Tinea Versicolor
I. Definition:
Tinea versicolor is a chronic skin condition caused by a yeast living on normal skin of all people. In most people, the presence of this yeast on the skin is not visible. In some people, for unknown reasons, the yeast grows more actively and causes an itchy scaling rash.
II. Causes:
· Tinea versicolor is caused by a yeast called Pityrosporon orbiculare.
· People who have tinea versicolor are genetically predisposed to developing a rash when this germ is present on the skin.
· When the yeast grows on untanned skin, the rash is pink to brown. When the yeast grows on tanned skin, the rash looks white because the yeast blocks out the sunlight and the skin where the yeast is growing does not tan. When growing on Asian or African-American skin, the rash can look darker or lighter than the surrounding skin depending on the patient
III. Treatment:
· There is no permanent cure for tinea versicolor.
· Selenium sulfide 2.5 percent should be applied to the skin, between the neck and the knees, before bed every night for 2 nights and washed off the following morning. After this, use the selenium sulfide once a week to once a month in the above manner to keep the condition under control.
· Resistant cases can be treated with an antifungal cream applied directly to the skin. Lotrimin, available at your local pharmacy without a prescription, will control the condition.
· Sometimes medication by mouth (pills) will knock the condition out for good. If you are given pills for your condition, keep in mind that the condition may recur.
Tinea versicolor is a chronic skin condition caused by a yeast living on normal skin of all people. In most people, the presence of this yeast on the skin is not visible. In some people, for unknown reasons, the yeast grows more actively and causes an itchy scaling rash.
II. Causes:
· Tinea versicolor is caused by a yeast called Pityrosporon orbiculare.
· People who have tinea versicolor are genetically predisposed to developing a rash when this germ is present on the skin.
· When the yeast grows on untanned skin, the rash is pink to brown. When the yeast grows on tanned skin, the rash looks white because the yeast blocks out the sunlight and the skin where the yeast is growing does not tan. When growing on Asian or African-American skin, the rash can look darker or lighter than the surrounding skin depending on the patient
III. Treatment:
· There is no permanent cure for tinea versicolor.
· Selenium sulfide 2.5 percent should be applied to the skin, between the neck and the knees, before bed every night for 2 nights and washed off the following morning. After this, use the selenium sulfide once a week to once a month in the above manner to keep the condition under control.
· Resistant cases can be treated with an antifungal cream applied directly to the skin. Lotrimin, available at your local pharmacy without a prescription, will control the condition.
· Sometimes medication by mouth (pills) will knock the condition out for good. If you are given pills for your condition, keep in mind that the condition may recur.