Symptoms of Pityriasis Rosacea
Pityriasis rosea starts with a single patch on your back or torso. That’s called the “herald patch” or “mother patch.” It’s usually oval-shaped and about 2-10 centimeters (a little less than an inch to almost 4 inches) in diameter. You may find it slightly raised or rough in texture. Sometimes, you may also have symptoms such as headache, fever, or sore throat . A week or two after the herald patch appears, it is joined by “daughter patches”—smaller, scaly rashes that form on your chest or back, often in the shape of a Christmas tree. In some cases, these patches may become itchy, especially when you exercise or they're exposed to heat. Some people never get daughter patches and instead only have large patches on their skin. It’s also possible to see only small bumps with no large mother patches. The color and texture of the rash vary across skin tones too. If you have light skin, the rash will be pink and slightly raised with a fine white scale covering the center. If you have dark skin, the rash will be dusky violet to brown in color. Also, it may be more raised and look like the tissue is dying in the center.