Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Pityriasis roseais a common, self-limiting rash that starts with a single patch and typically affects healthy adolescents and young adults.Its itchy round lesions can look similar toringworm(tinea corporis). However, pityriasis rosea often branches out on the skin with a distinctive evergreen tree pattern while ringworm doesn’t have a distinctive rash pattern.
The two rashes have different causes and treatments. Ringworm is a fungal infection, while some studies suggest pityriasis rosea may be due to a viral cause.Pityriasis rosea tends to affect people between the ages of 10 and 35 and occurs more often during the spring and fall.
BSIP / Getty Images
Although they have similarities, pityriasis rosea and ringworm lead to different symptoms.
Pityriasis Rosea
On lighter skin types, the lesions will appear salmon-colored; on darker skin, they will be more hyperpigmented (darker or patchy in color).
Pityriasis Rosea VariationsIn younger children, pregnant people, and people with darker skin, apityriasis rosea rashwill appear bumpier (papular).Vesicles and wheals can sometimes be seen in infants. Some people have a rash covering the entire body, rather than the torso and extremities. Lesions in the mouth are also known to occur.
Pityriasis Rosea Variations
In younger children, pregnant people, and people with darker skin, apityriasis rosea rashwill appear bumpier (papular).Vesicles and wheals can sometimes be seen in infants. Some people have a rash covering the entire body, rather than the torso and extremities. Lesions in the mouth are also known to occur.
A pityriasis rosea eruption typically lasts between four and eight weeks. Symptoms may resolve as quickly as three weeks or persist for up to 12 weeks.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPityriasis Rosea.Flickr CC 2.0
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection with symptoms that include a distinctive red, ring-like rash. It can appear anywhere on the body or the face, more often in children than adults.It can be spread through contact with other people, pets, or contaminated soils and surfaces.
Ringworm causes itching in the affected area. In some cases, variations of the infection can infect hair follicles. Other conditions, includingplaque psoriasis, can cause similar symptoms.
Ringworm symptoms include:
The incubation for the infection takes between one and three weeks. Treatment with an antifungal medication applied daily to the skin usually takes two to four weeks, but some people may require additional treatment.
Ringworm.alejandrophotography / Getty Images
Both pityriasis and ringworm have round, itchy, scaly lesions and other similarities. However, they may have different underlying causes:
People who are immunocompromised or who have an underlying medical condition, such asdiabetes, may be more at risk of ringworm infection. Environmental conditions, including a tropical climate or crowded home, can contribute to the risk, too.
Numerous, small lesions
Rash takes on tree-like pattern
Rash mostly forms on trunk
Lesions have elevated borders
Not contagious
Single or multiple lesions
No specific rash pattern
Rash can form anywhere
Flat lesions have a raised edge
Spreads though skin contact
Different techniques are used when diagnosing pityriasis rosea and ringworm:
Pityriasis rosea isn’t thought to be contagious, so there’s no need to avoid contact with someone who has it.Ringworm, however, may require that you avoid affected people, pets, and surfaces.
Recommended treatments for pityriasis rosea include:
Other treatments that may provide itch relief include calamine lotion, cool oatmeal baths, and cold compresses.
Antifungal medications are used to treat ringworm. They can include:
Your healthcare provider also may recommend steroid creams to relieve symptoms of itching.
