FIGURE 68.8 A, B: Classic target lesions seen in erythema multiforme with three distinct zones (A: Reproduced with permission from Roche Laboratories Sauer GC, Hall JC Manual of Skin Diseases 7th ed Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott-Raven, 1996 B: Reprinted with permission from Somolinos AL, Grant LM, Goldsmith LA, et al VisualDx: Essential Dermatology in Pigmented Skin Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011.) EM is often confused for urticaria or SJS EM can be distinguished from the transient and pruritic lesions of urticaria because of the classic target appearance of lesions that are fixed for several days As discussed further below, SJS is a severe drug eruption that has lesions that are often confused for the targetoid lesions of EM, but they lack the characteristic three zones Furthermore, in SJS, two or more mucous membranes are typically involved with blisters, erosions, and crusting EM is a self-limited reaction resolving within to weeks Because of its frequent association with herpes simplex virus, patients are often treated with acyclovir If a medication trigger is suspected, then stopping the medication will help with resolution Antihistamines can offer symptomatic relief