Tinea Versicolor - Causes, Symptom And Treatment of Tinea Versicolor

What is Tinea Versicolor?

Tinea versicolor is a fungus infection that mainly affects the skin of young people. This common condition is unsightly, but it is neither permanent nor serious. Spots can be either light- or reddish- brown or else lighter than the surrounding skin (hence, the name "versicolor"). There may be just a few spots, or there can be so many that they run together and make it seem that islands of normal skin color are the spots, not the other way around

Causes of Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor is caused by the Malassezia furfur. Most cases of tinea versicolor occur in healthy individuals with no immunologic deficiencies. Many factors that cause the disease include

• genetic predisposition
• warm, humid environments
• immunosuppression
• malnutrition
• Cushing disease

Symptoms of Tinea Versicolor

Usually, the only symptom of tinea versicolor is the white or light brown patches. Patches may scale slightly, but rarely itch or hurt. Other common characteristics of the rash include the following:

• White, pink, or brown patches.
• Infection only on the top layers of the skin.
• The rash usually occurs on the trunk.
• The rash does not usually occur on the face.
• Patches worsen in the heat, humidity, or if you are on steroid therapy or has a weakened immune system.
• Patches are most noticeable in the summer.

Treatment of Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor is severe or doesn't respond to over-the-counter medicine, you may need a prescription-strength topical or oral medication. These include:

Topical Treatment

• Selenium sulfide (Selsun, Exsel) 2.5 percent lotion
• Ciclopirox (Loprox) cream, gel or lotion
• Ketoconazole (Nizoral) cream or shampoo

Oral Treatment

• Ketoconazole (Nizoral) tablets
• Itraconazole (Sporanox) capsules
• Fluconazole (Diflucan) tablets