• Lesions appear in 24-72 hours
• Pruritus and burning
• Lasts 1-2 weeks without scarring, possible post-inflammatory pigment changes (hypopigmentation/hyperpigmentation)
• Reactivation of HSV can lead to recurrence

Typical target skin lesions:

• 1-3 cm 
• Round, well-defined border with at least 3 distinct zones (bull’s eye), always papular:
• Central circular zone with evidence of epidermal injury: bulla, crust or dusky appearance 
• Pale pink edematous zone
• Well-defined peripheral red ring

Atypical papular target lesions:

• Round, edematous, palpable
• Two zones/poorly defined border (in contrast to flat (macular) atypical targets in Stevens-Johnson syndrome/ Toxic epidermal necrolysis

Distribution:

• Appear in crops with a symmetric pattern
• Extremities (palms, soles, back of hands/feet, extensor surface of forearms/legs) and face 
• Koebner +
• Can involve the mucosa: bullae and vesicles cause painful erosions (buccal mucosa, lips, ocular, and genital mucosae)

Systemic manifestation:

• Fever, asthenia, arthralgia (with joint swelling)
• Atypical pneumonia-like
• Rarely renal, hepatic and hematologic abnormalities