Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDifferencesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentSimilar Conditions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Differences
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Similar Conditions
Pityriasis roseais a rash that typically appears on the upper arms and legs, trunk, or neck. It is sometimes confused with a type of psoriasis calledguttate psoriasisbecause skin symptoms of each might appear similar.
Guttate psoriasis appears as red, scaly, small, teardrop-like spots on the skin. It primarily affects children and young adults. It sometimes means that you might developplaque psoriasislater on.
Psoriasis is considered anautoimmune skin diseasethat occurs when the immune system malfunctions and starts to attack healthy tissues, mainly the skin, which leads to accelerated skin cell growth.
This article covers the similarities and differences between pityriasis rosea and guttate psoriasis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
Pityriasis Rosea and Psoriasis Aren’t the Same
Pityriasis rosea and psoriasis have some things in common. They also differ in many ways.
Similarities
Pityriasis rosea and psoriasis both cause patches of a scaly rash on the skin. With pityriasis rosea, there is one large, scaly patch called a herald patch or mother patch, as well as smaller patches called daughter patches.The guttate rash is typically large and consists of small bumps.
Another type of psoriasis called plaque psoriasis causes thick, scaly lesions covered in silvery scales called plaques. Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis and affects 80% to 90% of people with psoriasis.Guttate psoriasis affects around 8% of people with psoriasis.
Neither of these conditions is contagious. That means you cannot get the rash from close or intimate contact with someone with pityriasis rosea or psoriasis.
What Is Psoriasis?
Pityriasis rosea clears on its own and is usually not serious.Even so, it is still a good idea to see a healthcare provider to rule out other conditions that share similar symptoms.
Psoriasis also causes a skin rash due toinflammation.It is a chronic disease you will need to treat for the rest of your life. Some types of psoriasis can clear up on their own, especially guttate psoriasis. Still, there is the potential for a recurrence or development of plaque psoriasis after guttate psoriasis has cleared.
What You Need to Know About Psoriasis and Family Planning
Both pityriasis rosea and psoriasis cause skin rashes. Rashes are itchy and might affect multiple body areas.
Pityriasis Rosea
The main symptom of pityriasis rosea is the large, scaly herald patch rash. One to two weeks after the herald patch, multiple smaller daughter patches appear on the chest, abdomen, back, arms, and legs. Pityriasis rosea also causes itchy skin in at least 50% of people with the condition.
How the pityriasis rosea rash appears on the skin will depend on your skin tone. It appears as one large patch with a rash of small bumps on the darker skin.The rash and bumps will be a darker violet or brown color. People with darker skin are more likely to have scales on the rash.
People with pityriasis rosea rash usually experience flu-like symptoms for a day or two before the rash appears.
Pityriasis rosea rash on neck and chest.dimid_86 / Getty Images
dimid_86 / Getty Images
Flu-like symptoms linked to the pityriasis rosea rash include:
Pityriasis rosea is generally harmless but is sometimes linked to an increased risk for birth complications, including the risk of miscarriage and neonatal hypotonia (poor muscle tone in a newborn).
Psoriasis
Guttate psoriasis is one subtype of psoriasis. It is known for causing small, teardrop-like spots. These spots are raised and red with a silvery scaly appearance.Dry skin might peel off or flake off. Some people might experience irritated and itchy skin.
The onset of guttate psoriasis can occur over a few days. Lesions might be widespread throughout the body, but they primarily will cover the trunk, arms, and legs. Some people might have lesions on the face, scalp, and ears.
Guttate psoriasis presents as small pink, violet, or brown spots. On darker skin, psoriasis lesions might appear dark brown, making diagnosing the condition harder.
Skin symptoms of guttate psoriasis will sometimes go away on their own. It is generally not chronic or as severe as other types of psoriasis. Some people might experience recurrences of symptoms, but these will go away without the condition becoming plaque psoriasis.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Additional psoriasis subtypes include:
Plaque Psoriasis: Pictures and Symptoms of the Types You May See on Your Body
Triggers
Upper respiratory tract infectionsare also known triggers for pityriasis rosea.Some research suggests theCOVID-19 virusmight be a viral trigger.
