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Initial phase
Pityriasis rosea typically begins with:

• A large, slightly raised, scaly patch — called the herald patch — on your back, chest or abdomen

Before the herald patch appears, you may experience signs and symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, such as:

• Headache
• Stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Mild fever

Progression
A few days to a few weeks after the herald patch appears, you may notice:

• Smaller fine, scaly spots across your back, chest or abdomen that resemble a pine-tree pattern
• Smaller spots on your arms, legs or face
• Itching

The rash of pityriasis rosea often is scaly and pink, but if you have dark skin, it may be gray, dark brown or even black.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you develop:

• A large scaly patch on your back, chest or abdomen
• A persistent rash across your back, chest or abdomen
• A persistent rash on your arms, legs or face

Also contact your doctor if you've been diagnosed with pityriasis rosea and the rash doesn't go away within three months.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

The exact cause of pityriasis rosea is unclear, although the cause may be a viral infection, such as infection with certain strains of the human herpes virus (HHV6 or HHV7). Pityriasis rosea, however, isn't believed to be contagious.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Complications of pityriasis rosea aren't likely, but if they do occur, they may include:

• Severe itching
• Lasting brown spots after the rash has healed, on dark skin

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to arrive well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including any major illnesses, stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins and supplements that you're taking, including the dosage information.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For pityriasis rosea, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the most likely cause of this rash?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
• Is this condition temporary or long lasting?
• What treatments are available, and which do you recommend?
• Are there any side effects from this treatment?
• Will the treatment help ease the itching? If not, how can I treat the itching?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Will this rash leave permanent scars?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:

• When did you first begin to notice the rash?
• Have you had this type of rash in the past?
• Are you experiencing symptoms?
• Does your rash itch?
• Have your symptoms changed over time?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?

What you can do in the meantime
While you're waiting to see your doctor, the following steps may help relieve your itching:

• Use lukewarm water when you shower or bathe, because it may be less irritating.
• Use oatmeal bath products in your bath. These are available at most pharmacies.
• Use an over-the-counter anti-itch cream on the rash.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

If your doctor suspects you have pityriasis rosea, he or she might:

• Inspect the spots
• Order blood tests
• Remove (biopsy) a small sample of skin tissue for examination to rule out other conditions

Often, the skin exam is all it takes to diagnose pityriasis rosea. In its early stage, however, pityriasis rosea can look like several other skin diseases, including ringworm, Lyme disease, psoriasis and secondary syphilis.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

In most cases, pityriasis rosea goes away on its own in four to six weeks. In some cases, your doctor may treat the rash. But pityriasis rosea treatment usually focuses on controlling itching.

Treating the rash

• Antiviral medications. The antiviral drugs acyclovir (Zovirax) and famciclovir (Famvir) may reduce the duration of pityriasis rosea by one to two weeks.
• Light therapy (phototherapy). This therapy may lessen the duration of pityriasis rosea, and can be done with ultraviolet B (UVB) light or sunlight. Talk to your doctor before using sunlight to treat your rash. UVB therapy is most often available at your doctor's office. Light phototherapy may cause lasting darkening in certain spots, even after the rash clears.

Relieving itching
If itching is a problem, your doctor may recommend the following to provide relief:

• Steroid creams or ointments. These creams will help ease itching and decrease redness.
• Oral antihistamines. These medications are available by prescription as cetirizine (Zyrtec) and fexofenadine (Allegra), and over-the-counter as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), clemastine (Tavist) and loratadine (Claritin).

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

These steps may help you relieve the discomfort of pityriasis rosea:

• Bathe and shower in lukewarm water.
• Take an oatmeal bath. You can find oatmeal bath products at your pharmacy.
• Use zinc oxide cream or calamine lotion on the rash.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Because experts don't yet know the cause of pityriasis rosea, there are no recommended prevention strategies.

©1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.