No comprehensive review of pityriasis rubra pilaris has been reported for many years. The purpose of this paper is to present a short historical background, a clinical description, and an etiological discussion. In addition, previous methods of therapy are reviewed, and two cases are reported which were successfully treated by the short term use of a topical medication alone. The identity of pityriasis rubra pilaris was for many years a subject of controversy. Although the naming and first description is usually credited to Devergie,1-4he did not describe the first case, nor did he use the name pityriasis rubra pilaris. Claudius Tarral described the first case in 1828. He noted that: Upon examining the dorsal side of the fingers, one can see some small scaly asperities, isolated, perfectly round-shaped, in the middle of which a hair breaks through. To the touch, the skin, covered by some small asperities, is