Pityriasis Medication

  • Author: Camila K Janniger, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 16, 2011
 

Medication Summary

Drug therapy for pityriasis rosea primarily consists of symptomatic treatment of pruritus. Oral antihistamines and topical corticosteroids can be used as needed. For patients in whom superficial tinea infection is a concern or possibility, topical antifungal therapy can be used.

Chuh et al (2007) assessed the efficacy of interventions for pityriasis rosea.[8] They found that evidence for efficacy for most treatments for pityriasis rosea is inadequate. Erythromycin has been reported as effective in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. However, in a placebo-controlled study conducted by Rasi et al (2008), oral erythromycin was not found to confer a significant benefit in 184 patients with pityriasis rosea.[9]

Management of pityriasis rosea in patients with evidence of group A streptococcal infection may be warranted. The possible risk of scarlet fever and poststreptococcal sequelae should be considered.[10]

Next

Antihistamines

Class Summary

Consider oral antihistamine therapy in patients with pruritus. These agents may control itching by blocking effects of endogenously released histamine.

View full drug information

Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril)

 

Effective antipruritic in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. Antagonizes H1 receptors in periphery.

View full drug information

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Benylin)

 

Very safe oral antihistamine. Can be used safely in pregnancy. For symptomatic relief of symptoms caused by release of histamine in allergic reactions. Very effective in controlling pruritus.

Previous
Proceed to Follow-up
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Camila K Janniger, MD  Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School

Camila K Janniger, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Rajendra Kapila, MD, MBBS  Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School

Rajendra Kapila, MD, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Infectious Diseases Society of New Jersey

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert L Rogers, MD  Staff Physician, Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland

Robert L Rogers, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Amal Mattu, MD, FACEP, FAAEM  Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency, Co-Director, Emergency Medicine/Internal Medicine Combined Residency Program, Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Amal Mattu, MD, FACEP, FAAEM is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH  Chief, Fellowship Program Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington Hospital Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Daniel R Lucey, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Thomas M Kerkering, MD  Chief of Infectious Diseases, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Thomas M Kerkering, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Society of Virginia, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

  1. Amer A, Fischer H, Li X. The natural history of pityriasis rosea in black American children: how correct is the "classic" description?. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. May 2007;161(5):503-6. [Medline].

  2. Robati RM, Toossi P. Plantar herald patch in pityriasis rosea. Clin Exp Dermatol. Mar 2009;34(2):269-70. [Medline].

  3. Ang CC, Tay YK. Blaschkoid pityriasis rosea. J Am Acad Dermatol. Nov 2009;61(5):906-8. [Medline].

  4. Zawar V, Godse K. Annular groin eruptions: pityriasis rosea of vidal. Int J Dermatol. Feb 2011;50(2):195-7. [Medline].

  5. Kempf W, Adams V, Kleinhans M, et al. Pityriasis rosea is not associated with human herpesvirus 7. Arch Dermatol. Sep 1999;135(9):1070-2. [Medline].

  6. González LM, Allen R, Janniger CK, et al. Pityriasis rosea: an important papulosquamous disorder. Int J Dermatol. Sep 2005;44(9):757-64. [Medline].

  7. Rajpara SN, Ormerod AD, Gallaway L. Adalimumab-induced pityriasis rosea. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Oct 2007;21(9):1294-6. [Medline].

  8. Chuh AA, Dofitas BL, Comisel GG, et al. Interventions for pityriasis rosea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Apr 18 2007;CD005068. [Medline].

  9. Rasi A, Tajziehchi L, Savabi-Nasab S. Oral erythromycin is ineffective in the treatment of pityriasis rosea. J Drugs Dermatol. Jan 2008;7(1):35-8. [Medline].

  10. Krishnamurthy K, Walker A, Gropper CA, Hoffman C. To treat or not to treat? Management of guttate psoriasis and pityriasis rosea in patients with evidence of group A Streptococcal infection. J Drugs Dermatol. Mar 2010;9(3):241-50. [Medline].

  11. Chuang TY, Ilstrup DM, Perry HO, et al. Pityriasis rosea in Rochester, Minnesota, 1969 to 1978. J Am Acad Dermatol. Jul 1982;7(1):80-9. [Medline].

  12. Cohen EL. Pityriasis rosea. Br J Dermatol. Oct 1967;79(10):533-7. [Medline].

  13. Harman M, Aytekin S, Akdeniz S, et al. An epidemiological study of pityriasis rosea in the Eastern Anatolia. Eur J Epidemiol. Jul 1998;14(5):495-7. [Medline].

  14. Hartley AH. Pityriasis rosea. Pediatr Rev. Aug 1999;20(8):266-9, quiz 270. [Medline].

  15. Parsons JM. Management of toxic epidermal necrolysis. Cutis. Oct 1985;36(4):305-7, 310-1. [Medline].

  16. Tay YK, Goh CL. One-year review of pityriasis rosea at the National Skin Centre, Singapore. Ann Acad Med Singapore. Nov 1999;28(6):829-31. [Medline].

  17. Wyndham M. Pityriasis. Practitioner. Jun 1997;241(1575):358. [Medline].

 
Previous
Next
 
 
 
 
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2012 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

DISCLAIMER: The content of this Website is not influenced by sponsors. The site is designed primarily for use by qualified physicians and other medical professionals. The information contained herein should NOT be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill.