Penicillin and vitamin A as possible therapeutic agents in pityriasis rubra pilaris.

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) is a rare skin disorder with versatile clinical presentations. A 62-year-old Caucasian woman with progressive erythroderma and classic adult (type I) PRP is presented. Treatment with systemic steroids and methotrexate produced no improvement. Clinical remission was achieved after systemic therapy with penicillin (both intravenous and intramuscular) and vitamin A. The therapy of PRP is reviewed, focusing on a possible infectious genesis of PRP as well as the role of antibiotics in its management.