Pityriasis Alba

So-called pityriasis alba is not a new condition. For years articles and reports of cases have appeared in dermatologic journals and texts describing superficial, scaling, nummular lesions with residual hypopigmentation, occurring principally on the faces of children. Various descriptive names have been used: pityriasis streptogenes, pityriasis corporis, pityriasis simplex faciei, erythema streptogenes, impetigo furfuracia, chronic impetigo, achromia parasitaria, pityriasis sicca faciei, dartre volante, achromatous pityriasis faciei, pityriasis alba faciei, and pityriasis alba. The earliest description in the American literature is a group of cases presented by Fox1-3in 1923, 1924, and 1925. He was unable to account for the condition or to give it a name. From clinical descriptions, it would seem that all of the reported cases refer to the same condition or variations of the same condition which O'Farrell,4the most recent author on the subject, prefers to call "pityriasis alba." Clinically, pityriasis alba is characterized