Pityriasis Alba Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnostic Approach

• The British Journal of Dermatology recommends using Wood's light examination to accentuate hypopigmentation in Pityriasis Alba, which shows no fluorescence 1

Treatment Recommendations

• The British Journal of Dermatology recommends topical emollients and mild-to-moderate potency corticosteroids as first-line treatment for Pityriasis Alba, with treatment duration limited to avoid skin atrophy 1
• The British Journal of Dermatology suggests potent topical steroids for a trial period of no more than 2 months due to the risk of skin atrophy in Pityriasis Alba 1
• The British Journal of Dermatology recommends topical calcineurin inhibitors as alternatives with a better short-term safety profile for Pityriasis Alba 1
• The British Journal of Dermatology advises using emollients to address underlying dry skin and atopic features in Pityriasis Alba 1

Clinical Differences Between Pityriasis Alba and Pityriasis Versicolor in Children

Associated Conditions and Risk Factors

• The American Academy of Dermatology suggests that Pityriasis Alba is strongly associated with atopic diathesis and considered a milder form of atopic dermatitis, with a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2014 2