Disease Information

What is Tinea Versicolor?

The fungus Malassezia is a type of yeast found on the surface of the skin. It normally doesn’t cause any health problems. In fact, many of the microbiota (or microscopic organisms), including yeasts like Malassezia, that live in large communities on your skin help protect you from infections and other pathogens that can cause harm or disease. They live alongside your body’s cells in symbiotic relationships, with skin cells and tiny organisms supporting and benefiting each other.

Sometimes, however, this yeast can grow out of control and affect the natural color or pigmentationof your skin. When this happens, you may develop patches of skin that are lighter or darker than the surrounding skin. This condition, which isn’t contagious, is known as tinea versicolor, or pityriasis versicolor. The condition occurs when a type of yeast from the Malassezia family causes an infection or suppresses your immune system.

Symptoms of Tinea Versicolor

Discolored patches of skin are the most noticeable symptom of tinea versicolor, and these patches usually show up on the arms, chest, neck, or back. These patches may be:

• Lighter (more common) or darker than the surrounding skin
• Pink, red, tan, or brown
• Dry, itchy, and scaly
• More prominent with tanning
• Prone to disappear in cooler, less humid weather

Tinea versicolor that develops in people with dark skin may result in the loss of skin color, known as hypopigmentation. For some people, the skin may darken instead of lighten. This condition is known as hyperpigmentation.

Some individuals who develop tinea versicolor don’t have any significant changes in their skin color or appearance.

In addition to changes in the color of your skin, you may also experience itchy skin.

Causes of Tinea Versicolor

Tinea versicolor occurs when Malassezia grows rapidly on the surface of the skin. Doctors aren’t sure why this happens. Some factors may promote the growth of this yeast on the skin, including:

• Hot and humid weather
• Excessive sweating
• Oily skin
• A weakened immune system
• Hormonal changes

Tinea versicolor can occur in people from all ethnic backgrounds, and it’s more common in adolescents and young adults. Adults are more likely to develop tinea versicolor if they visit an area with a subtropical climate.

How is Tinea Versicolor Diagnosed?

See your doctor if strangely colored patches develop on your skin and you can’t treat them at home. Your doctor will examine your skin and may be able to tell if you have tinea versicolor just by looking at the patches.

If a diagnosis can’t be made by looking at the skin, your doctor may take a skin scraping. A skin scraping removes cells from your skin for testing by scraping the skin gently. The cells are viewed under a microscope to see if they contain the yeast that causes this condition. Your doctor can conduct a potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy. In this procedure, your doctor takes a skin sample, places it on a microscope slide with a solution of 20 percent KOH, and looks for yeast or hyphae fungi under a microscope.

Your doctor might also take a biopsy, or tissue sample, of the affected skin and test for fungi on the outer skin layer. A sample of the fungus on the skin can also be tested in a fungal culture to see if you have the condition.

Your doctor may also use a Wood’s lamp to look at your skin. This special machine, which uses ultraviolet light, is held 4 to 5 inches from your skin. If yeast is present, the affected skin will appear yellow or green under the light.

What are the Risk Factors for Tinea Versicolor?

Various environmental and biological factors can put you at a higher risk for this condition, including:

• A family history of tinea versicolor
• Excessive sweating
• A humid, warm climate
• A weak immune system
• Taking medications that weaken the immune system
• Some types of cancer

How is Tinea Versicolor Treated?

If your symptoms aren’t severe, you may choose to treat your condition at home. OTC antifungal creams or shampoos may be effective for killing the infection. Examples of OTC medications that can be used to treat tinea versicolor include:

• Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF, Mycelex)
• Miconazole (Monistat, M-Zole)
• Selenium sulfide (Selsun Blue shampoo)
• Terbinafine (Lamisil)

If you seek medical attention for tinea versicolor, your doctor may prescribe different medications, such as topical creams that can be applied directly to the skin. Examples include:

• Ciclopirox (Loprox, Penlac)
• Ketoconazole (Extina, Nizoral)

Your doctor may also prescribe pills to treat tinea versicolor, including:

• Fluconazole (Diflucan)
• Itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox)
• Ketoconazole

How long will it take for your skin to return to normal?

If you’re diagnosed with tinea versicolor, treatment will improve your long-term outlook. However, even after eliminating the infection, your skin may remain discolored for several weeks or months following treatment. Your infection may also return when the weather becomes warmer and more humid. If your condition returns, your doctor may prescribe medication once or twice per month to prevent symptoms.

How can Tinea Versicolor be Prevented?

It can be difficult to prevent a recurrence of this condition. If you’ve been diagnosed with tinea versicolor and you’ve successfully treated it, there are steps you can take to prevent future infections. These include:

• Avoiding excessive heat
• Avoiding tanning or excessive sun exposure
• Avoiding excessive sweating

You can also help prevent tinea versicolor by using a prescription-strength skin treatment during times of the year when you’re most susceptible to it.

Reference:

https://www.healthline.com/health/tinea-versicolor