The two rashes have different causes and treatments.
Symptoms
Although they have similarities, pityriasis rosea and ringworm lead to different symptoms.
Pityriasis Rosea
Pityriasis rosea typically starts with an acute infection before the rash appears.
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Some people have a rash covering the entire body, rather than the torso and extremities.
Lesions in the mouth are also known to occur.
A pityriasis rosea eruption typically lasts between four and eight weeks.
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Symptoms may resolve as quickly as three weeks or persist for up to 12 weeks.
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Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection with symptoms that include a distinctive red, ring-like rash.
Ringworm causes itching in the affected area.
In some cases, variations of the infection can infect hair follicles.
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Other conditions, includingplaque psoriasis, can cause similar symptoms.
Ringworm symptoms include:
The incubation for the infection takes between one and three weeks.
Environmental conditions, including a tropical climate or crowded home, can contribute to the risk, too.
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Antifungal medications are used totreat ringworm.
They can include:
Your healthcare provider also may recommend steroid creams to relieve symptoms of itching.
The round scaly lesions resemble ringworm.
However, the two conditions differ in where they appear and how they spread.
Antifungal medication is usually used to treat ringworm.
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