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Tinea Versicolor: Cause, Symptoms, And Treatments - WebMD
Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection that causes small patches of discolored spots on your skin. It's also called pityriasis versicolor. It results from a type of yeast that naturally lives on your skin. When the yeast grows out of control, it causes this skin disease, which appears as a rash.
Tinea versicolor can cause discolored spots on your skin. (Photo credit: iStock/Getty Images)
Acidic bleach from the growing yeast causes areas of skin to be a different color than the skin around them. These can be individual spots or patches. Specific signs and symptoms of the infection include:
The spots may disappear during cool weather and worsen during warm and humid weather.
Tinea versicolor on face
Tinea versicolor can occasionally appear on your face. But if you have a rash on your face, it's more likely to be a separate condition. For example, seborrheic dermatitis, commonly called dandruff, is a skin condition that causes scaly, itchy skin patches. It's most often seen on the scalp, but it can also appear on other oily areas of the body, including the face, sides of the nose, eyelids, eyebrows, and skin under the beard or mustache.
Unlike tinea versicolor, scaly dandruff patches are red and can flake off onto your hair or clothing. If you have brown or black skin, the rash may appear darker or lighter than your natural color. If your skin is lighter, the rash may be redder in color. Seborrheic dermatitis is sometimes called seborrheic eczema or seborrheic psoriasis. When it appears in infants, it's usually called cradle cap.
Some studies suggest that the skin changes caused by seborrheic dermatitis may be an inflammatory response to the same fungus that causes tinea versicolor.
Some other skin problems have symptoms that look like tinea versicolor, including:
Tinea versicolor vs vitiligo
Vitiligo is a skin condition that affects the pigmentation of the skin. It differs from tinea versicolor in its cause, symptom, and treatment.
Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells responsible for producing the pigment melanin in the skin. It results in the loss of pigment, causing white, colorless patches on otherwise normally pigmented skin. The darker your skin, the more noticeable the white patches. Unlike tinea versicolor, vitiligo itself doesn't cause itching or discomfort.
Vitiligo affects different areas of the body than tinea versicolor. The spots caused by vitiligo are smooth, while tinea versicolor may make your skin rough or scaly in some patches.
Tinea versicolor vs pityriasis rosea
Pityriasis rosea is a skin condition that can cause rashes, but it has different causes and characteristics than tinea versicolor.
Pityriasis rosea typically starts with a single, larger round or oval patch of scaly skin on the face, back, chest, or abdomen surrounded by a raised border. If you have darker skin, the rash is purple or red-brown. On lighter skin, it's pinker or salmon-colored. This rash is known as the "herald patch" or "mother patch."
The herald patch is sometimes followed by the development of smaller "daughter patches." These appear as bumps or scaly patches on the same area of the body. They look like a Christmas tree. Like tinea versicolor, pityriasis rosea can be mildly itchy for some people, but it's not always associated with itching.
The exact cause of pityriasis rosea is not well understood, but it's believed to be associated with viral infections, particularly some forms of herpes.
Tinea versicolor usually doesn't clear up on its own. Antifungal medications are most effective at healing your rashes and discolored areas of skin.
Once you begin treatment, scaly patches should start to smooth over. It'll take about 2-4 weeks for the scaly patches to fully heal. The discoloration can take 6 months to a year to go away.
If you live in a warm climate, there's a higher chance your tinea versicolor may come back in the summer. You may need to regularly use medication to manage your symptoms or skin discoloration.
The yeast that causes tinea versicolor, Malassezia, grows on normal, healthy skin. But the following things can trigger an overgrowth that causes the infection:
Because the yeast grows naturally on your skin, tinea versicolor isn't contagious. The condition can affect people of any skin color. It's more likely to affect teens and young adults. For some people, it can cause emotional distress and feelings of self-consciousness.
Your doctor can diagnose tinea versicolor by what the rash looks like.
If they need more information, these tests can help:
Treatment of tinea versicolor can consist of creams, lotions, or shampoos that you put on your skin. It can also include medication given as pills. The type of treatment will depend on the size, location, and thickness of the infected area.
Treatment options include:
Treatment usually gets rid of the fungal infection. However, skin discoloration may take several months to resolve.
Tinea versicolor natural treatment
If you want a more natural treatment, you can make your own tinea versicolor cream or solutions with ingredients you may already have in your pantry. Be aware that these home remedies aren't backed by strong evidence and may not be as effective as OTC or prescription antifungal medications.
Aloe vera. Aloe is a cactus-like plant used historically for a variety of skin conditions. One study showed that high concentrations of aloe vera extract may slow or help prevent the growth of the fungus that causes tinea versicolor.
Honey. Honey has been shown to clear infections in wounds and improve tissue healing. It may also improve tinea versicolor symptoms and may be more effective when mixed with olive oil and beeswax.
