TINEA VERSICOLOR

General Information

DEFINITION--A yeast infection of the skin that changes the color of skin it affects.

BODY PARTS INVOLVED--Skin of the chest, back, shoulders, upper arms, trunk or groin. This rarely affects the face.

SEX OR AGE MOST AFFECTED-- Adolescents and adults.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS--

Lesions with the following characteristics:

• Lesions on exposed skin are white; on covered areas, they are brown or brownish red.
• Lesions are flat with clearly defined borders. They don't scale unless scraped.
• Lesions begin at 3 to 4mm in diameter and spread. They often join together to form large patches.

CAUSES--A developing stage of the yeast, Pityrosporum orbiculare. High heat and high humidity favor the growth of this yeast. The infection is contagious, but how it spreads is unknown.

RISK INCREASES WITH--Environmental exposure to heat and high humidity.

HOW TO PREVENT--No specific preventive measures.

What To Expect

DIAGNOSTIC MEASURES--

• Your own observation of symptoms.
• Medical history and physical exam by a doctor.
• Laboratory culture of scrapings for positive diagnosis.

APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE

• Doctor's treatment.
• Self-care after diagnosis.
• Numerous topical medicines are effective in clearing tinea versicolor.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS--Unlimited recurrence without treatment.

PROBABLE OUTCOME--Untreated pityriasis versicolor persists indefinitely but seems to come and go at times. It frequently recurs, even with treatment. Following treatment, the white patches will remain for months after the yeast infection has been cured.

How To Treat

GENERAL MEASURES--

• Apply medicine with cotton balls to affected parts as prescribed. Rinse off in 30 minutes if you wish.
• Expose affected skin to air as much as possible.
• Repeat treatment prior to tanning season each year.

MEDICATION--Your doctor may prescribe selenium sulfide shampoo, clotrimazole, miconazole or ketoconazole cream to apply to affected areas.

ACTIVITY--No restrictions.

DIET--No special diet.

Call Your Doctor If

• You have symptoms of pityriasis versicolor.
• Infection doesn't improve despite treatment.