Revealing the Atopic Nexus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pityriasis Alba

Background: Pityriasis alba (PA) is a benign and common dermatosis predominantly occurring in children in association with atopy. Although it is very common, there is limited systematic investigation into its association with atopic dermatitis (AD) and other atopic disorders. Aim and Objective: The aim of this research is to determine the prevalence of pityriasis alba (PA) and its association with atopy, with the question in mind: "What is the strength of the association between pityriasis alba and atopy in studies from 2014 to 2023?". Methods: Systematic review was performed using PubMed, Embase, and Scopus for 2014-2023 studies according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Full-text PDF studies with focus on PA prevalence or atopy association were included. Four studies with atopy data were meta-analysed using a random-effects model. Results: We had eight studies, and three of them were included in meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of atopy in PA patients was 0.66 (66%), 95% CI: 0.62-0.70, I² = 0%. PA was always linked with atopy, especially AD. Conclusion: PA is highly correlated with atopy, thus supporting its status as a minor manifestation of AD. Moreover, further large-scale studies are required to support this correlation.