Pityriasis

For the monotypic bird genus, see Bornean bristlehead.

Pityriasis
Specialty	Dermatology

Pityriasis commonly refers to flaking (or scaling) of the skin. The word comes from the Greek πίτυρον 'bran'.

Classification

Types include:

• Pityriasis alba, dry, fine-scaled, pale patches on the face
• Pityriasis lichenoides chronica, caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to infectious agents
• Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, a disease of the immune system
• Pityriasis rosea, a type of skin rash
  • Pityriasis circinata,
• Pityriasis rubra pilaris, reddish-orange patches (Latin: rubra) on the skin
• Pityriasis versicolor, a skin eruption on the trunk and proximal extremities, usually caused by a fungus
• Dandruff, historically called Pityriasis capitis
• Pityriasis amiantacea, condition of the scalp in which thick tenaciously adherent scale infiltrates and surrounds the base of a group of scalp hairs

See also

• Desquamation
• List of cutaneous conditions