What Is Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris? Scaly Skin Rash, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris? Scaly Skin Rash, Causes & Treatment Options Pityriasis rubra pilaris is a rare inflammatory skin disorder that causes rough follicular bumps, orange-red scaly plaques, thickened palms and soles and characteristic islands of unaffected skin. Also called PRP or Devergie disease, it belongs to the papulosquamous and keratinization-disorder spectrum rather than […]
What Is Pityriasis Rosea? Oval Skin Rash, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Pityriasis Rosea? Oval Skin Rash, Causes & Treatment Options Pityriasis rosea is a usually self-limited inflammatory rash that classically begins with one larger oval herald patch followed days to weeks later by multiple smaller scaly lesions across the trunk. The herald patch often measures about 2–5 cm and may show a fine collarette […]
What Is Pityriasis Alba? Light Skin Patches, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Pityriasis Alba? Light Skin Patches, Causes & Treatment Options Pityriasis alba is a common benign inflammatory skin condition that causes poorly defined light patches, often with fine scale, especially on the faces of children and adolescents. The patches represent hypopigmentation rather than complete pigment loss, commonly have soft or blurred borders and may […]
What Is a Pilar Cyst? Scalp Lump, Causes & Removal Options
What Is a Pilar Cyst? Scalp Lump, Causes & Removal Options A pilar cyst is a benign keratin-filled cyst arising from the outer root sheath of a hair follicle, usually forming a smooth, firm and mobile lump on the scalp. Also called a trichilemmal cyst and historically a “wen,” it usually lies beneath normal-looking skin, […]
What Is Pigmentary Mosaicism? Skin Color Patterns, Causes & Diagnosis
What Is Pigmentary Mosaicism? Skin Color Patterns, Causes & Diagnosis Pigmentary mosaicism is patterned lighter, darker or mixed skin colour caused by genetically different cell populations developing within the same person. The phenotype is usually flat, follows recognizable developmental geometry and may be visible at birth or become clearer during early childhood. Pigmentary mosaicism can […]
What Is Piebaldism? White Skin Patches, Causes & Diagnosis
What Is Piebaldism? White Skin Patches, Causes & Diagnosis Piebaldism is a rare congenital pigmentation disorder in which selected areas of skin and hair lack melanocytes from birth, producing sharply defined white patches and often a frontal white forelock. The depigmented pattern is usually visible at birth or shortly afterward and generally remains stable over […]
What Is Perioral Dermatitis? Mouth-Area Rash, Triggers & Treatment Options
What Is Perioral Dermatitis? Mouth-Area Rash, Triggers & Treatment Options Perioral dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory facial eruption that produces clusters of small papules around the mouth, often on dry or sensitive skin with a narrow clear zone immediately beside the lips. Tiny pustules or vesicles can occur, burning or tightness is common, and broader […]
What Is Pemphigus Vulgaris? Blistering Skin Disease, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Pemphigus Vulgaris? Blistering Skin Disease, Causes & Treatment Options Pemphigus vulgaris is a serious autoimmune blistering disease that commonly begins with persistent painful mouth erosions and can later produce fragile skin blisters that rupture easily. The disease can affect both skin and mucous membranes, and the rapid collapse of thin blister roofs means […]
What Is Paronychia? Nail Fold Infection, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Paronychia? Nail Fold Infection, Causes & Treatment Options Paronychia is inflammation of the tissue around a fingernail or toenail, occurring either as a rapidly developing infection after the nail-fold barrier breaks or as chronic inflammation from repeated moisture and irritation. Acute paronychia can follow a hangnail, nail biting or picking, manicure trauma, another […]
What Is Onychotillomania? Nail Picking, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Onychotillomania? Nail Picking, Causes & Treatment Options Onychotillomania is recurrent picking, pulling, rubbing or manipulation of the nails and surrounding nail tissues that can damage the nail plate, cuticle, nail folds and nail-producing matrix. The behavior can occur consciously in response to an urge or automatically with limited awareness, and repeated trauma can […]