Guttate psoriasis is characterized by bright pink papules with a thick, silvery scale, a more inflammatory appearance than the salmon-colored, finely scaled oval plaques of pityriasis rosea.
PLC is a more chronic eruption of individual reddish-brown papules with a fine scale, lacking the herald patch and "Christmas tree" distribution of pityriasis rosea.
The rash of secondary syphilis can mimic pityriasis rosea, but it is distinguished by frequent involvement of the palms and soles, possible mucous membrane lesions, and is confirmed by serology.
