PITYRIASIS VERSICOLOR (Tinea Versicolor) |
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General Information
DEFINITION--A yeast infection of the skin that changes the color of skin it affects. It usually affects skin of the chest, back, shoulders, upper arms, trunk or groin.
SIGNS & SYMPTOMSLesions 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 3mm to 4mm in diameter and spread. They often join together to form large patches.
CAUSES & RISK FACTORS
Infection with the developing stage of a yeast, PITYROSBORUM ORBICULARE. The infection is contagious, but how it spreads is unknown.
Environmental exposure to heat and high humidity make infection more likely.
Repeated injury to the skin of athletes increases the likelihood due to excessive perspiration, increased heat, friction of clothing and protective gear.
HOW TO PREVENTNo known prevention. Avoid risk factors when possible.
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.
SURGERYNot necessary nor helpful for this disease
NORMAL COURSE OF ILLNESS Untreated pityriasis versicolor persists indefinitely but seems to come and go unpredictably. It frequently recurs, even with treatment. Following treatment, the white patches will remain for months after the yeast infection has been cured. These white patches become more prominent when the surrounding skin becomes tanned from exposure to the sun.
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONSUnlimited recurrence without treatment.
HOW TO TREAT
NOTE -- Follow your doctor's instructions. These instructions are supplemental.
MEDICAL TREATMENTNone necessary after diagnosis and prescription of special medications.
HOME TREATMENT
Apply prescribed medicine with cotton balls to affected parts once a day for 3 weeks. 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.
MEDICATIONYour doctor may prescribe:
Selenium sulfide shampoo to use in one of two ways:
One 6- to 12-hour application and reapplication in 1 week.
One daily application of 15 to 30 minutes for 10 to 14 days.
An alternate antifungal medication, such as sodium thiosulfate or imidazole. This is applied to the involved area twice daily for 10 days.
ACTIVITYNo restrictions.
DIETNo special diet.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF
You have symptoms of pityriasis versicolor.
Infection doesn't improve despite treatment.
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