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A painless genital ulcer heals on its own — weeks later a rash covers palms and soles. This is syphilis's march — primary chancre (painless, heals) → secondary rash (palms/soles involved — the clue) → latent → tertiary (gumma, aortitis, neurosyphilis/taboparesis). VDRL/RPR screens (may be false-positive), TPHA confirms; benzathine penicillin treats every stage — the great imitator surrenders to the oldest antibiotic. Partners treated, follow-up titers tracked. The painless sore that vanishes is the warning — not the recovery.