to person or through sexual contact is impossible. However, science knows cases when the whole family fell ill with Zhiber at the same time. If pityriasis rosea develops in a child, then this is not a contraindication for him to attend an educational institution.

Is it possible to sunbathe or relax at the seaside if I get pityriasis rosea? You can sunbathe and relax at seaside resorts, but you need to try not to get sunburned at this time. The fact is that burns from ultraviolet rays can increase skin itching. In addition, it is always worth remembering that excessive sun exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancer. (read also: Stages, symptoms, signs and treatment of skin cancer)

Can I take a shower/bath if I have pityriasis rosea? You can take a bath or shower without any worries. However, if the patient is bothered by itching, then too hot water should be avoided.

First of all, it is important to remember that the skin should not be overdried and irritated again.

Therefore, under no circumstances should you apply products such as:

Any ointments or other compositions containing sulfur;

Salicylic acid;

Treatment of pityriasis rosea in humans may not be carried out at all, because in the vast majority of cases the disease goes away without any external intervention.

However, to minimize the risk of developing any complications, you can adhere to the following recommendations:

Do not wash affected areas of skin under hot water. Do not steam your skin. Some experts do not recommend taking a bath, as they believe that the rash after such water procedures spreads faster. While taking a shower, do not rub the affected areas of the body with sponges or washcloths. It is better to stop using soap. The skin should not be rubbed with a towel; just blot away excess moisture.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays on affected areas can worsen the patient's condition. When, on the contrary, the condition of the skin improves when exposed to the sun, it makes sense to reconsider the diagnosis. Most likely, the person is faced with pityriasis versicolor.

The underwear worn by a sick person should not be made of synthetic fabrics. Such materials have a negative impact on the condition of the skin.

It is important to avoid exposing your skin to sweat for too long. This will avoid unnecessary itching and prevent the disease from progressing. Therefore, it is necessary to refrain from overheating the body, from playing sports, from physical overexertion, and from excessive physical exertion.

The diet should not allow allergenic foods, as there is a theory regarding the allergenic nature of the origin of the disease. You should stop drinking alcohol-containing drinks, as they increase any inflammation processes.

If the patient is plagued by severe itching, you can consult a doctor about taking antihistamines. This could be Suprastin, Claritin, Cetrin, Zodak, Zirtec. These drugs do not affect the healing process, but help relieve itching.

Ointments deserve special attention, which many people decide to use on their own to speed up recovery. You should not use products that can irritate the skin; you should not use ointments containing corticosteroid hormones. Such drugs are prescribed exclusively by a doctor.

Of course, hormonal ointments provide a quick effect in eliminating the manifestations of the disease. However, they have a negative effect on the body as a whole, provoke the development of addiction, and promote skin atrophy. In addition, the risk of relapse of the disease increases, and the number of allergic reactions increases.

For pityriasis rosea, you can use the following remedies:

Soften the skin with sea buckthorn, rosehip, peach oils, milk thistle oil and St. John's wort. This does not affect the speed of recovery, but helps eliminate itching and dry skin.

To avoid infection, you can apply the following antiseptics to the skin: Romazulan ointment, Chlorphyllipt, Sangviritrin.

Lassara paste can be used to smooth the surface of stains. It has an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.

There are several dermatological studies that indicate a positive effect from taking Erythromycin and Acyclovir if treatment begins in the first days of the onset of the disease.

As for preventive measures, it is worth strengthening the immune system in every possible way, avoiding hypothermia, infectious diseases, and foods that contribute to the development of allergies should not be included in food.