Tinea versicolor is a fungal infection that causes small, discolored patches of skin on the back, chest, neck, and upper arms. It can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription antifungal creams, lotions, and shampoos, but skin discoloration may persist even after the yeast is killed. It is more common in teenagers and young adults who live in hot, humid places and sweat excessively.
Tinea versicolor is a type of fungal infection that affects the skin and most commonly occurs on the back, chest, neck, and upper arms. It is caused by an overgrowth of yeast, which normally lives in the pores of the skin and is often more abundant in oilier areas than others. The fungal infection is characterized by small, discolored patches of skin that have a thin, scaly appearance. They can be white, pink, tan or brown. These discolored patches have a scattered appearance and tend to be quite faint on lighter skin and more noticeable on darker skin.
The patchy discoloration of tinea versicolor tends to grow slowly and can cause mild itching. Discoloration issues are more apparent after sun exposure, as unaffected skin tans while discolored spots do not, creating a more pronounced effect. Tinea versicolor can affect people of any age, although it is more common in teenagers and young adults. It’s also more common in people who live in hot, humid places and during the summer months.
Because healthy skin can harbor the yeast that leads to tinea versicolor, it can be very difficult to predict who will be affected. However, those who sweat excessively are more prone to it. Additionally, those with very oily skin may be more prone to the condition. Additionally, hormonal changes can cause it, as can deterioration of the immune system, which inhibits the body’s ability to protect itself from the overgrowth of yeast and other fungi.
In many cases, tinea versicolor can be treated with simple over-the-counter antifungal creams, lotions, and shampoos. It can also help keep skin clean and dry and shower more frequently during extremely hot and humid weather. When self-care measures don’t work or the patient is very uncomfortable or embarrassed by the condition, a doctor can prescribe medications to treat the condition faster. Prescription topical treatments may include selenium sulfide lotion (Selsun) or ketoconazole cream (Nizoral). Orally prescribed medications may include ketoconazole tablets (Nizoral) and fluconazole tablets (Diflucan).
Tinea versicolor tends to respond very well to over-the-counter or prescription treatments. However, killing the yeast is only the first step. Even after the overgrowth has been cleared, the skin discoloration can persist for several weeks at a time. Indeed, once the weather becomes hot and humid again or the person begins to sweat excessively for a period of time, the infection can recur once again. In some cases, a person may have a recurring infection, requiring treatment with prescription drugs on a monthly or biweekly basis.
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