Floret lichen is a non-infectious skin disease (dermatitis), which is also commonly known as psoriasis. The medical term for rose lichen is “Ptyriasis rosea”. The cause of the rose lichen is unclear.
It shows an acute course, which usually stops by itself after 8 weeks at the latest. Typical for the rose lichen is a trunk-accentuated (especially on the chest, less on hands or feet) skin rash, which presents itself as reddish and scaly. It occurs mainly between the ages of 10 and 35 and does not necessarily require treatment. Rarely does itchy lichen show symptoms such as itching and is generally a rather harmless disease.
Causes
The cause of the floret lichen is not conclusively clarified. Various mechanisms of pathogenesis, i.e. the development of the disease, are discussed. Some factors seem to be regarded as certain.
A connection with a viral infection with herpes viruses seems to exist. These are especially herpes viruses of type 6 and 7, but there are also recent studies that suspect herpes virus type 8 as a triggering factor. A special feature of these herpes viruses is the fact that they remain dormant in the body for a lifetime after the initial infection and can be reactivated, for example, if the immune system is weak.
Since many people are carriers of such herpes viruses, but very few of them suffer from psoriasis, the mechanism of reactivation could be a possible explanation for the appearance of psoriasis. There also seems to be a connection with other diseases such as neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis), acne vulgaris or seborrhoeic dermatitis, as patients suffering from these diseases have an increased risk of developing erythematous lichen. It is also suspected that there is a genetic component in the development of floral lichen.
A connection with other allergic diseases is also believed to exist. Stress should also be considered as a triggering factor, especially in combination with an allergy. The exact trigger for the development of erythematous lichen is not known, but there are many indications that an infection with human herpes viruses of type 6 and type 7 can lead to the disease.
A weakened immune system can promote infection with the pathogens. In a solarium, the skin is exposed to long-wave UVA rays, which lead to a tanning of the skin. There is increasing evidence that artificial light weakens the immune system and makes the body more susceptible to infections, including herpes. Regular tanning in a solarium could therefore promote the development of erythema.