Pityriasis lichenoides chronica (also known as "Chronic guttate parapsoriasis," "Chronic pityriasis lichenoides," "Dermatitis psoriasiformis nodularis," "Parapsoriasis chronica," and "Parapsoriasis lichenoides chronica" "PLC") is an uncommon, idiopathic

Idiopathic

Idiopathic is an adjective used primarily in medicine meaning arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. From Greek ἴδιος, idios + πάθος, pathos , it means approximately "a disease of its own kind". It is technically a term from nosology, the classification of disease...

, acquired dermatosis, characterized by evolving groups of erythematous, scaly papule

Papule

A papule is a circumscribed, solid elevation of skin with no visible fluid, varying in size from a pinhead to 1 cm.With regard to the quote "...varying in size from a pinhead to 1cm," depending on which text is referenced, some authors state the cutoff between a papule and a plaque as 0.5cm,...

s that may persist for months.

Causes

Pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC) is probably caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to infectious agents such as the Epstein-Barr virus. Other infectious agents include the adenovirus and parvovirus B19.

Symptoms

Although other forms of the disease occur at younger ages, some individuals start having long term symptoms at thirty years of age. This disease also affects adolescents and young adults. This also affects the immune system which therefore results into rashes. The symptoms rarely affect the face or scalp, but occurs at other sites of the body. The duration may last for months or even several years. For instance, new crops of lesions appear every few weeks.

Treatment

There is no standard treatment for PLC. Treatments may include ultraviolet phototherapy, topical steroids, sun exposure, oral antibiotics, corticosteroid creams and ointments to treat rash and itching.

See also

• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
• Pityriasis lichenoides
  Pityriasis lichenoides
  Pityriasis lichenoides is a form of pityriasis.Types include:* Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta* Pityriasis lichenoides chronica...
  
  
• Parapsoriasis
  Parapsoriasis
  Parapsoriasis refers to one of a group of skin disorders that are characterized primarily by their resemblance to psoriasis , rather than by their underlying etiology.Neoplasms can develop from parapsoriasis...
  
  
• List of cutaneous conditions