Pityriasis Alba - Symptoms & Treatment

Pityriasis alba is chronic skin disorder which affecting children and occasionally young adults.Several round or oval slightly scaly pink patches appear, leaving pale marks when the redness has faded.Pityriasis alba is a common rash Which affects the face, neck, arms and trunk of children and young adults. This condition is not dangerous or contagious. Pityriasis alba is a common skin disorder similar to very mild eczema , causing round or oval, colorless, finely scaled patches of skin. These patches usually occur on the cheeks. The patches are dry with very fine scales. Varying from 1 to 2 inches in diameter, they are most common on the face (cheeks), neck, upper trunk, and upper arms of children 3 to 16 years old.

Symptoms of Pityriasis Alba

Pityriasis Alba depend on the body symmetric minimally scaly hypopigmented discrete and confluent macules. Pityriasis alba appears as superficial, pale pink to light brown macules with lesions during the summer irregular, poorly circumscribed margins. It is round-to-oval in shape and can have slightly elevated borders. Pityriasis alba is an eczematous dermatosis with hypomelanosis secondary to postinflammatory changes and the UV screening properties of the hyperkeratotic and parakeratotic epidermis.The discribe of Pityriasis Alba are :

• Small white patches
  • Round or oval
  • Lighter than surrounding skin (hypopigmented)
  • Flat (macular) or slightly elevated
  • Slight scaling with very small fine scales (may be present)
• Location -- face, outer upper arms, neck and upper trunk
• Lesions don't tan during the summer
• May redden quickly in the sun

Causes of Pityriasis Alba

The causes of Pityriasis Alba are :

• The cause is not known.
• Pityriasis alba often becomes more noticeable after sun exposure.
• Pityriasis Alba will clear up after a few months, or in some cases persist two or three years. The colour gradually returns completely to normal.
• No definitive etiologic agent has been described.
• Hypopigmentation may occur in other disorders, such as those caused by fungi previous inflammatory conditions , idiopathic disorders or malignancy or it may occur secondary to medications such as retinoic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and topical steroids.
• If the patches are red or itchy, a mild topical steroid cream can be applied for a few days.

Treatment of Pityriasis Alba

The treatments are below:

• One percent hydrocortisone cream available over the counter should be applied once to twice a day to the affected areas.
• Although no treatment is necessary for the full skin color to return, lotions and moisturizers may help the skin return to normal faster
• If the patches are red or itchy, a mild topical steroid cream can be applied for a few days. Pimecrolimus cream has also been reported to be effective.
• The condition often goes away by itself after a few months to years.