Christmas Tree Rash: Pityriasis Rosea

The Christmas Tree Rash (Pityriasis Rosea) gets its name from the shape of the blotches, which are similar to the shape of Christmas trees. Initially, its appearance is very similar to other types of rashes, making it difficult to diagnose.

Pityriasis Rosea

• Pityriasis Roseais a fairly common skin rash that is reddish-pink in color and is more often noticed in the spring and fall. The first spot or spots will appear on the stomach and/or the back, and these are referred to as "Herald Patches."

  This rash is not contagious, and it's usually found in children and young adults up to the age of about 30 years. People who suffer with this rash rarely get it a second time.

  Pityriasis Roseais is often initially mistaken for eczema, psoriasis or ringworm.

Symptoms

• In most cases but not always, before the rash appears the victim will have all the signs of a cold including a sore throat, coughing and congestion. But then soon a tiny red scaly dot, the Herald Patch, will appear either on the stomach or the back.

  Slowly over the next few days and even weeks, the number of dots increases as it spreads over the entire body, forming patches of scaly rash. Depending on the person and the cause, this rash can range from mildly itchy to extremely itchy.

  As the dots spread on the back, they form patches in the shape of Christmas Trees.

Causes

• There are several factors that are being researched that may be the cause of this rash, but to date, none of them have proved that they are, in fact, a cause.

  One possibility that is being studied, according to Drs. Daniel Stulberg of Utah Valley Regional Medical Centre and Jeff Wolfrey from Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, is that it could be the result of a viral or bacterial infection, but it is not considered to be contagious.

  Another is that the rash could be the reaction of an individual when taking a specific type of medicine, and medications have been proven to cause rashes in patients periodically. However, it's more common to find this rash in patients who are taking a mixture of medications that is causing their body chemistry to react.

  Another suspect is secondary syphilis, which is also known to result in a similar body rash.

Cure and Treatment

• The Pityriasis Rosea rash usually lasts anywhere from five to eight weeks, and unfortunately, there is no cure. However, there are medications that can be applied to the rash to help relieve the itching. Some of these are calamine lotion and zinc oxide cream. Some doctors suggest taking antihistamine pills such as Benadryl to help relieve the congestion.

What to Do if You Suspect You Have It

• If you suspect that you have Pityriasis Rosea, you should see your family doctor right away. It could be the result of a virus for which there is no cure but at least you can know that and get the appropriate creams for the itching.

  It could be the result of some other meds that you're taking, and perhaps a change in prescription is necessary.

  However, if you have any reason to suspect that it may be a symptom of syphilis, don't take chances and just hope that it will go away. See your family doctor immediately.