Guttate psoriasis is a condition that will appear suddenly. An infection likestrep throatmight initially trigger it.While there isn’t enough research to confirm that COVID-19 might trigger psoriasis, psoriasis development is linked to various infections and viruses, including respiratory ones like COVID-19.
Diagnosis: How to Know for Sure
Because pityriasis rosea and psoriasis can present similarly, it is crucial to determine the source of symptoms. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can start, if necessary.
Pityriasis rosea is usually not severe and often resolves without treatment. Even so, it is still a good idea to see a healthcare provider so they can rule out other conditions.
For diagnosing psoriasis, a healthcare provider will review your medical history and examine your skin, scalp, and nails. If they suspect psoriasis, they may request a biopsy to determine the type of psoriasis and to rule out other conditions.
Treatment Considerations
Treatment for pityriasis rosea is typically unnecessary, and the condition will resolve on its own. Psoriasis treatment will depend on the type and severity of the symptoms.
Type of Psoriasis
The goals of psoriasis treatment are to decrease disease severity, improve quality of life, and reduce skin lesions.
Psoriasis is treated withtopical creams and ointments,phototherapy(light therapy), and oral and injected systemic (whole-body) drugs.Oral and injected drugs includenonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs),corticosteroids,disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs(DMARDs), andbiologic DMARDs.
Treatment for different types of psoriasis may include:
Pityriasis Rosea Usually Goes Away
Pityriasis rosea often clears on its own. It could take up to eight weeks, but it is possible to have a rash for five or more months.
Home Remedies for SymptomsTo relieve the itch, try these tactics:Cool compressOver-the-counter (OTC) pramoxine lotion, hyrocortisone cream, or calamine lotionOTC antihistamine pillsTo reduce discomfort, take only lukewarm baths or showers, and switch to gentle, fragrance-free soaps and moisturizers. Avoid overheating and protect yourself from sunburn.
Home Remedies for Symptoms
To relieve the itch, try these tactics:Cool compressOver-the-counter (OTC) pramoxine lotion, hyrocortisone cream, or calamine lotionOTC antihistamine pillsTo reduce discomfort, take only lukewarm baths or showers, and switch to gentle, fragrance-free soaps and moisturizers. Avoid overheating and protect yourself from sunburn.
To relieve the itch, try these tactics:
To reduce discomfort, take only lukewarm baths or showers, and switch to gentle, fragrance-free soaps and moisturizers. Avoid overheating and protect yourself from sunburn.
The condition generally requires no treatment, but a healthcare provider can prescribe medicines to relieve symptoms, especially itch.
Such treatments might include:
Similar Conditions to Psoriasis and Pityriasis Rosea
Other skin conditions, some of which are minor and others which might be serious, can be mistaken for psoriasis or pityriasis rosea. For your skin to clear up, it is essential to determine what is causing skin symptoms because each skin condition needs different treatments.
Conditions that might be mistaken for psoriasis or pityriasis rosea include:
What Conditions Can Be Mistaken For Psoriasis?
Summary
Pityriasis rosea and guttate psoriasis are different skin conditions. They both usually are temporary conditions, although guttate psoriasis can recur. Pityriasis rosea often clears without treatment, and guttate psoriasis may sometimes need treatment to clear up.
Other types of psoriasis are chronic and will require long-term treatment. Psoriasis is a problem in the immune system that causes skin cells to turn over too quickly. This leads to a buildup of plaques on the top of the skin. Treatments for psoriasis include topical medicines, phototherapy, and oral and injected systemic drugs.
Pityriasis rosea also causes skin lesions, but those typically start in one area before the rash worsens and appears on other areas of the body. The condition lasts up to eight weeks, but in some cases, it may last five or more months. If treatment is needed, it is generally prescribed to manage itch or skin irritation.
22 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.
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