pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta is a disease of the immune system. it is the more severe version of pityriasis lichenoides chronica. the disease is characterized by rashes and small lesions on the skin. the disease is more common in males and usually occurs in young adulthood, although it has been seen in every age group and every race. it is possible for the disease to go into remission for short periods of time or forever. pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acutaother namesacute guttate parapsoriasis, acute parapsoriasis, acute pityriasis lichenoides, mucha–habermann disease, parapsoriasis acuta, parapsoriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta, parapsoriasis varioliformis: 456 : 736 )specialtydermatology causes there is no known cause of this disease; there is some evidence associating it with parvovirus b19. diagnosis it is commonly misdiagnosed as chickenpox or rosacea, or misidentified as a form of staph infection. the most accurate way to diagnose it is by biopsy. this disease has not been known to be life-threatening. treatment it is not contagious and currently there is no cure for the disease, although the lesions can be treated with phototherapy as well as antibiotics, including erythromycin, azithromycin and tetracycline. treatment often involves multiple therapies that address the immune system and bacterial, viral, or dermatological causes. eponym pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta is also known as mucha–habermann disease. it is named for rudolf habermann (1884–1941), a german dermatologist, and viktor mucha, an austrian dermatologist.