Pityriasis rubra pilaris in a 3-year-old male

Abstract

A 3-year-old male presented with progressive pruritic red–orange plaques across most of his body with erythema, desquamation, and fissuring of the hands and feet. He was diagnosed with classic juvenile (type III) pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) and treated with oral isotretinoin for 6 months. His skin findings resolved quickly during the treatment period, with residual postinflammatory hypopigmentation resolving within a year. PRP is rare in pediatric patients and standard recommended treatment algorithms for this population are not currently available. Diagnostic and treatment guidelines for PRP are based almost exclusively on case reports or case series, most of which focus on adult patients. The presentation, evaluation, and management of PRP are discussed.