Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris

Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris

          Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris is a papulosquamous disease that forms papules and scales.  Patients with PRP have severe exfoliation of the skin, as well as a burning sensation in particular spots on the epidermis.  The pathogenesis of this disease is unknown and the cure is also unknown causing the treatment of PRP to be very difficult.  

         The reason I picked Pityriasis Pubra Pilaris is because my father was diagnosed with this disease 3 years ago and has finally been resolved of PRP last year.  The first symptoms of PRP are red patches on the upper part of the body that cause a terrible burning sensation. The lesions begin to spread to all of your body causing extreme shedding of your skin and itching.  My father's case was very hard to diagnose considering 1 out 400,000 people get PRP and the causes are unknown.  Many doctors believed that PRP was due to vitamin A deficiency, but they have ruled that out.  Others believe it is inheritable.  My father inherited this disease from his grandfather that suffered from PRP.  

         Treatment of PRP remains a challenge.  My father was taking 50 mg of Acitretin a day.  Acitretin is used to treat severe cases of psoriasis and is in the medicine group as retinoids.  The side effects of this medication is lose of hair and severe sensitivity to sunlight.  

         Finally after two years, my father has overcome Pityriasis Pubra Pilaris.  I believe that more research needs to be done on the exact causes of this terrible disease and what treatments should be used.  

References

http://dermatology-s10.cdlib.org/124/case_presentations/prp/hsu.html