Selsun Blue for tinea versicolor
Selsun Blue is a dandruff shampoo used to relieve itchy, flakey scalp. It's also used to treat and prevent the recurrence of tinea versicolor. Selsun Blue purchased over the counter contains 1% selenium sulfide, an anti-infective medication that works by slowing the growth of the yeast that causes tinea versicolor. A 2.5% version is only available in the U.S. By prescription.
Selsun Blue is sometimes used to treat tinea versicolor rashes. Simply lather the shampoo in your hands with a small amount of water. Rub the lather on your rashes and let it sit for 10 minutes. (Rinse your hands thoroughly after application.) When time is up, rinse your skin thoroughly with water. Apply Selsun Blue once a day for up to 7 days, or as directed by your doctor.
Episodes of tinea versicolor are very common because the yeast that causes the infection is a normal fungus that lives on your skin. You might use medicated cleansers once a week for 10 minutes at a time for a few months to help prevent tinea versicolor from coming back. You may need to use these cleansers if the infection keeps returning, especially if you live in a warm and humid area.
To help you manage tinea versicolor, you can:
Tinea Versicolor: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments - Healthline
Tinea versicolor, or pityriasis versicolor, is a fungal skin infection caused by the Malassezia fungus. It can cause symptoms such as lighter or darker patches of skin, itchiness, and more.
Tinea versicolor happens when something causes Malassezia to quickly grow on the skin. It is more common in hot climates or with excess sweating.
Doctors may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription antifungal creams to manage tinea versicolor. Oral medications may also help.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms and causes of tinea versicolor. This article also looks at how doctors diagnose the condition, treatment options, and more.
Discolored patches of skin are the most noticeable symptom of tinea versicolor. These patches usually show up on the:
Some people may also expereince itchy skin.
Tinea versicolor occurs when Malassezia grows rapidly on the surface of the skin.
The fungus Malasseziais a type of yeast found on the surface of the skin. It is typically harmless, but sometimes it can grow out of control and affect the natural color or pigmentationof your skin.
Doctors aren't sure why this happens, but they have identified certain factors that may increase the likelihood of tinea versicolor. These include:
Tinea versicolor is more common in adolescents and young adults. It is also more prevalent in tropical countries.
A doctor may be able to diagnose tinea versicolor based on the appearance of the skin.
If the diagnosis is unclear, your doctor may take a skin scraping. A skin scraping removes cells from your skin for testing by scraping the skin gently. Viewing the cells under a microscope can reveal whether they contain the yeast that causes this condition.
Your doctor may a potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy. In this procedure, your doctor takes a skin sample, places it on a microscope slide soaked with KOH, and looks for yeast or hyphae fungi under a microscope.
Your doctor might also take a biopsy, or tissue sample, of the affected skin and test for fungi on the outer skin layer. A sample of the fungus on the skin can also be tested in a fungal culture to see if you have the condition.
Your doctor may also use a Wood's lamp to look at your skin. If yeast is present, the affected skin will appear yellowish-orange or golden white under the light.
Tinea versicolor, also called pityriasis versicolor, causes skin discoloration due to a fungal skin infection. Patches of skin may appear lighter or darker.
While the exact cause is unclear, tinea versicolor is more likely to develop in hot, humid environments. People with a weakened immune system or a family history of the condition are also more likely to develop it. It is more common in adolescents and young adults.
Speak with a doctor if you develop symptoms of tinea versicolor. They can confirm the diagnosis and advise on a suitable treatment plan, which may include topical and oral antifungals.
What Is Tinea Versicolor? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention - Everyday Health
Many treatments for tinea versicolor are available.
Medication OptionsYour doctor may suggest one of these over-the-counter antifungal creams, lotions, ointment, or shampoos as a first-line therapy: (10)
If they don't work, you may need one of these prescription-strength topical remedies: (7,10)
Some people with tinea versicolor might prefer oral medicines, as they aren't as messy and can be more convenient. A doctor may prescribe an oral medicine to achieve better results. You might receive oral medication when the fungus covers a large area of your body or frequently returns. However, tablets are rarely needed to treat tinea versicolor. (6) Commonly used oral medicines include these drugs: (7,10)
Photodynamic therapy, also called light therapy, may help with tinea versicolor, too, according to some research. In one study, 66 percent of participants diagnosed with tinea versicolor reported decreased itching, hyperpigmentation, and scaling when treated with narrow-band UV-B phototherapy three times weekly. (11) Researchers believe the UV-B light helps inhibit the growth of Malassezia.
Alternative and Complementary TherapiesApplying over-the-counter dandruff shampoos to the skin for about 10 minutes a day while in the shower can be a useful home remedy. Ask your doctor if this might help you. (2)
Other home remedies sometimes suggested include honey, olive oil, and beeswax. Ask your doctor or dermatologist before trying any of them. (12)
In one small study, an application of equal parts honey, olive oil, and beeswax helped a majority of patients. They applied the mixture three times a day for about a month. (12)
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