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Pityriasis lichenoides

Last reviewed: 30 Oct 2023
Last updated: 13 Aug 2019

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • acute to subacute recurrent skin eruption
  • polymorphic, generalized, nonpruritic skin eruption
More key diagnostic factors

Other diagnostic factors

  • scars or pigment changes
  • immunosuppression
  • recent illness
  • family history of pityriasis lichenoides
  • headache
  • myalgias/arthralgias
  • malaise
  • burning/pruritus
  • multiorgan failure
Other diagnostic factors

Risk factors

  • childhood to early adult age
  • male sex
  • HIV
More risk factors

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • dermoscopy
  • skin biopsy
More 1st investigations to order

Investigations to consider

  • antistreptolysin titers
  • Epstein-Barr virus IgM/IgG viral capsid antigen and nuclear antigen antibody
  • monospot or heterophil antibody test
  • hepatitis B surface antigen, antisurface antibody, and anticore IgM
  • hepatitis C virus antibody
  • HIV screening
  • rapid plasma reagin
  • throat cultures
  • toxoplasma Sabin-Feldman dye test, indirect immunofluorescence/hemagglutination
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • CRP
  • serum LDH
  • WBC count
  • serum albumin
More investigations to consider

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

mild to moderate disease

severe disease or treatment resistance

Contributors

Authors

Amor Khachemoune, MD, CWS

Clinical Instructor in Dermatology

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Brooklyn

NY

Disclosures

AK declares that he has no competing interests.

Marianna Blyumin-Karasik, MD

Dermatology Faculty

Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery

University of Miami

Miami

FL

Disclosures

MB-K declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Andrew D. Lee, MD

Resident

Department of Dermatology

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Winston-Salem

NC

Disclosures

ADL declares that he has no competing interests.

Abdulhafez Selim, MD

Assistant Professor

King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals

Dhahran

Saudi Arabia

Disclosures

AS declares that he has no competing interests.

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