MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Pityriasis rubra pilaris on the chest

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Pityriasis rubra pilaris on the chest

This person has pityriasis rubra pilaris on the chest, an uncommon skin condition characterized by salmon-colored patches with scaling (palmoplantar keratoderma). A characteristic sign of pityriasis rubra pilaris is plugging of the hair follicles with keratin. This picture illustrates areas of uninvolved skin (islands of sparing) surrounded by areas of redness (erythroderma).

Update Date: 4/27/2006

Updated by: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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