Dermatologic Manifestations of Pityriasis Alba Follow-up

Author: Bassam Zeina, MD, PhD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD more...

Updated: Dec 9, 2011

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Further Inpatient Care
Further Outpatient Care
Transfer
Deterrence/Prevention
Prognosis
Patient Education
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Further Inpatient Care

Inpatient care is not generally required for pityriasis alba.

Further Outpatient Care

Regular follow-up is not required for pityriasis alba.

Transfer

Patients requiring cosmetic camouflage may require transfer to another specialist if the dermatologist or primary care physician teams cannot provide this service.

Deterrence/Prevention

Prevention is not possible because the etiology of pityriasis alba is unknown.

Prognosis

The prognosis is good because pityriasis alba almost always resolves spontaneously.

Patient Education

Provide education relating to the benign nature of pityriasis alba. For patient education resources, see the Skin, Hair, and Nails Center.

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Bassam Zeina, MD, PhD Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, Milton Keynes Hospital, UK

Bassam Zeina, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: British Association of Dermatologists, British Medical Association, and Royal Society of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Nicole Sakka, MBBS Foundation Year 2, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital, Liverpool, UK

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sohail Mansoor, MBBS, MSc Dermatologist and Lead Physician in Dermatologic Surgery, Department of Dermatology, Barnet Hospital, UK

Sohail Mansoor, MBBS, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mark G Lebwohl, MD Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Mark G Lebwohl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Amgen/Pfizer Honoraria Consulting; Centocor/Janssen Honoraria Consulting; DermiPsor Honoraria Consulting; GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Consulting; HelixBioMedix Honoraria Consulting; Novartis Honoraria Consulting; Ranbaxy Lectures; Can-Fite Biopharma Honoraria Consulting; DermaGenoma Honoraria Consulting; Biosynexus Honoraria Consulting

David F Butler, MD Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Christen M Mowad, MD Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center

Christen M Mowad, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author, Mohsin Ali, MBBS, FRCP, MRCP, to the development and writing of this article.

References

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Pityriasis alba.

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