Pityriasis lichenoides in an Asian population

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pediatric Dermatology
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Limited comparative studies exist on pityriasis lichenoides (PL) in adults versus children, especially in Asian populations.
• This study addresses the scarcity of research by comparing clinical profiles and treatment outcomes of adult and pediatric PL patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical presentation and treatment efficacy of pityriasis lichenoides (PL) in adult and pediatric patient cohorts.
• To evaluate treatment responses to oral antibiotics and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy in PL.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patients diagnosed with PL between 2002 and 2008.
• Analysis of clinical characteristics, disease duration, treatment responses, and outcomes in 10 adults and 5 children.

Main Results:

• PL presented similarly in adults and children, with trunk and limb involvement being most common. Topical corticosteroids showed poor efficacy.
• Oral antibiotics yielded good responses in 5/15 patients, while NB-UVB phototherapy was effective in 5/15 patients.
• Disease resolution took a median of 8 months in adults and 21 months in children. Postinflammatory dyspigmentation was common in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) exhibits similar clinical features in adults and children but follows a protracted course in pediatric patients.
• Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation is a frequent sequela, potentially linked to darker skin phototypes observed in this cohort.
• Oral antibiotics are recommended as a first-line treatment, with phototherapy serving as a viable alternative for non-responsive cases.