1. What is tinea versicolor?
Tinea versicolor is an infection of the upper layers of the skin.
This results in uneven skin color and scaling that can be unsightly.
A yeast-like fungus that normally lives on the skin surface in small
numbers causes the infection. It thrives in oily areas such as the
neck, upper chest and back.
2. What does tinea versicolor
look like?
The rash has small and scaly white-to-pink-to-tan spots scattered
over the upper arms, chest and back. The spots may sometimes appear
on the neck and face. On light skin, the spots may be faint or show
up as tan-to-pink color. The fungus grows slowly and prevents the
skin from tanning normally. As the surrounding skin tans in the
sun, the now pale spots become more noticeable, especially on dark
skin.
3. What are the symptoms
of tinea versicolor?
Tinea versicolor usually produces few symptoms. Occasionally, there
is some slight itching that is more intense when a person gets hot.
4. Who may get this
rash?
Most people get tinea versicolor when they are teenagers or young
adults. It is very rare in the elderly and in children, except in
tropical climates where it can occur at any age. Both dark and light
skinned people are equally prone.
Why some people get tinea versicolor and others do
not is not clearly understood. Since the fungus is normally present
in small numbers on everyone’s skin, anyone can develop the
infection. During the summer months when the temperature and humidity
are high, the fungus increases.
5. How is tinea versicolor
diagnosed?
In most cases, skin examination and a simple lab examination of
the fine scales scraped from the skin will confirm the diagnosis.
This test consists of looking at scales that have been lightly scraped
onto a slide and then examined under a microscope for the presence
of the fungus.
6. How is it treated?
Tinea versicolor is treated with either topical or oral medications.
Special cleansers including some shampoos can be used. In other
cases, antifungal/yeast creams are applied directly to the skin,
once or twice a day. The uneven color due to uneven tanning may
remain several months after the fungus has been eliminated. The
rash may reappear in the spring. To prevent recurrences, special
cleansers may have to be used once or twice a month.
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