Pityriasis Rosea Treatment OptionsAntiviral medicationUV phototherapyAntihistaminesTopical steroidsRingworm Treatment OptionsOTC antifungal productsOral drugs like DiflucanSteroid creams
Pityriasis Rosea Treatment OptionsAntiviral medicationUV phototherapyAntihistaminesTopical steroids
Antiviral medication
UV phototherapy
Antihistamines
Topical steroids
Ringworm Treatment OptionsOTC antifungal productsOral drugs like DiflucanSteroid creams
OTC antifungal products
Oral drugs like Diflucan
Steroid creams
Summary
Pityriasis rosea is a common rash that tends to occur in adolescents and young adults. The round scaly lesions resemble ringworm. However, the two conditions differ in where they appear and how they spread. The pityriasis rosea rash usually lasts about six to eight weeks, while ringworm can be treated in half that time.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pityriasis rosea.Villalon-Gomez JM.Pityriasis rosea: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(1):38-44.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pityriasis rosea.Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan.Pityriasis rosea.National Organization of Rare Diseases.Pityriasis rosea.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Pityriasis rosea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tinea Infections.Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2020 Jul 20;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pityriasis rosea: Overview.DermNet.Tinea corporis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: 12 tips for getting the best results from treatment.Contreras-Ruiz J, Peternel S, Jiménez Gutiérrez C, Culav-Koscak I, Reveiz L, Silbermann-Reynoso ML.Interventions for pityriasis rosea.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD005068. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005068.pub3Jairath V, Mohan M, Jindal N, Gogna P, Syrty C, Monnappa PM,et al.Narrowband UVB phototherapy in pityriasis rosea.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(5):326. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.164480Cedars Sinai.Pityriasis rosea.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pityriasis rosea.Villalon-Gomez JM.Pityriasis rosea: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(1):38-44.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pityriasis rosea.Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan.Pityriasis rosea.National Organization of Rare Diseases.Pityriasis rosea.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Pityriasis rosea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tinea Infections.Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2020 Jul 20;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pityriasis rosea: Overview.DermNet.Tinea corporis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: 12 tips for getting the best results from treatment.Contreras-Ruiz J, Peternel S, Jiménez Gutiérrez C, Culav-Koscak I, Reveiz L, Silbermann-Reynoso ML.Interventions for pityriasis rosea.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD005068. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005068.pub3Jairath V, Mohan M, Jindal N, Gogna P, Syrty C, Monnappa PM,et al.Narrowband UVB phototherapy in pityriasis rosea.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(5):326. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.164480Cedars Sinai.Pityriasis rosea.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pityriasis rosea.Villalon-Gomez JM.Pityriasis rosea: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(1):38-44.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pityriasis rosea.Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan.Pityriasis rosea.National Organization of Rare Diseases.Pityriasis rosea.U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Pityriasis rosea.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tinea Infections.Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2020 Jul 20;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pityriasis rosea: Overview.DermNet.Tinea corporis.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: 12 tips for getting the best results from treatment.Contreras-Ruiz J, Peternel S, Jiménez Gutiérrez C, Culav-Koscak I, Reveiz L, Silbermann-Reynoso ML.Interventions for pityriasis rosea.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD005068. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005068.pub3Jairath V, Mohan M, Jindal N, Gogna P, Syrty C, Monnappa PM,et al.Narrowband UVB phototherapy in pityriasis rosea.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(5):326. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.164480Cedars Sinai.Pityriasis rosea.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Pityriasis rosea.
Villalon-Gomez JM.Pityriasis rosea: Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2018;97(1):38-44.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pityriasis rosea.
Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan.Pityriasis rosea.
National Organization of Rare Diseases.Pityriasis rosea.
U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Pityriasis rosea.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Tinea Infections.
Leung AK, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL.Tinea corporis: An updated review.Drugs Context. 2020 Jul 20;9:2020-5-6. doi:10.7573/dic.2020-5-6
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Pityriasis rosea: Overview.
DermNet.Tinea corporis.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Ringworm: 12 tips for getting the best results from treatment.
Contreras-Ruiz J, Peternel S, Jiménez Gutiérrez C, Culav-Koscak I, Reveiz L, Silbermann-Reynoso ML.Interventions for pityriasis rosea.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(10):CD005068. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005068.pub3
Jairath V, Mohan M, Jindal N, Gogna P, Syrty C, Monnappa PM,et al.Narrowband UVB phototherapy in pityriasis rosea.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(5):326. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.164480
Cedars Sinai.Pityriasis rosea.
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